CAF Exotic Meat Philosophy

We believe all animal kinds which are edible, should be allowed to be eaten as long as:

• None of these animals are threatened by extinction
  
• The animal is kept, hunted and slaughtered in a dignified manner
  
• The trade in exotic meat is permitted.

All animal kinds whose existence is threatened in some way are protected by the worldwide CITES regulations. What is important, is whether the meat is edible and tasty. We do not trade in meat of animals whose living circumstances, slaughter or hunting methods we personally do not approve of. Even if trade in these kinds is permitted.

WHY EXOTIC GAME?

Exotic meat is not as special as we all think it is, or at least it was not like this that many years ago. In my opinion we should eat what is now called exotic meat in order to prevent the extinction of certain animal kinds.

Before our big European colonialization started, it was very normal for Aboriginals in Australia to eat emu and kangaroo. Bushmen in South-Africa ate springbok, blesbuck and the north-American Indians ate bison. At the time the colonialization begun, none of these animals were threatened by extinction. Europeans did not eat bison, kangaroo or antelopes, they preferred to breed their own sheep and cattle. This meant that kangaroos, bisons and antelopes were suddenly in competition with the European cattle and had to be shot to prevent them eating the grass which was meant for our sheep and cattle.

In South Africa the gnu, bontebuck, Tsesebe and various kinds of zebra's were threatened by extinction. Everyone knows what happened to the bisons, the kangaroo was the only one to have a more fortunate fate.
Although many biologists strongly oppose hunting, many do agree with us that native animal kinds do not cause that much damage to the land and that they are better off living in normal circumstances in a certain area. After a dry season, a South African farm with antelopes looks much better and healthier than one where sheep, goats or cattle have been kept.

Countries in Africa, Australia, North- and South-America currently have to be competitive with large producers of beef and mutton. This is a struggle that is constantly won by the 'old economies', mainly because of subsidies and export limits. Wouldn't you agree that it would be fairer if those countries were able to export their own, unique meat kinds, without the constant competition of our traditional meat?
Moreover, what gives us the right to determine that consumption of animals which live in our own area is better than consumption of other animals.

We have included a list with standards and values regarding the consumption of certain meat kinds in our and other cultures. Maybe you agree with me: why would the North-European or American standard be better than others?