South African terrestrial zoology: strengths, weaknesses and opportunities

A framework for S African terrestrial zoology in the future is elaborated here, based on a countrywide opinion poll and an investigation of the state of terrestrial zoology on the subcontinent. The future weaknesses are liable to be a lack of internal and external communication, poor judgement concerning irrelevant, but "fashionable', research trends, and a tendency to place too high a value on certain research directions. Future strengths lie in highly qualified human resources, and the presence of a diverse fauna which can be used to test and develop hypotheses relevant to S Africa. The elaboration of sound theoretical and practical guidelines for the integration of conservation and other land use practices (especially agriculture) is the greatest challenge facing S African terrestrial zoology. -from Authors