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Understanding ART: Age-Based Selection and Measurement for Responsible Hunting This introductory online course provides a structured overview of the Age-Related Trophy (ART) Measurement System and its role in responsible, conservation-driven hunting. Participants will learn how to identify the three key age classes – immature, prime, and past prime – and understand the biological development of horns and tusks in Bovidae, Elephantidae, Suidae, and Hippopotamidae species. The course explains the decisive primary criteria and supporting secondary criteria used for accurate age determination, and clarifies why ART relies on clearly discernible anatomical features rather than age in years or tooth wear alone. In addition, the course provides practical guidance on how to correctly measure different species under the ART system, including horned and tusked animals. Participants will be shown how to take the required measurements, apply the correct recording standards, and understand the significance of each measurement within the age-based framework. By the end of the course, participants will understand how age-based selection supports genetic sustainability, why selective hunting should prioritise animals past their prime, and how the ART system strengthens conservation credibility through scientifically grounded and measurable criteria. This course is designed for hunting professionals, wildlife managers, students of conservation, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of responsible age-based selection and measurement in modern African wildlife management.
You can also join this program via the mobile app. Go to the app