17-07-2015, 12:58 PM
The Department of Environmental Affairs is reviewing regulations regarding lion management to ensure all gaps in the lion breeding and hunting industries are closed.
Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said her department was reviewing the comments received on the draft Biodiversity Management Plan for Lions that was published for public participation on 17 April 2015.
On Friday, she held a meeting with various stakeholders to discuss matters around lion management in South Africa, in particular breeding and hunting.
The meeting was aimed at addressing widespread and mounting public concern around the practice of so-called ‘canned hunting’ of lions.
“This meeting is a reflection of the seriousness with which we as the department view allegations of criminality operating at the fringe of the legal, well-regulated breeding and hunting industries,†Minister Molewa said.
She said South Africa was recognised worldwide for its conservation successes with regards to the African lion.
Recently the country was hailed for its advances in protecting species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The meeting was attended by representatives from lion breeders and the hunting industry, including the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the South African Predator Association (SAPA), the Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa (CHASA), the South African Predator Breeders Association (SAPBA) and the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA).
“On the matter of so-called ‘canned hunting’ of lions, all industry role-players present at the meeting conceded that ‘rogue elements’ were operating within the lion breeding and hunting industries, and that these needed to be rooted out.
“The organisations present agreed that the illegal hunting of lions was damaging the legal industry. They further also noted that negative publicity fuelled by misconceptions that ‘canned hunting’ took place in South Africa, was resulting in substantial financial losses for the local legal hunting industry,†the department said.
Provincial authorities are considering developing norms and standards to further ensure compliance on lion hunts in a move to promote consistency across provinces with regards to hunting ordinances.
Industry role-players have similarly developed norms and standards which have been presented to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) for consideration.
Participants also agreed to establish a forum to investigate a number of issues related to the lion industry in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za
Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa said her department was reviewing the comments received on the draft Biodiversity Management Plan for Lions that was published for public participation on 17 April 2015.
On Friday, she held a meeting with various stakeholders to discuss matters around lion management in South Africa, in particular breeding and hunting.
The meeting was aimed at addressing widespread and mounting public concern around the practice of so-called ‘canned hunting’ of lions.
“This meeting is a reflection of the seriousness with which we as the department view allegations of criminality operating at the fringe of the legal, well-regulated breeding and hunting industries,†Minister Molewa said.
She said South Africa was recognised worldwide for its conservation successes with regards to the African lion.
Recently the country was hailed for its advances in protecting species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The meeting was attended by representatives from lion breeders and the hunting industry, including the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the South African Predator Association (SAPA), the Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa (CHASA), the South African Predator Breeders Association (SAPBA) and the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA).
“On the matter of so-called ‘canned hunting’ of lions, all industry role-players present at the meeting conceded that ‘rogue elements’ were operating within the lion breeding and hunting industries, and that these needed to be rooted out.
“The organisations present agreed that the illegal hunting of lions was damaging the legal industry. They further also noted that negative publicity fuelled by misconceptions that ‘canned hunting’ took place in South Africa, was resulting in substantial financial losses for the local legal hunting industry,†the department said.
Provincial authorities are considering developing norms and standards to further ensure compliance on lion hunts in a move to promote consistency across provinces with regards to hunting ordinances.
Industry role-players have similarly developed norms and standards which have been presented to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) for consideration.
Participants also agreed to establish a forum to investigate a number of issues related to the lion industry in South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za