Lion breeding should be more controlled in SA, says Creecy
Minister of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries Barbra Creecy says lion breeding in South Africa and the trade of their products should be subjected to more control.
She released a report of the high-level panel that was appointed to review policies, regulatory measures, practices and policy positions that are related to hunting, trade, captive keeping, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhino.
Creecy says the panel recommended that South Africa not breed captive lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially.
“The panel identified that the captive lion industry poses risks to the sustainability of wild lion conservation resulting from the negative impact on ecotourism which funds lion conservation and conservation more broadly, the negative impact on the authentic wild hunting industry, and the risk that trade in lion parts poses to stimulating poaching and the illegal trade,” she said on Sunday.
“The panel recommends that South Africa does not captive breed lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially. I have requested the department to action this accordingly and ensure that the necessary consultation for implementation is conducted.”
She added that the recommendations are not aimed at the hunting industry.
“It is important to stress that the recommendations are not against the hunting industry. Preventing the hunting of captive lions is in the interests of the authentic wild hunting industry and will boost the hunting economy and our international reputation, and the jobs that this creates.”
She says the department is developing an improved policy that will provide certainty.
“We will be taking forward the recommendations to develop a policy on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use and adopt a ‘one welfare’ approach for wildlife.
“There are key recommendations to reposition and organise protected areas, simplify and make more effective legislative and administrative processes, as well as to improve cooperative governance. The department will initiate processes to resolve these.”
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