New lion skeleton export quota 'abhorrent'

The new limit states that 1 500 lion skeletons, with or without their skull, can now be exported annually.

The 2017 quota stood at 800 bones.

Animal protection institutions believe this could lead to the flourishing of the blackmarket and hamper the tourism industry.

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“They are pushing an industry that is so abhorrent they are actually threatening our tourism industry. It is unpalatable to say that we are now killing lions specifically for their bones,” says EMS Foundation’s director, Michele Pickover.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa approved the new quota, with retrospective implementation, this week.

Molewa says her department conducted various research projects which found that quota restrictions is leaving the country with a growing stockpile of lion bones.

“There has been no discernible increase in poaching of wild lion in South Africa, though there appears to be an increase in poaching of captive bred lions for body parts (heads, faces, paws and claws),” explains Molewa.

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Pickover disagrees, adding that their research had shown that 91% of the skeletons exported in 2017 had its skulls attached “which means it’s not about hunting – it’s a complete industry on its own.”

“We cannot for the life of us understand why our minister is supporting the capture lion industry. It is a pariah industry,” Pickover says.

Earlier in July, the owner of Mystic Monkeys & Feathers Wildlife Park was “left dead inside” after the killings of six of her big cats.

The wildlife park, near Rust de Winter in Limpopo, has been hit by various attempts to poach its lions.