regulation for lion hunting
20 February 2007
Mafikeng-North West MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
Mandlenkosi Mayisela held a meeting with lion farmers from across the province
this afternoon over the newly published national regulations on threatened and
protected species promulgated by the national Minister for Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
The new national regulations, to take effect on 1 June 2007, require that a
lion be free to roam for 24 months on a farm before it can be hunted. In
contrast, the regulations of the North West province currently require the
animal to be free roaming for only 96 hours. "It is the feeling of my lion
farming stakeholders that the extended time frame required by the new national
regulations will almost certainly kill their industry. I have some sympathy
with their perspective on the matter and hope to engage the national Minister
rigorously on this matter," said Mayisela.
The North West province places great socio-economic value on professional
lion hunting. The province dominates the large predator hunting industry and
accounts for 80% of the lions hunted in South Africa every year. In 2006, a
total of 423 lions were hunted in the province. Large predator hunting is also
a significant revenue earner. In the period October 2004 to September 2005
professional lion hunting brought in 6 million US dollars (+R42 m) in hunting
fees for the province.
The province has a population of 1 700 lions in captivity, worth an
estimated 85 million rand, with over 900 employees and infrastructure and land
investments of over 700 million rands. Communities such as Ganyesa in the
Bophirima district make significant living by supplying donkeys to the lion
farmers.
Expressing the general views of the lion farmers, Carel van Heerden,
chairperson of the South African Predator Breeders Association, said the new
regulations will most certainly shut down the industry. He said the farmers are
all shocked at the stiffness of the regulations as they stand. He explained
that it is an expensive exercise to keep a single lion, and having to wait for
24 months before a hunt can take place, will make predator breeding for hunting
purpose unviable, resulting in massive loss of jobs and income for farmers and
workers alike.
MEC Mayisela believes the industry is already well managed in his province.
To keep lions, predator game farmers are required to obtain permits, have
electrified perimeter fencing of hunting and lion keeping areas, have large,
well-fenced enclosures and large tracks of land for the roaming of animals.
They also have to obtain permits to hunt animals and transport the animals.
"Our attitude as a province and as the industry is not to prevent the
national Minister from regulating, but what we hope for is to have an
opportunity to engage the Minister on the inevitable impact of these
regulations on the industry should they remain as they are," said MEC
Mayisela.
Enquiries:
Ms Lesego Mncwango
Tel: (018) 389 5768/5346
Cell: 082 220 6367
E-mail: Lmncwango@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conversation and Environment, North
West Provincial Government
20 February 2007
