A first result from the Colloquium about Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting in South Africa
Finally a first result! 3 weeks after the Colloquium Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting in South Africa took place in Cape Town, a first positive result came out. The Committee chairperson, Mohlopi Mapulane said, that the aim of the event would be to facilitate a constructive debate around the future of captive lion breeding and hunting in SA. The colloquium titled “Harming or Promoting the Conservation Image of the Country” took place on 21 and 22 August 2018. It gave stakeholders from across the board an opportunity to present arguments for and against captive breeding of lions.
Committee demands a revision of agreement between Kruger National Park and Private Reserves
Parliament, Wednesday, 12 September 2018 – The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs today had an engagement with DEA, SANParks and Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency Board on issues arising from our recently held Colloquium on Captive Lion Breeding. The committee’s focus lies on hunting in the Greater KNP and the implementation of Threatened or Protected Species Regulations.
The recent hunting of a male lion took place in Umbabat Private Nature Reserve on the 7th of June 2018. The hunt highlighted wider issues of concern, both in terms of law governing hunting in the Greater KNP and the contractual arrangements between the KNP and APNR.
Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks agency not complying
The committee is extremely concerned that the Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency is not complying with the regulations. Those regulations relating to hunting of listed species like lions have not been taken through the NCOP. The committee has directed that the department must ensure that these regulations are processed through the NCOP before the end of the year. Furthermore, the Mpumalanga Tourism & Parks Agency should ensure compliance with these regulations by January 2019. Baiting as a form of hunting of TOPS-listed species should cease immediately.
The committee would furthermore like to urge the DEA to expedite the process of realising full compliance with these regulations.
The agreement between KNP and APNR needs to be revised
Similarly, a matter which concerns the committee is the agreement between KNP and APNR concluded in 1996. We believe that this agreement needs to be revised. Benefits must be shared arising from the collapse of the fences in the interest of the broader society. The committee believes that issues of transformation and beneficiation should be taken into account in this agreement. The committee has directed SANParks to develop a concept paper on this matter for discussion with the committee. Public hearings will be held to determine the best way forward after its engagement with SANParks.
The committee also wants discussions to take place around the current hunting protocol. It allows hunting of animals in the Greater Kruger National Park. This results of a system arising from the taking down of the fences between the KNP and the Nature Reserves. The committee wants this protocol to be interrogated to properly account for this system. The Kruger National Park prohibits hunting inside the park. Nonetheless, animals are hunted when they roam over to private nature reserves.
PRESS RELEASE – Adapted for better readability