SANParks welcomes call to ban captive lion hunting in South Africa
SANParks said the prohibition on canned-lion hunting was positive for South Africa given the negative view many tourists and conservation bodies held against such activities.
PRETORIA, May 5 (ANA) – The South African National Parks has welcomed a report by a high level panel appointed by Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy which recommended the prohibition of canned-lion hunting, among other measures.
Creecy on Sunday released the report from the panel whose mandate was to review policies, regulatory measures, practices and policy positions related to hunting, trade, captive keeping, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.
The report will help in enforcing responsible management of wildlife, said Fundisile Mketeni, chief executive of SANParks which is tasked with the conservation of the country’s natural heritage.
He said the ban on canned-lion hunting “paves a positive trajectory for South Africa considering the damaging view many tourists and conservation bodies held against these kinds of activities”.
“SANParks hopes that the anticipated resultant growth in tourism will not only save jobs but will create new opportunities for those who depended on values chains linked to canned-lion hunting,” Mketeni added.
“This report will assist in building capacity for key decision-makers to understand wildlife legislation and to support responsible wildlife management and environmental sustainability.”
He said South Africa had found itself on a collision course with environmental non-governmental organisations, other signatories to multilateral endangered plants and animals protection treaty CITES and nature lovers opposed to activities such as the captive breeding of wild animals.
“I have no doubt that this (report) is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we will work hard as a collective to achieve the recommendations,” said Mketeni.
SANParks would play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the recommendations for the protection of the iconic species which were the focus of the report, including rhino, elephant, leopard and lion, he added.
Some of the key recommendations include repositioning and reorganising protected areas, simplifying and making legislative and administrative processes more effective, as well as improving cooperative governance.
On Sunday, minister Creecy said her department would initiate discussions to resolve these.
“Transformation of the sector will be prioritised, in terms of improved inclusion of marginalised groups, especially communities living with or adjacent to these species, and in the role and influence of traditional leaders and healers in the wildlife sector,” she said.
The report provided a platform for not only achieving policy clarity, but also for the development of a new deal for people and wildlife in South Africa, the minister added.
“Implementation of the recommendations will greatly transform the practices within the wildlife industry, enhance conservation of our environment and these species, invigorate the rural economies where the species occur or can be introduced, and empower traditional practices, leadership, and healers,” Creecy said.
“(It will also) result in both protection and enhancement of South Africa’s international reputation, repositioning the country as an even more competitive destination of choice for ecotourism and responsible hunting.”
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa