Hunting industry probed

2005-06-01 08:49

Elise Tempelhoff

Johannesburg - The investigation into hunting will be extended to all forms of the industry in order for proper regulation to be put in place, said Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk on Tuesday.

He said a panel of experts appointed in April to look into canned hunting, as well as hunting in the buffer zones of nature reserves, and in particular Timbavati, would now assess the industry as a whole.

Van Schalkwyk said the panel, chaired by Dr Chrispian Olver, former director general of the department of environmental affairs and tourism, had already pointed out several shortcomings in the industry.

For instance, there was not enough scientific information available on the industry.

The monitoring of the industry was inadequate and fragmented since these were being handled by provincial authorities.

The panel will look into aspects influencing the sustainability of hunting, the regulation and monitoring of the industry, the permit system, and joint management and agreements between national and provincial authorities and landowners.

Canned hunting

The panel will also investigate revenue generated by hunting and how much money was being ploughed back into the industry.

The panel determined that canned hunting had reached such proportions that a moratorium on the hunting of large predators could not be excluded.

The panel will investigate the possibility of a complete ban on the breeding of predators, which might be prohibited by law.

The panel found that no suitable policy existed pertaining hunting in buffer zones, particularly along the Kruger Park.

Olver said the panel would soon enter into public debate with stakeholders. Due to the extension of its mandate, the panel would submit a report to the minister only at the end of October.

- Beeld