Canned lion hunting

2004-03-25 09:31

Jorisna Bonthuys

Cape Town - It may be illegal to hunt for "caged" lions in South Africa before long.

A draft policy which may have widespread implications for other sectors concentrating on the hunt of large predators, will be published for comment soon.

This will probably happen after President Thabo Mbeki signs the Biodiversity Act, which forms the framework for attempts to regulate the hunting of large predators more strictly. The act may be signed this week.

The draft policy tries to encourage ethical principals about hunting large predators in South Africa and address shortcomings in existing legislation. Provinces have until now been allowed to use their own discretion and their control measures differ.

Phindile Makwakwa, spokesperson for the department of the environment and tourism, says Environment Minister Valli Moosa and his provincial counterparts have discussed the draft policy.

Dr Pieter Botha of the department's biodiversity section says "criticism on the draft policy is premature. The document, which has been published in the Government Gazette for comment, must still be made available for public debate," he says.

The document, called the national principles, norms and standards for the continued utilisation of large predators in South Africa," is bound to gender a lot of controversy.

Breeding lions for hunting

It has far-reaching consequences for especially people who specialise in "caged lion hunting" and breeding lions for this purpose.

Critics are already saying "not enough people have been consulted." They also think the proposed policy won't answer questions about "factory hunting" and hunting particular game species in captivity.

Although animal rights groups welcome the entire document, some say in its present form it will be difficult to implement.

Large predators refer to species such as lions, leopards, hyenas and protected species such as cheetahs and wild dogs.

People who want to hunt a cage-bred lion in future, will have to get the animal declared wild beforehand.

A cage-bred lion will have to roam free for six months in a large area before it may be hunted.

Some lion farmers say they may be ruined financially if this policy is implemented.

It's estimated that there are about 150 wild lions left in Asia and between 15 000 and 50 000 in Africa.

People who want to hunt lions, are reportedly paying between R25 000 and R35 000 for a fully-grown lioness and between R80 000 and R200 000 for a fully-grown lion.

- Die Burger