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'Canned hunting' under fire
05/08/2003 09:41 - (SA)
Craig Bishop
Pietermaritzburg - Fragmented provincial conservation legislation is allowing the spread of canned hunting, say animal welfare organisations, criticising new government policy that effectively legitimises the practice.
They have described provincial conservation authorities as little more than hunting clubs, and warned that tourists will boycott countries that allow canned hunting.
However, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's protocol ensures that canned hunters will stay away from KwaZulu-Natal, according to hunting division head Stoffel de Jager.
The new national policy was published in the Government Gazette in June, under the heading: the "Norms and standards for the sustainable use of large predators".
Critics have argued that policy drafters misjudged public attitudes.
Of concern is the definition of a hunt, in which animals can be shot as long as they are not in captivity.
2 500 captive-bred lions
Another worry is the extension of captive breeding and hunting not only to lions, but to other predators, including endangered species such as wild dogs.
Kalahari Raptor Centre head Chris Mercer said numbers of captive-bred lions had risen from a total of 300 five years ago to more than 2 500 to fuel the industry.
"This policy does not ban canned lion hunting, nor does it even restrict it," he argued.
"The power to certify that the target animal has been 'rehabilitated to wild status' has not been given to skilled rehabilitators, but to hunting-orientated provincial nature conservation officials."
De Jager said Ezemvelo's predator protocol was more restrictive as it stated that large predators, except leopards, must be not be kept in areas less than 5 000ha in size, and that any animal to be hunted must have been allowed to run wild for six months.
Wildlife spokesman Jeff Gaisford said that, as far as they were aware, there was no canned hunting in KwaZulu-Natal.
However, at Balgowan two year-old lions are being kept illegally.
Ezemvelo has instituted legal proceedings for them to be returned to the Free State - but if they are returned, there are concerns that they will go to the hunting industry.
Anyone wishing to object should contact Mercer on 053 712 3576 or krc@spg.co.za
- The Witness
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