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DA points finger at breeders
06/10/2004 15:43 - (SA)
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| Calls are being made on the captive breeding industry to allay fears of "canned hunting", especially of lions. (File photo, Beeld) |
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Cape Town - South Africa's captive breeding industry needs closer inspection to allay fears that some operators are supplying captive-bred lions for so-called "canned hunting", the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday.
"Now is the time to look closely at this industry, its motivations and the ethics of its business. While many of these captive lion projects may have noble aims, many others may not," DA environment spokesman Gareth Morgan said in a statement.
He called on environment minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk to make available details of a public participation process around a policy document that is aimed, among other things, at prohibiting canned hunting.
Two year delay
Two years had passed since the document - National Principles, Norms and Standards for the Sustainable Use of Large Predators - was drawn up, and more than a year since it was published in the Government Gazette.
In a recent reply to a parliamentary question, Van Schalkwyk had stated the public participation process would begin in November this year.
"It is one thing to state the intention; now it is time to commit to an extensive and meaningful public participation process that includes all stakeholders.
"When hearings on the provincial version of this document were held, stakeholders were given only a week's notice. The minister will do well, therefore, to give stakeholders significant time to prepare.
'Will have to do better'
"Unfortunately, rumours emanating from his own department suggest that only two public meetings are planned, one in Gauteng and one in the Free State. He will have to do better than that," Morgan said.
At the heart of the problem was the growing captive breeding industry, especially with regard to lions.
"In a submission to the International Conservation Union, the South African delegation states that there are approximately 800 lions in captive breeding projects.
"However, NGOs estimate the numbers are as high as 2 500 or 3 500 animals. The fear... is that many of these captive-bred lions are fuelling the canned hunting industry. They may be right," Morgan said.
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