SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa bans the brutal and rogue practice of "canned" lion hunting

South Africa has unveiled laws that crack down on hunting predators bred in captivity, a sport labelled cruel by animal activists and believed to be widespread and a big income earner locally. The country has come under fire from activists who say officials have moved too slowly to stop "canned hunting" -- where hand-reared animals that have lost their fear of humans are killed with little chance of escape. The regulations form part of broader biodiveristy laws and among others ban the hunting of large predators in a controlled environment, as well as while they are under the influence of immobilizing or tranquilizing agents. Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said the rules, due to come into effect on June 1, would effectively outlaw the canned hunting industry, although environmentalists said they were still far too lax. "We are putting an end, once and for all, to the reprehensible practice of canned hunting," van Schalkwyk said at a press conference. "South Africa has a long-standing reputation as a global leader on conservation issues. We can not allow our achievements to be undermined by rogue practices such as canned lion hunting." Sport hunting in South Africa has flourished into a multi-million dollar business, attracting hunters from mainly North America and Europe who pay up to US$15,000 for the most prized trophy in the animal kingdom: a mounted lion's head. Under the national plan the government will issue permits on a quota system to breeders, animal exhibitors, game farms, nurseries, scientific institutions and rehabilitation centres. The number of lions legally held in captivity will be reassessed annually and determined through consultations with scientific experts, a department spokesman said. The new rules say bred animals that have been allowed to roam free -- in a private game park -- for 24 months are still fair game for hunters, however, enraging environmentalists who say this will keep the canned hunting industry alive. Van Schalkwyk had originally proposed a six-month acclimatisation period for the animals. "I do not think it is even the slightest step in the right direction. I think that the only step that we could take to actually rid South Africa of this cancer, as in the Minister's words because he calls that a cancer, is to actually ban the breeding of large predators outright unless it is for bona fide conservation purpose, do not allow it, we do not need this industry in South Africa," said Louise Joubert, animal welfare activist and founder of SanWild Animal Rehabilitation Centre, in northern Limpopo province. The new rules come after years of wrangling between animal rights activists seeking to outlaw what they call a cruel sport and outdoor groups eager to defend hunting as a source of tourism revenue and integral to managing animal populations. Van Schalkwyk said they were part of a broader effort to "clean up" the country's hunting industry, and will also involve new bans on hunting from vehicles and with bow and arrow. Conservationists say South Africa caved to pressure from affluent breeders dangling lawsuits and acted against the advice of an expert panel it formed to study the issue, which last year recommended the "canned hunting" industry be totally shut down. Across South Africa, an estimated 3,000 lions live in cages or are locked up behind the fences of captive breeding facilities, says the International Fund for Animal Welfare. Estimate of the number of lions shot each year in controlled hunts on the private reserves and lodges range between 300 and 1,500. Animals living in South Africa's national parks enjoy protected status. The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa estimates the revenue generated from "canned hunting" exceeds 2.5 billion rand (US $356.9 million) annually.

ITN Source | February 23, 2007

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