In the same government gazette proposing the rhino horn trade regulations, is also a section for the re-opening of leopard trophy hunting.

Again, the anti crowd are going nuts and furiously sending off emails as 'public comment' from every corner of the globe.

Here's what I understand from the draft document:

- Leopard hunting WILL open again
- Only male leopards 7 years and older can by hunted(identified by the presence of a well-developed dewlap) and verified post-hunt by examination of the teeth.
- Leopards, being a species that ranges over multiple properties, will be managed in ecological zones called Leopoard Hunting Zones. These are determined by habitat and river catchment basins, rather than by district and municipal boundaries.
- There's a whole host of seemingly complicated paperwork, but which ultimately serves the purpose of being able to demonstrate that the leopard hunting is being properly managed.
- The whole idea is to PROMOTE healthy leopard populations through hunting, including in areas where leopard currently are not hunted like the Western and Eastern Cape.
- The research paper supporting these regulations is very objective and not biased for or against hunting, but openly recognises the role it can play in conservation.

If anyone has any comment, or generally supports the reopening of leopard hunting in SA, please say so to: Ms Maleka (mamaleka@environment.gov.za) and make your subject line clear enough to be easily separated from all the emails the antis are sending.

I have some reservations about how local authorities will handle this extra administrative burden, and also how landowners who suffer stock losses (livestock or game) will somehow also be incentivised to protect leopards while other groups make income off the same leopards by hunting.

And so my 'public comments' were:

"Dear Ms Maleka,

the draft norms and standards for managing leopard trophy hunting are welcomed, and will enhance leopard populations around South Africa while at the same time incentivising land holders to conserve and benefit from leopards through trophy hunting.

- The delineation of leopard hunting zones (LHZ) by habitat and catchment area, rather than by political (municipal/district) boundaries is particularly welcome, and in line with modern ecological principles.
- Leopards range across multiple properties: these regulations will encourage landowners to work together, which is ecologically more valuable and hopefully sets a precedent towards greater cooperation between individual landowners in the game ranching industry.
- It'll also encourage landowners to hold each other accountable, as illegal killings by game breeders and stock farmers would negatively impact others who might benefit from the same leopard population. Such killing are difficult for state authorities to detect and respond to, so an element of self-policing is to be encouraged.
- Gov't should facilitate this cooperation between landholders within a LHZ, and encourage participation of rural traditional communities sharing part of an LHZ with private landowners.
- Revenue-sharing should be encouraged between stakeholders within a LHZ, for the leopards on quota in that area (for example, a fixed 'trophy fee' goes towards stakeholders, while the outfitter keeps a certain markup on top of that).
- Revenue sharing will help compensate landowners who do not wish to participate in trophy hunting of the local leopard population, or those who have had stock losses as a result.
- These norms and standards will place a heavy burden on local conservation authorities, who are in many cases already underresourced. This could compromise inspectors, and open doors for bribery. A conservation levy could be charged on leopard hunts to cover some of this cost.
- More clarity is needed on the fate of a license where a hunter fails to harvest the leopard. The leopard remains available on quota and can be re-sold to another hunter. Perhaps one way could be that the license is made out to the outfitter (or even a stakeholder's association of that LHZ), and only upon harvest are the details of the successful outfitter and hunter captured on the license.
- Quantifying the 'catch-per-unit-effort' CPUE is valuable and it is good to see this model from fisheries science also being applied to hunting offtakes.
- I would actively encourage that ALL LHZ's where an offtake would be feasible, be issued a quota. It is encouraging to see the Western Cape and Eastern Cape being considered. Trophy hunting will encourage landowners and communities there to expedite the re-establishment of leopards in these provinces."

Thanks for all that. To determine a 7 year old is a tough call and what would be the penalties?

The dewlap theory is from Panthera. Those hot valley cats do not carry much fat on them.

7 years old?
That be like here we were told to only shoot 7 years old mountain lions or...
That's crazy
There is no end to manipulative ways to keep leopard ban alive
No PH will take a chance to say " This is 7+ years old male leopard ", because of the punitive fines and other draconian punishments authorities will come up with...

Evil under disguise of Stupidity has no boundaries

WE are working hard to get it to a 5+ year male system with the undertaking from the industry that the oldest male in their area will be targeted.

Leaving it at a 7 year rule will be the same as not opening them.

The research by Panthera all focused on cats from protected areas. "Ranch" Leopards and "protected area" Leopards are not the same.

Any case, we hope common sense will prevail.

quote:

Originally posted by infinito:
WE are working hard to get it to a 5+ year male system with the undertaking from the industry that the oldest male in their area will be targeted.

Leaving it at a 7 year rule will be the same as not opening them.

The research by Panthera all focused on cats from protected areas. "Ranch" Leopards and "protected area" Leopards are not the same.

Any case, we hope common sense will prevail.

Indeed Charl and we dismissed the 7 year old clause as it was contentious. However we are obliged to record data and distribution for research.

Was panthera not responsible for the ban in the first place ?

In the year before the ban I remember many SA outfitters and other experts singing high praise to panthera. They already started then with talk of the 7 year rule and males only. Males only was understandable , but the 7 year rule was merely a way to have fewer , ( or none ) leopards hunted. I believe my comment to their involvement was " I smell a rat ".
Actually if one listened to the anti leopard hunting talk around at the time it was always backed by " there are no big mature males left , all have been hunted " In my neck of the woods that certainly was the case.

Well , they were proven wrong and many big Mature male leopard were hunted that season in Limpopo. Some of them real monster cats. This did not deter panthera from convincing the authorities to place a ban on leopard hunting the next year....

Hats off to the people trying to convince them otherwise. I might be proven wrong in the future , but so far Panthera have not done anything to prove to me that they are pro hunting. On the contrary.....

Hunting regards

quote:

Originally posted by Jan Dumon:
Was panthera not responsible for the ban in the first place ?

In the year before the ban I remember many SA outfitters and other experts singing high praise to panthera. They already started then with talk of the 7 year rule and males only. Males only was understandable , but the 7 year rule was merely a way to have fewer , ( or none ) leopards hunted. I believe my comment to their involvement was " I smell a rat ".
Actually if one listened to the anti leopard hunting talk around at the time it was always backed by " there are no big mature males left , all have been hunted " In my neck of the woods that certainly was the case.

Well , they were proven wrong and many big Mature male leopard were hunted that season in Limpopo. Some of them real monster cats. This did not deter panthera from convincing the authorities to place a ban on leopard hunting the next year....

Hats off to the people trying to convince them otherwise. I might be proven wrong in the future , but so far Panthera have not done anything to prove to me that they are pro hunting. On the contrary.....

Hunting regards

Jan,

Good post and I share your sentiments.

I think regulations on size and maturity of cats is a good thing but has to be negotiated fairly to suit both parties.