I went to a presentation at the KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife headquarters last friday.
This was to discuss the implications of the implementation of the TOPS (threatened or protected species) regulations in accordance with NEMBA (national environmental management biodiversity act).

As usual, there is evidence that folks were not actually on top of things ('scuse the pun)when they put this lot together.

We have seen and discussed the canned animal issue on the forum already, so I will not go into it again.
What the regulations do is lay out the permitting process and do's and dont's for hunting the listed animals.
Essentially the ranch owner must register his business and will have to get a standing permit, valid for 36 months, or a 1 off per animal hunted permit listing his game that falls into either of the 2 categories "threatened or protected".
The hunter also needs to get a permit to hunt the animal, and then a permit to transport (temporary personal effects valid for 12 months) and then the owner of the trophy if it stays in RSA must get a Possession permit renewable every 54 months.

What has come about as an unintended consequence here is that in the definition of "trophy" relating to these animals, it includes all products or derivatives from these listed animals.
Bear in mind that the animals listed include lion, leopard, elephants, nile crocodile, great white shark and Suni and Blue duiker amongst a bunch more.
What this will mean to the man in the street, never mind the hunter, is that they have a strong chance of becoming "criminals" once this regulation comes into effect at the end of Feb 2008.
Anyone who for example, has an elephant hair bracelet, bag, belt etc a croc tooth, purse, bag, belt etc (and these are curios at most croc farms) or white shark tooth keychain.necklace, needs a personal effects/possession permit for these items. And that goes for all of the species listed.
All curio sellers shops which sell curios or items which may include these animals now require registration and must provide a temporary permit at a cost of R50 to all buyers
By the authorities own admission they have no idea how this is going to affect the country and enforcement, nor do they envisage doing a broad based national education/information campaign. They do not have the money!
Naturally, failure to abide by these regulations carry some horrendous fines.
I am just touching on the complexity here to bring it to forumites attention.
Shotguns are prohibited for any hunting other than birds. Most suni and Blue duiker are hunted in this manner, this was brought to their attention, and noted, but until it is changed, it is illegal.
All permits have to be applied and paid for well in advance, the parks board have to comply with the permit or a refusal within 20 working days of receipt of the application. There have to be written reasons for refusal. However, they have left a back door for themselves, by reserving the right to request further information, eg a risk assessment document done by an ecological or similar expert at the applicants cost of course.
Govt have acknowledged that they do not have the infrastructure within the various parks departments to handle the extra admin or staff that this is going to require, especially on the ground. Every game farmer who wants to register for permits will need an inspection before the permit will be issued. Parks do not have the staff or expertise to carry this out. Bear in mind that since 1994 the govt has been on an all out drive to indigenise all departments, and as a result many old and experienced field hands have been "pastured" and replaced by affirmative folks, some of whom are willing but have no experience or knowledge, and some purely because it has a paycheck.

Also specifically prohibited are any form of rimfire, air rifle and semi-auto firearms for hunting.

Another consequence is that any volunteer wild animal rescue/rehab service has to register and get permits, in the event that they are called out to rescue an animal from a snare or orphaned for example, if they do not have a permit to have temp possesion/transport in they will get a healthy fine. Many of these are one man band retired folks doing a great communal service.

The animals listed include;
Lion, Leopard, elephant, cheetah, spotted hyena, brown hyena, wild dog, black and white rhino, tsessebe, grysbok, oribi, suni, blue duiker, serval, reedbuck, roan, I might have left one or two out.

Bowhunting any of the predators, elephant, rhino or croc is prohibited.

Hunting off a vehicle is prohibited except for disabled people who have a disability in terms od the disability act, or an elderly person (65 years)

For more info go http://www.environment.gov.za/ and click on the published threatened or regulated species blip.

I think the safest bet will be to hunt with a battery of Lawyers to interpret the new laws. Once game is spotted, they can consult one another while sifting through all the paperwork. By the time the go ahead to shoot is given, the animal will have attained trophy status, thereby giving the hunter the assurance he/she is taking only mature, over the hill specimens. Sounds like a plan to me
Kidding aside, thanks for the update 500, it helps to know what we're facing in the future. LDK

It looks like the authorities have not solved any problems. Rather they have created more problems which have no solution!

What a bummer!

The sad thing is that these regulations are just another step towards pushing all hunting and hunters out of South Africa. When it becomes significantly problematic to even conduct a normal and simple hunt for plains or other game, hunters are just going to go elsewhere to spend their time and money without all the hassles. Look at their SAPS gun forms and the elvolution over the past 5 years with that. In the end maybe most of these hunting ranches will go "green" with photographers and day spas. . . .

What is also included here is a whole list of plant life. So buying a carved wooden curio from a roadside native vendor could have some serious repercussions.
The indigenous plants that are listed also create a problem for gardeners. Plants that they have had for years are suddenly listed, and if they do not have a permit as from feb 2008, lookout! If they propogate seedlings of endangered plants and even give them away without all the neccesary permits they are in trouble, and yet it is thanks to a lot of these keen part-time horticultarists that we have a healthy population of these species.
Nurserymen are in the dwang as well. If we consider all the Cycads on the list and the restrictions on trade, some folks are in line to lose big money.
As said earlier, it is a goofy set up.

I truly believe some of this, at least in part, is concocted to get money off the ranches. Currently, they have no idea what's on ranches. There could be aliens with flying saucers and they wouldn't have a clue. All these regs IMHO is just another way to "keep tabs" on where the money is and take a grab at it. Licenses, fees, permits, registrations...it all adds up to "legal" thievery and bribes. What a crock of beetle dung. RSA is a wonderful country with so much to offer. Too bad it's run by crooks and thugs.