Canned hunting given the chop

December 13 2006 at 03:27PM

Government will ban canned hunting, despite media reports to the contrary, the Department of Environmental Affairs confirmed on Wednesday.

The ban will come into effect in March next year, with the promulgation of regulations in terms of the Biodiversity Act, it said in a statement.

The new regulations were unveiled to the media in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

In terms of these, captive bred large predators, such as lions, may not be hunted before they have spent six months "released in a property".

The statement, quoting the regulations, defines the term "captive bred" as meaning "bred in a controlled environment, which means an enclosure designed to hold specimens of a listed threatened or protected species in a way that prevents them from escaping, facilitates the intensive breeding, but excludes fenced land on which self-sustaining wildlife populations of that species are managed in an extensive wildlife system".Media reports on Wednesday suggested government will not ban canned hunting.

There are an estimated 4 000 captive lions in breeding and hunting facilities in South Africa. - Sapa

quote:

There are an estimated 4 000 captive lions in breeding and hunting facilities in South Africa

There is going to be quite a few less come April... Although if the only stipulation is that they need to be in the enclosure 6-months before being hunted (as opposed to say, banning hunting on "captive bred" lion as defined, period), operators with the ability will simply adapt.

These new regulations sound like they may be a bit hard to enforce. How exactly do you prove how long a lion has been released in a particular enclosure? Bet there will be quite a fire sale on lion in the near future nevertheless.

If the farmer shoots an zebra and leave it in the veldt for the lions what makes the lion idependent ? What stops the owner or manager from making the lion a scavenger ? And yes how does one prove that a lion has been there for six months. Too many loopholes

New hunting rules on the cards
13/12/2006 09:35 - (SA)

From NEWS24

Johannesburg - Strict regulations on canned hunting of large predators may come into force next year, the department of environmental affairs and tourism (Deat) said on Tuesday.

"We advocate the prohibition of certain activities that were allowed under permit in the past," said Fundisile Mketeni, deputy director general of Biodiversity and Conservation.

Under proposed regulations, listed large predators can no longer be hunted in small areas, under tranquillising or narcotic immobilising agents, or if released in areas adjacent to a holding facility.

The animals must be free ranging for six months which had to proven by the landowner, Mketeni told a media briefing in Johannesburg.

Last week, cabinet approved regulations to the Biodiversity Act on threatened and protected species and norms and standards for hunting.

Banned would be the use of bow and arrows to hunt cheetahs, spotted and brown hyenas, wild dogs, lions, leopards, white and black rhinos, Nile crocodiles and African elephants.

The issue had stimulated debate, Deat director general Pam Yako said.

Professional hunters claimed the bow and arrow was not as humane as thought, while animal rights activists claimed it was the most inhumane form of hunting, she said.

The regulations would also outlaw the use of poison, traps, snares, dogs and darting to hunt, Mketeni said.

Darting for research purposes was an exception but "eco-hunting" methods using darting to hunt would be banned, Leseho Sello, chief director of Biodiversity Management added.

Mketeni said ethical hunting would be introduced where hunting organisations would apply to the department for recognition and a code of conduct and good practice of hunting organisations would be established.

The Deat minister could also decide to remove species that were allowed to be hunted, he said.

The regulations established a national permitting system for listed threatened or protected species.

"In the past this area was lacking - there was fragmentation in the system," Mketeni said.

Mketeni said the regulations were published in May and "the hot issue" had received a number of responses.

A concern was the listing of jackals, porcupines and caracals and the prohibition and regulation of hunting them as they were viewed as damage-causing animals.

Objections to prohibited hunting on World Heritage Sites, protected areas, certain hunting methods were also received.

Government was also said to be over-regulating by not recognising private ownership of wildlife which impacted negatively on economic growth.

The regulations have been submitted to the State Law Advisor for consideration and promulgation was aimed for next March or April.

What is the point of these regulations? In the context of this discussion, the lions are LIVESTOCK and are the property of their owners. How and if they are shot should be entirely left up to the owner and shooter in question. This is the legislation of a matter of individual conscience.

I think hunters should always remember the vast majority of people in the world are not hunters and even though most of these people are not hunters, they are not always against sport hunting when it's used as a true legitimate conservation tool and done in a fair and ethical manner. When a non hunter sees or reads about unethical hunting practices like canned lion hunts, electrified pens, drugged animals and huge sums of money they can very easily be converted to anti hunters!


Why do reasonable hunters even try to defend these totally unethical tactics? Is it because the Anti's are against it so we must be for it? Why do we always play Devils advocate? How do you define ethical, fair chase, pen raised, morals, wild ? The worst is suggesting penned lion contribute to Conservation, Preservation or Gene pools. We know it's all about money! If we as hunters and sportsmen are unable or unwilling to come up with a common set of fair chase rules to police ourselves, then who are we to blame. Can we blame the Anti's for using this against us in their raising funds or to further their interests? Why do we keep giving the Anti's more ammo?

I have always believed a good defense is a good offense. If we don't want the Anti's to win, It's time to step-up and police ourselves ! We might not win, but we will have fewer enemies!

Nice post Rob!