Hunting – unacceptable delays, Minister!

(2007-05-07)

The National Council of SPCAs reacts with disappointment and distress to the announcement that the new regulations will only come into effect from February 2008.

“Unless the Minister declares a moratorium on hunting – lion hunting in particular – we are concerned that South Africa will become a killing field. The announcement effectively gives unscrupulous lion farmers the leeway to try and deplete their “stock” in the interim period, needless to say at a profit. By “deplete” we mean hunting and there is no doubt that until the new regulations are brought in, canned hunting as we know and condemn it will continue.” Rick Allan of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Unit.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, issued a statement on Friday 04 May 2007 that the Threatened and Protected Species Regulations would only come into force on 01 February 2008.

The NSPCA has welcomed this regulatory move but now finds itself deeply concerned at the delay in implementation.

“There are now two issues: - the interim period and when the legislation comes into effect. Having expressed our dissatisfaction and displeasure at the delay, we can only hope for further consultations between that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and stakeholders. We sincerely hope that the delay is neither seen nor was intended as letting the lion farming industry off the hook for now. They are answerable. From the NSPCA perspective, much as we welcome the new regulations, we believe it is imperative that they should be implemented urgently and strictly enforced.”

“There should be no scope or latitude that could compromise the welfare of lions currently in our country. We have waited long enough for this legislation.”