Lizanne Nel, conservation manager for the South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association, says that hunting captive-bred lions is not good for the local hunting industry and will cost the country millions of rand in losses if allowed to continue.
There is increasing pressure on all forms of wildlife-based tourism and enterprises to become more sustainable and generate income and benefits without causing significant deterioration of the environment and natural resources. At the same time, the industry is expected to address social responsibility.
The latter directly affects the ‘social licence’ of an enterprise to operate, whether it is involved in photographic tourism, hunting, game ranching and breeding, or animal welfare. This is particularly important for the future of hunting, which is globally exposed to increased scrutiny.
It is critical that those organisations in the wildlife sector that support responsible wildlife utilisation nail their colours to the mast to demonstrate and improve their performance as responsible citizens.
TAKING A STAND
The South African Hunters’ and Game Conservation Association (SA Hunters), which represents primarily local consumptive hunters, is the country’s largest hunting and conservation organisation. It recently joined a newly formed association, the Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation (Custodians), in a presentation to the Parliamentary colloquium. Both organisations strongly oppose the shooting of captive-bred lions and regard it as morally and socially unacceptable, and stated to Parliament that the practice does not comply with the principles of fair-chase hunting and the requirements of hunting to be sustainable and socially responsible.
According to Custodians, the damage caused by the shooting of captive-bred lions in South Africa is detrimental to the wildlife industry and not worth the estimated 8% it contributes to the annual income generated from international hunting tourists. In addition, it forms a minute part of the R10,8 billion that the hunting sector in South Africa contributes to the country’s economy annually.
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