SA agrees trophy hunting is harmful

AS THE South African Parliamentary colloquium into captive lion breeding began yesterday, animal protection organisation Humane Society International (HSI) said a recent survey it had conducted showed 56% of people opposed trophy hunting.

The portfolio com mittee on environmental affairs yesterday began a two-day colloquium titled “Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting in South Africa: Harming or Promoting the Conservation Image of the Country”.

The society approached Ipsos to conduct a national poll regarding South Africans’ opinions toward lion cub petting and canned lion hunting in the country.

A total of 1 264 people over the age of 18 participated in the survey, which consisted of four questions.

The results showed that South Africans, by a more than three to one margin, agreed that the ind ustry was harming South Africa’s international reputation, with 65% strongly agreeing, and 21%strongly disagreeing.

About 56% of South Africans fully oppose trophy hunting, and 60% fully opposed, to some extent, canned lion hunting.

The results followed the recent local and global backlash against an announcement by the Department of Environmental Affairs that it would allow 1 500 captive-bred lion skeletons to be exported this year.

“According to a report submitted to the 30th meeting of the Cites Animals Committee in July, Vietnam was the largest importer of lion bodies and the secondlargest importer of skeletons.

“Laos was the largest importer of lion bones and skeletons. The US was the largest importer of lion trophies.

“There are between 6 000 to 8 000 captive lions in more than 260 facilities across South Africa,” the organisation said.

The survey also showed that 77% of people strongly agreed with conservationists who said the trade in lion bones would lead to increased poaching.

Executive director of HSI/ Africa, Audrey Delsink, said last year’s bone export quota of 800 was shocking, and the increase to 1 500 this year had no scientific basis.