Lion bone quotas unlawful

THE High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, has found that the setting of an annual quota for the exportation of lion bones in 2017 and 2018 by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, is unlawful and constitutionally invalid.

In a statement, the Inkatha Freedom Party has lauded the judgement handed down on Monday.

The IFP says the party has never supported the idea of annual export quotas for trade in lion bone or bone products, claws, skeletons and skulls for commercial purposes by mostly captive lion breeding operations in South Africa.

‘The entire industry is an abomination and should be declared unlawful in South Africa.

‘The African lion is an iconic species on this continent and a symbol of great traditional power and authority, and has been reduced to nothing but a mere commodity for the profit of a few wealthy breeding operations.’

The IFP has always supported the view of our courts that the practice of canned lion hunting is ‘abhorrent and repulsive’.

‘We will continue in the fight to drive such practices from our country,’ said IFP spokesperson on environmental affairs, Narend Singh.