Yahoo – AFP,
January 25, 2016
A leopard sneaks out from the bush at the Born Free Foundation on May 12, 2010 in the Shamwari Game Reserve (AFP Photo/Gianluigi Guercia) |
Johannesburg
(AFP) - South Africa has imposed a year-long ban on leopard hunting in 2016 in
a decision hailed Monday by conservation activists.
"Provincial
conservation authorities were informed that leopard hunts should not be
authorised in 2016," the Department of Environmental Affairs said, adding
that the ban would be reviewed at the end of the year.
The
department said it was acting on recommendations from South Africa's Scientific
Authority, which had suggested an intervention to ensure the survival of the
leopard population.
Under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES), South Africa can allocate 150 permits each year for the trophy-hunting
of leopards destined for export.
The size of
South Africa's leopard population remains a mystery.
"We
just don't know how leopards are faring in South Africa," said Guy Balme
of environmental group Panthera.
"They're
secretive, mainly nocturnal, solitary and range over huge areas," he
explained.
Conservation
groups hailed the year-long ban, saying it was crucial to protecting the
species given that the size of the population is unknown.
"Until
we know population numbers and carrying capacity we should not hunt them,"
said Andrew Muir of the Wilderness Foundation.
Kelly
Marnewick, carnivore conservation manager at the Environmental Wildlife Trust,
added: "It's important to ensure that any wildlife trade we do is
sustainable.
"If we
can't do that, it's highly problematical. We need a trade ban until we can get
to that."
The
mismanagement of trophy hunting and the illegal trade in leopard fur are the
main threats to South Africa's population of the big cat, according to the
government.
Dignitaries
from South Africa's Zulu community traditionally wear animal skins for
ceremonies, particularly leopard fur.
South
Africa earns substantial revenues from selling permits to wealthy foreigners
willing to pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to hunt one of
the "big five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo).
Hunting
generates some 6.2 million rand ($375 million/347 million euros) for South
Africa every year, according to the environment ministry.
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