04/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2024 05:24
03 April 2024
I have today, released the report of the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on Voluntary Exit Options and Pathways from the Captive Lion Industry. Cabinet has approved the release of the report and its recommendations for implementation.
The ministerial task team was appointed in December 2022, following a recommendation by the High Level Panel on Matters Relating to the Management, Breeding, Hunting, Trade and Handling of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros. The panel recommended the closure of the captive breeding sector, including the keeping of lions in captivity, or the use of captive lions or their derivatives commercially.
The task team was established to identify and recommend win-win voluntary exit options and pathways from captive lion industry. The team was chaired by Mr Kamalasen Chetty. The other members of the team were Mr Obied Katumba, Dr Louise de Waal, Ms Carla van der Vyfer, Dr Christine Steyrer, Adv Justice Mnisi and Dr Kelly Marnewick.
The key focus areas of the task team were:
South Africa is a country, with diverse cultures, remarkable geological wealth, and exceptional biodiversity, much of which is unique, and with high levels of endemism. With this rich endowment comes the responsibility and challenge of ensuring our species and ecosystems are conserved and used sustainably for the benefit of all South Africans and future generations.
Section 24 of the Constitution requires reasonable legislative and other measures be put in place to ensure that the environment is protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, including through promoting conservation and securing ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources.
This report should be understood in the broader policy context of the White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa's Biodiversity and the Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros that was approved last week by Cabinet for implementation.
In summary, the key recommendations of the task team were that government approve:
I am pleased to announce that Cabinet has endorsed the recommendations of the task team.
I wish to thank the ministerial task team, for the sterling work that it has done in producing a comprehensive and credible report with a set of findings and recommendations which address the difficult issues in the captive lion industry as contained in the terms of reference. I also wish to thank the captive lion industry and the other key stakeholders who have assisted the task team in its work to identify voluntary exit options and pathways from captive lion industry.
I thank you.
Download the ยป Report of the Ministerial Task Team to Identify and Recommend Voluntary Exit Options and Pathways for the Captive Lion Industry | 2024 April 03
Peter Mbelengwa
Mobile: 082 611 8197
Last week, cabinet approved the revised Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros for implementation.
The strategic impact of this policy position is that it will provide policy certainty for specific elements of the conservation and sustainable use of these five species, and, furthermore, provide a basis to review legislation where applicable and appropriate.
Consistent with the policy context of the white paper, this policy position focuses primarily on correcting unsustainable practices, promoting conservation, sustainable use, and the well-being of the five species, and providing policy direction for international commercial trade in the five species.
The policy position, therefore, proposes three conservation and sustainable use policy objectives to enhance species management:
The policy position also proposes three international commercial trade-related policy objectives:
Each objective in this policy position has associated activities for implementation. By adopting practices that are responsible, legal, sustainable, and promote animal well-being, the implementation of the six policy objectives will transform practices within the wildlife industry that are not conducive to animal well-being and promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in general, and these species in particular. This will enhance South Africa's position as a megadiverse country and leader in the conservation and sustainable use of these iconic species.
Peter Mbelengwa
Mobile: 082 611 8197