Legislation
- (c) SanWild; South Africa has up to 6,000 lions bred for hunting
In the USA, the legislation is on a state by state basis and although the practice is banned in some form in some states, canned hunting operations are sprouting up from Maine to Arkansas and Indiana to Texas.
The Humane Society of the United States estimates there are more than 1,000 canned hunt operations in at least 25 different states. They are most common in Texas, but they are found throughout the United States and Hawaii. Safari Club International (SCI) has done its part to promote canned hunting by creating a hunting achievement award, ‘Introduced Trophy Game Animals of North America,’ which may support the operation of canned hunts.
In South Africa, the latest draft regulations, promulgated in March 2007, will allow captive breeding and canned hunting of large predators. Current estimates are that anywhere between 3000-6000 lions are held in captive breeding facilities in South Africa.
Born Free is a representative of The Species Survival Network (SSN) - an international coalition of more than 80 conservation and animal protection organizations. In June 2006, through SSN, we submitted comments to the South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism regarding the proposed regulations on the hunting industry and threatened and protected species (including captive breeding and canned hunting of large predators):
The draft regulations on threatened and protected species will allow the captive breeding and canned hunting of large predators to continue. Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, stated on 2 May 2006 that the intention of the regulations was to stop "immoral activities like canned hunting" and to stop the "captive breeding of listed species for any purposes except science and conservation". However, the draft regulations allow large predators to be funnelled from captive- breeding operations, rehabilitation facilities and even sanctuaries into 'extensive wildlife systems' where they can be 'rehabilitated' and hunted six months later. Furthermore, hunting will be allowed to take place on 'extensive wildlife systems' where the animals are confined within fenced areas of any size. In addition, the canned hunting and captive breeding aspects apply only to six species of 'listed large predators' and not to all species.The draft regulations on the hunting industry also require revision as they allow hunting in protected areas, as well as on private land adjacent to protected areas, and do not firmly establish control of the hunting industry at the national level.
Since the period for public comment, the government have announced the regulations will become law in March. However, no information has been released on what amendments will be made to the legislation based on public comment and there is much confusion over the fate of the lions currently in breeding facilities.
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