Canned Lion hunting doubles in 1 year.

Maryna van Wyk

Vryburg

The hunting of half tame lions in South Africa’s Northwest Province has more than doubled in comparison to the number of lions hunted last year.

Estimates puts the number of captive bred lions hunted at 1000 compared to the 423 hunted the previous year.

Large males are highly sought after and have become a rare commodity while the hunting prices to overseas hunters have escalated substantially.

Botswana placed an official ban on the breeding of lions for hunting purposes in November 2007 and only about 3000 wild lions still roam in Botswana.

In contrast more than 70 half tame lions are hunted in the Northwest Province in South Africa monthly. Most of these lions are bred and relocated from the Free State Province.

Approximately 5000 half tame lions are held for breeding in captivity in the North West and Free State provinces in South Africa.

American hunters paid up to $50 000.00 this year to shoot a half tame lion on certain hunting farms in North West Province.

New regulations dealing with the hunting of large predators that is suppose to try and put an end to canned hunting will become effective as from 1 February 2008

**(SanWild note: The Minister of Environmental Affairs issued a press statement after this article breaking the shocking news that he has “temporarily” left lions out of the new legislation pending the outcome of a legal battle between his department and the lion breeders and hunters)

Based on this regulations contained in this legislation, lions will have to be free ranging for at least 24 months before they may be hunted. A court case in the Supreme Court brought by the lion breeders to stop this legislation is still pending.

The captive lion hunting industry that generates millions of rands has been marked by controversy and scandalous hunting practises.

A recent investigation into the dealing and actions of a husband and wife team working for the conservation department, Mr. Wimpie and Mrs. Ester Weideman has recently being launched.

The Weidemans will undergo a disciplinary hearing early in 2008 after they were suspended when a lion breeder in the Free State, Mr. Piet Swart Junior was stopped transporting a truckload of lions near Vryburg.

Swart was not in possession of a transport permit and must appear again in court on the 28th March 2008. Charges against the couple relates to alleged bribery.

Mrs. Carla van der Vyver, a previous head of the nature conservation department in Vryburg said that the half-tame lion hunting industry could be compared to that of the illicit diamond industry.

“It is impossible to catch the illegal lion breeders because their area of operation is so large and isolated”. “There is only 4 nature conservation officials and 4 managers for the whole province,” she said.

66% of South Africa’s captive bred and half tame lions are hunted in the Vryburg area.

“The lion breeding and hunting industry has been developed by operators to get rich quickly and have been growing steadily since 1994”

“Unethical hunting methods like the drugging of the lions before they are shot or the using of bait to lure others is at the order of the day”.

“Even with the issuing of the necessary conservation hunting permits irregularities still do take place,” said Van der Vyver.

North West Province has 52 lion-breeding farm of which 20 is established lion hunting farms. From the Free State Province with its 120 lion breeders up to 40 lions per week are transported to North West Province to be hunted.

Only 30 lions were hunted in the Free State Province this year. Permits to establish new lion breeding projects are still be issued by the conservation departments in the Free State Province.