19/02/2008 21:17 - (SA)

Johannesburg - Allegations that SA National Parks (SANParks) will auction off 50 white rhinos for hunting purposes were in "poor taste", said the organisation on Tuesday.

"Claims about SANParks auctioning rhinos for hunting are rather in poor taste and preposterous.

"SANParks has committed in the past and still commits today to ensuring that known violators of the law as far as hunting wildlife is concerned would be barred from purchasing any of our animals on auction," said the organisation.

The organisation said it was the role of law enforcement agencies to prosecute the offenders.

SANParks said hunting was not an illegal activity in South Africa.

"We will not allow anyone to use the organisation in discrediting a legal activity which has been sanctioned through proper legislative processes."

The organisation said it did not regulate hunting and therefore protests about hunting should be directed to the relevant authorities.

SANParks said it had made a policy decision not to allow hunting in national parks.

Money used for buying land

The SANParks board had approved the sale of wildlife, specifically high-value species, more than 10 years ago.

Money raised from the sale would be used to expand the national parks system by buying more land and high-value species.

SANParks said the board's decision was influenced by the fact that, although white rhino were a listed species for South Africa, they were not an endangered species.

SANParks said the sale of white rhino to improve the parks system was "a perfectly legitimate exercise".

The organisation said it would review its decision to go ahead with the sale only if there was "extenuating evidence" that the rhinos would be used in illegal or illicit activities.