News

South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the report of a High Level Panel appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy to review policies, regulatory measures, practices and policy positions that are related to hunting, trade, captive keeping, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

Chief Executive Officer of SANParks, Fundisile Mketeni said that as the country's body tasked with the conservation of our natural heritage SANParks sees the release of this report as a historic moment that will assist in enforcing responsible management of wildlife in the country. “This report will assist in building capacity for key decision-makers to understand wildlife legislation and to support responsible wildlife management and environmental sustainability”.

Mketeni said SANParks further welcomed the prohibition set on canned-lion hunting. “This paves a positive trajectory for South Africa considering the damaging view many tourists and conservation bodies held against these kinds of activities. However, SANParks hopes that the anticipated resultant growth in tourism will not only save jobs but will create new opportunities for those who depended on values chains linked to canned-lion hunting”

He said the country had found itself on a collision course with many partners in conservation including environmental non-governmental organizations, other member states in CITES and other nature lovers who found activities such as captive breeding of wild animals problematic in various ways. “I have no doubt that this is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, we will work hard as a collective to achieve the recommendations of the High Level Panel report”.

According to Mketeni, SANParks will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the recommendations of the High Level Panel report for the protection of the iconic species which were the focus of the report such as rhino, elephant, leopard, and lion. SANParks will do everything within its power to support the transformation of the wildlife sector. “The Wildlife Economy can play an important role in community development, particularly those communities living adjacent national parks.”

Mketeni said that “if we are to hand over a better future to our next generation, it is imperative to enhance the responsible management of our protected areas and the conservation of these four iconic species”.

“We take note of the great work done by the panel and we support the key recommendations which, in our view, will go a long way towards aligning our country's protected areas with international best practice by giving effect to our national legislation” concludes Mketeni.

Follow us on Twitter @SANParks Like Us on Facebook: South African National Parks

Follow us on Instagram @sanparks Talk to us directly by joining the parks e-forum:www.sanparks.org/forum/

Issued by:South African National Parks (SANParks) Corporate Communications:

Tel: 012 426 5170

Enquiries:Reynold “Rey” Thakhuli: SANParks GM: Media, PR and Stakeholder Relations Tel: 012 426 5203 cell: 073 373 4999 or email:[email protected]