Parliament, Monday, 3 May 2021 – The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries welcomes the announcement made yesterday by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, that South Africa plans to ban the breeding of lions in captivity for trophy hunting or for tourist to pet.

The captive breeding of lions for hunting and lion bone trade came under severe criticism from both local and international conservation organisations for harming South Africa’s well-established and highly respected conservation image.

It was in this regard that the 5th Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs held a colloquium on captive lion breeding which was attended by the speakers and representatives of global and local conservation agencies, tourist industry and environmental activists.

There was an overwhelming view in that colloquium that this practice was indeed damaging the conservation reputation of the country in the world. Among its recommendations, the committee had wanted a policy and legislative review of the practice with a view to put an end to captive lion breeding.

Seeing the importance of this matter, the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry, and Fisheries, followed up on the National Assembly of the 6th Parliament’s resolution.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Fikile Xasa said: “It was indeed satisfying to have attended the launch of the Report of the High Level Panel that agreed with our parliamentary resolution to consider banning this destructive practice for the greatest public good, our conservation brand and the dependant tourism industry. As public representatives, we feel our people have been heard. We truly have a listening and caring government.”

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES, MR FIKILE XASA.

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