Professional and Recreational Hunting

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Professional and Recreational Hunting

• Ethical Conservation Network
• National Council of SPCAs
• SanWild Wildlife Trust
• Wildcare Africa Trust
• Wildlife Action Group

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PREAMBLE

• We recognise that hunting per se is entrenched in
  South Africa as part of sustainable utilisation
  of natural resources. There are however
  shortcomings at present regarding ethical and
  humane practices within the industry that are
  compounded by the lack of co-ordinated
  enforcement. It has therefore become very
  necessary that the hunting industry, in all its
  facets, be regulated and controlled on a national
  level by a system that is simple, transparent and
  effective.

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Proposed Control StructureThe diagram should be
viewed as a control structure rather than as a
reporting structure
4
National Controls Required

• In addition to appropriate legislation,
  Government needs to set national standards and
  regulations to ensure uniformity in the
  application of legislation countrywide, which can
  then be enforced by the provincial conservation
  authorities. These national standards must
  include

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• National standards which will ensure the ethical
  hunting of animals
• National standards to ensure the welfare of
  animals that are bred for hunting purposes
• National standards for the sourcing of animals
  for hunting purposes
• National standards regarding exemption permits
• National standards relating to problem-causing
  animals
• National standards controlling the hunting by
  professional bodies

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• The hunting control structure must be overseen by
  a national department and the objectives of the
  system must be achievable within the current
  means of the national and provincial structures.
  It is imperative that high standards, together
  with the enforcement of proposed legislation, is
  ensured and maintained by the respective
  provincial authorities under the auspices of the
  national department.
• In order to accelerate the justice process in a
  uniformed manner, it is crucial that a dedicated
  court system be made available to hear animal,
  conservation and environmental related issues.

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CANNED HUNTING

• It is our view that the practice of canned
  hunting, irrespective of species hunted, can only
  be regarded as unethical and is directly linked
  to animal abuse that is unacceptable by society
  at large.
• It is without hesitation that we ask Government
  to simply ban, through national legislation, the
  practice of canned hunting in all its forms and
  the breeding of any large predators for any other
  reason than a bona fide conservation project
• Any form of hunting that does not involve a
  free-living and self sustaining animal with a
  fair chase and chance of escape should be
  considered canned.

8
Animal Welfare

• The concept of animal welfare is of major
  importance and must be integrated into
  conservation principles
• Animals Protection Act No. 71 of 1962