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AFRICA IS KNOWN FOR ITS UNIQUE WILDLIFE HERITAGE

Successful management

is the key to ensuring the survival of this heritage and the conservation of species

Successful management principles are

implemented by a structured wildlife

industry,

particularly in

Southern Africa,

and specifically

in South Africa

MANAGEMENT OF CAPTIVE

PREDATORS

THE LION SECTOR

THE TRUTH IS….. ALL WILDLIFE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

CAN BE CONSIDERED TO BE

“confined” or at least to a certain content

DUE TO THE HUMAN ENCROACHMENT ON THEIR NATURAL RANGE THAT HAS RESULTED IN ALL

SPECIES BEING “MANAGED” WITHIN NATURAL BOUNDARIES OR FENCED AREAS OF VARYING SIZES

-

COUNTRIES, PARKS, RESERVES & GAME RANCHES

AND THUS THE BIRTH OF THE WILDLIFE INDUSTRY

Predators in Captive Environments

• Various species

• Predominantly lion

• Cheetah

• Leopard

• Serval

• Civet

• Genet

• Caracal

• Small species – Bat eared fox

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ABOUT LIONS

• The future of lions in the wild is in the balance • Wild lion populations have become extinct in a

number of African countries • Conservation of lions is of vital importance • Management of lion populations is imperative

http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/1987_iucn_policy_statement___captive_breeding.pdf

WHAT DOES IUCN SAY?

https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/nemba_africanlion_managementplan_gn351g38706.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:

BIODIVERSITY ACT, 2004 (ACT NO. 10 OF 2004)

BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA

LEO) Dec 2015

WHAT SOUTH AFRICA IS DOING

BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN - VISION FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN LION

POPULATION

Through the existence of stable, viable and ecologically functional populations of wild and managed wild lions, along with well-managed captive populations that have minimal negative conservation impacts, lions will provide key opportunities for

biodiversity conservation, economic development, social benefits and improved

management capacity. https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/nemba_africanlion_managementplan_gn351g38706.pdf

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The South African Predator Association is the only organisation officially recognised as

representative of the captive lion industry.

SAPA is a member organisation that represents various role players within the lion industry, is run by an elected Council and has a good working relationship with the relevant national and international authorities.

SAPA has identified the most important requirements for and challenges faced by the captive lion industry and responded by setting in place the structures and processes in order to address them.

Captive lions are divided into 2 categories 1. RANCH LIONS are lions that are bred for consumptive sustainable utilisation purposes with minimal human contact

2. WORKING LIONS are lions that have on-going human interaction before and beyond the age of 3 months, whether for display, contact or other types of interaction, and may never be hunted

Within these two categories distinct differentiation is made in permissible management and/or operational practices.

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Measures that have been put in place:

• SAPA Constitution and Code of Conduct

• SAPA Management Plan for the Captive Lion Industry

• SAPA Norms and Standards

• SAPA Accreditation

• SAPA Conservation and Development Fund

• SAPA Informational Publications

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR CAPTIVE LIONS Management Plan that covers, among

other: • Background and context • Species details • Species taxonomy • Conservation status • Population status • Distribution • Habitat requirements

• Management principles • Sustainable use • Conservation, rehabilitation, education & research • Population management • Management control systems

• Industry management strategy • A vision & mission • Role players • SWOT analysis • Strategic management plan • Strategic management & operational framework

• Monitoring & evaluation

Drawn up to be relevant to the CAPTIVE LION

INDUSTRY In terms of the BIODIVERSITY

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA LEO)

NORMS & STANDARDS FOR RANCH LIONS Norms & Standards for breeding and keeping

should cover, among other: • Current legislation • Animal welfare • Enclosure requirements • Position and design • Fencing • Construction material • Different types of enclosures (e.g. maternity, treatment, age appropriate) • Habitat enrichment

• Safety and Security • Identification of animals • Feeding requirements • Handling & transport • Animal health & hygiene • Euthanasia • Behaviour • Breeding • Administrative management • Contribution to conservation

Drawn up to be relevant to the RANCH LION

INDUSTRY

NORMS & STANDARDS FOR RANCH LIONS Norms & Standards for hunting

should cover, among other: • Current legislation • Animal welfare • Facility requirements • Position and design • Fencing • Construction material

• Safety and Security • Identification of animals • Hunting & ethics • Service providers • Prohibited practices • Responsibilities

• Administrative management • Marketing • Trade • Contribution to conservation

Drawn up to be relevant

to the RANCH LION

INDUSTRY

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DO YOU THINK THE CAPTIVE LION

INDUSTRY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN

SOUTHERN AFRICA?

CHALLENGES

• Conservation

Some of the main challenges the captive lion industry faces are:

• Public opinion

• Misinformation

• Trade restrictions & limitations

• Legislative discrepancies

1. CONSERVATION OF LIONS

Shrinking range:

As we all know, we cannot “grow” or “create” additional range land.

Lion farmers use marginal agricultural land to breed, keep and/or hunt lions – ENLARGING RANGE

Privately owned farms that are turned into private game reserves where lions are introduced – ENLARGING RANGE

Genetic diversity (Inbreeding) is a very real threat in the wild and managed wild lion populations in national parks and reserves.

All captive bred lions are DNA profiled in order to: • ensure genetic integrity • prevent inbreeding

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THE FACT IS, THE MARKET FOR LION TROPHIES AND PRODUCTS IS:

Not going to disappear as a result of legislation Not going to disappear as a result of pressure groups Not going to disappear if the industry is shut down.

SOMEONE SOMEWHERE IS GOING TO CONTINUE SUPPLYING THE MARKET

If there are captive lions to provide for the requirements of the markets, it would lead to

THÍS IS WHAT WE NEED TO PROTECT LIONS FROM

THÍS IS WHAT WE NEED TO PREVENT

IT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH A HEALTHY, LEGITIMATE AND LEGAL WILDLIFE INDUSTRY THAT INCLUDES A CAPTIVE LION INDUSTRY

1. CONSERVATION OF LIONS POACHING IS A CRUEL REALITY:

2. PUBLIC OPINION There are people and organisations that spend huge amounts of time and money on all kinds of campaigns to convince the general public that the captive BREEDING industry, is BAD. Sadly the image they portray is so sensationalized and one- sided that people buy into the myth!

3. MISINFORMATION •CANNED HUNTING – is ILLEGAL in South Africa •CUBS THAT ARE USED FOR PETTING ARE HUNTED –

is a LIE and MAY NOT HAPPEN •ZOO, CIRCUS, SANCTUARY, ETC. LIONS END UP AS HUNTING TROPHIES - is a blatant LIE and MAY NOT HAPPEN •RANCH LION HUNTING is legal – THIS IS NOT canned

hunting

HUMAN IMPRINTED LIONS ARE NEVER HUNTED

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THE BAN ON IMPORTATION OF CAPTIVE LION TROPHIES AND PRODUCTS IMPOSED BY THE UNITED

STATES FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICES AND OTHER COUNTRIES

THE LION BONE EXPORT QUOTA IMPOSED

BOTH HAVE HAD A HUGE, NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE LION INDUSTRY

WILL THESE MEASURES LEAD TO THE CONSERVATION OF THE AFRICAN LIONS IN

THE WILD?

4. TRADE RESTRICTIONS & LIMITATIONS

DIFFERENT PROVINCES HAVE DIFFERENT STANDARDS WITH REGARD TO, AMONG OTHER: • Fencing specifications; • Enclosure size and layout; • Release period; • Release/hunting area.

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT - MINIMUM NORMS AND STANDARDS THAT ALL PROVINCES MUST

ADHERE TO. THE LION INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES ARE

WORKING WITH DEA TO ACHIEVE THIS.

5. LEGISLATIVE DISCREPANCIES

DO YOU THINK CAPTIVE BRED

PREDATORS CAN SUCCESSFULLY BE

INTRODUCED INTO THE WILD?

CAPTIVE BRED LIONS CAN SUCCESSFULLY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE WILD

Projects have been undertaken where captive bred lions were introduced to

private reserves. They have successfully: • Hunted and killed various species of prey,

including Kudu, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Impala and Warthog to sustain themselves.

• Have formed a pride and behave accordingly. • Mated and produced healthy cubs. • Show no sign of human imprinting and flee from,

rather than approach vehicles or people.

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Darted

Veterinary examination, inoculation, DNA sampling and preparing for relocation

Checking microchip device

Transport to new location

Release - door open

Release – Off he goes

Release - off she goes

THE RESULT: SETTLED AND WELL ADAPTED

Elusive and avoiding humans

Locating

These projects are monitored and the results accurately documented

on a continual basis.

THE FUTURE HOW WILL THESE LIONS BE MANAGED? According to the Department of Environmental

Affairs the offspring of these lions will be considered to be wild managed lions.

New, unrelated males will need to be introduced initially to ensure genetic diversity, after which the natural pride dynamics of lions will occur.

When the lion population of the area has reached capacity the excess may be relocated or hunted as

wild managed lions.

OPPORTUNITIES AND INITIATIVES IN PREDATOR INDUSTRY

• PROFESSIONAL HUNTING & HUNTING OUTFITTING

• BREEDING, KEEPING / RAISING OF ANIMALS • BREEDING FACILITIES RENTAL • MENTORSHIP • HUNTING RANCHES • SPECIES CONSERVATION & RELEASE • RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES • HABITAT ENLARGEMENT • JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

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HUNTING OUTFITTER & PROFESSIONAL HUNTING

GUIDED BY: SAPA NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR HUNTING RANCH LIONS IN SOUTH

AFRICA

OPPORTUNITIES:

BREEDING, KEEPING, RAISING

GUIDED BY: SAPA NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR BREEDING AND KEEPING OF LIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA

OPPORTUNITIES:

FACILITIES RENTALS IN ORDER TO DECREASE LAYOUT COSTS FOR NEW ENTRANTS.

OPPORTUNITIES:

MENTORSHIP FACILITIES MANAGEMENT,

BREEDING, RAISING, TREATMENT

OPPORTUNITIES:

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HUNTING RANCHES

OPPORTUNITIES:

ESTABLISHING A HUNTING RANCH FOR LION HUNTING: (CAPITAL ONLY)R± 20 MILLION

OPPORTUNITIES:

Lion Hunting - (DEA statistics) • 2013

• Hunting income:

– Lion R122 348 083

–Buffalo R 90 942 852

–Kudu R62 462 391

FOREIGN INCOME GENERATED =LION

GENERATES 11% OF TOTAL Balance of species

74%

1. Lion 11%

2. Buffalo 9%

3. Kudu 6%

Hunting Income: 2013

Lion Hunting - (DEA statistics) • 2014

• Hunting income: – Lion R194 915 372

– Buffalo R 127 361 189

– Kudu R 78 376 696

FOREIGN INCOME GENERATED = LION

GENERTES 12% OF TOTAL Balance of species

75%

1. Lion 12%

2. Buffalo 8%

3. Kudu 5%

Hunting Income: 2014

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• 2015

• Hunting income: – Lion R180 967 456

– Buffalo R 144 856 740

– Kudu R 103 959 304

Lion Hunting - (DEA statistics)

FOREIGN INCOME GENERATED = LION

GENERATES 11% OF TOTAL Balance of species

75%

1. Lion 11%

2. Buffalo 8%

3. Kudu 6%

Hunting Income:2015

• 2016 & 2017 • Hunting income:

– Lion R180 967 456 • 50% LESS???

– Buffalo R 144 856 740 – Kudu R 103 959 304

Lion Hunting - (DEA statistics)

FOREIGN INCOME GENERATED = LION

GENERATES 5% OF TOTAL ?? WE WILL BE FINDING OUT IN

NOV 2017 ONLY! Balance of species 75%

1. Lion 11%

2. Buffalo 8%

3. Kudu 6%

Hunting Income:2016

X

Department of Environmental Affairs

MINUS 5 % = ± R80 000 000 OUT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY

HELP US TO MAINTAIN HUNTING RANCHES

OPPORTUNITIES:

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SPECIES CONSERVATION GENETICS

OPPORTUNITIES:

SPECIES CONSERVATION RELEASE INTO NEW HABITATS

OPPORTUNITIES:

OPPORTUNITIES:

RESEARCH STUDIES MONITORING, BONE TRADE, INDUSTRY

OPPORTUNITIES:

HABITAT ENLARGEMENT

1

2 4

3

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OPPORTUNITIES:

JOB OPPORTUNITIES: • PH & HUNTING OUTFITTERS • “SPOORSNYERS” – TRACKERS • SKINNERS • COOK • HOST / HOSTESSES • RANCH MANAGEMENT • PREDATOR FACILITIES

MANAGEMENT • CAMERA

Best Practice for Predator management

Predator management, be it “wild” or “captive” should be:

• legitimate

• socially acceptable;

• economically viable;

• ecologically reconcilable;

• Aware of ensuring the long term existence of the species.

Conserving our natural heritage

Is not just a dream

We do it

President: Mr Kirsten Nematandani CEO: Mrs Carla van der Vyver