DFFE Media Release: Call for Public Comment on Draft Notice to Prohibit the Establishment of New Captive Lion Facilites

On 15 November 2024, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) released an updated draft notice to prohibit the establishment of new captive lion facilities. This follows significant amendments to the initial Draft Notice Prohibiting Certain Activities Involving African Lion (Panthera leo), which was published on 29 September 2023 in the Government Gazette for public comment. The amended draft prohibition notice has now been published under Section 9A of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA), with a renewed call for public comment.

Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) strongly encourages all members to actively engage in the commenting process to oppose this prohibition notice. We remind members that the proposed prohibition has not been implemented as law, and there are currently no regulatory changes in effect.

Should any members experience challenges related to permitting, compliance, or applications, please notify WRSA immediately. We are committed to providing support and assistance.

WRSA champions the Agro-Sustainable Biodiversity Wildlife Economy, asserting that no species have gone extinct – nor will they – under the expert stewardship of private wildlife ranchers.

Members of the public are invited to submit, within 30 days from the date of publication of the Notice in the Government Gazette or newspapers, whichever date is the later date of publication, written comments to any of the following addresses:

BY POST TO

The Director-General: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Attention: Ms Magdel Boshoff

Private Bag X447

PRETORIA

0001

BY HAND AT

Reception, Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Road, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0083

BY EMAIL

revisedlionprohibition@dffe.gov.za

Extracts from Media Release

“On 24 April 2024 the Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros was published in the Government Gazette for implementation. The Policy Objective with regards to captive lions is: “To end the captive keeping of lions for commercial purposes and close captive lion facilities, put a halt to the intensive breeding of lion in controlled environments, and end the commercial exploitation of captive and captive-bred lions.”

“The proposed prohibition relates only to the establishment and registration of new captive breeding facilities, commercial exhibition facilities or rehabilitation facilities, or any other new controlled environments in respect of live specimens of African lion (Panthera leo). The establishment and registration of new sanctuaries are excluded from the proposed prohibition in the circumstance specified in paragraph 3. Persons who operate under existing permits are not affected by the proposed prohibition.”

Read the whole media release here