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World Rhino Day is celebrated on the 22nd of September every year to inspire people to acknowledge this iconic species. The day spotlights the importance of rhinos and raises much needed awareness and education on how people can be part of the solution to protect rhino. This past Friday, a life-size rhino sculpture was unveiled at the Durban harbour, recognizing the importance of rhino conservation. This rhino idea was inspired by the late Stephanie Seaward, who noticed how visiting seafarers to the centre took great delight in anything iconic of Africa.

Durban Seafarers’ Mission, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and WILDTRUST partnered to unveil a life-size rhino in celebration of World Rhino Day. Rhinos are poached in South Africa every day with the onslaught of poaching continuing throughout various parastatal and privately owned rhino reserves. Peter Houston, Chairman of the Mission to Seafarers comments, “We want to use our unique position in Durban to show seafarers the plight of rhinos in South Africa. As many seafarers come from Asia, we hope to spread awareness about rhino conservation right into the heart of where rhino products are consumed and even raise funds to adopt a real rhino at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve in support of WILDTRUST’s Adopt-A-Rhino campaign.”

WILDTRUST CEO, Dr Roelie Kloppers joined in the celebrations and had this to say, “WILDTRUST’s vision of a thriving and resilient world drives our passion for rhino conservation. We say no to rhino poaching and we will continue to pursue opportunities to raise awareness about this crisis both in South Africa and the world. We want to congratulate the Durban Mission To Seafarers for showing support to our rhino conservation efforts and we wish them a successful campaign that will see our project support rhino conservation efforts at Somkhanda Community Game Reserve.”

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife recognizes the partnership and support of all stakeholders involved in conservation efforts across the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Ezemvelo’s East Regional Manager, Mr Cedric Coetzee mentioned that “Ezemvelo is delighted to have the involvement of the Mission to Seafarers NGO assist in the Save-the-Rhino campaign. An awareness initiative of this kind is most significant, as it showcases this critical megaherbivore species to international seafarers that can make an impact, sharing the conservation message to family and friends afar.”

Should you wish to view and / or donate to this campaign, visit: https://wildtrust.co.za/support-us/ , search for the “HELP SUPPORT THE SEAFARERS SAVE THE RHINO” graphic and donate. The minimum target is R25 000 and we appeal to the public to help us exceed this target so we can do more in fighting for the rhino’s survival. This campaign will run for as long as it receives the support it deserves. Rhino conservation is an on-going process which all South Africans, Africans, and the globe, should support, to avoid this iconic species becoming extinct.

The WILDTRUST is participating in the Youth Employment Services (YES) programme, funded by NEDBANK, aimed at reducing Youth unemployment levels and building a future that works. The YES programme provides a one-year work-based job and training experience aimed at affording unemployed youth practical and meaningful work opportunities.

The WILDTRUST invites applications from unemployed youth, graduates and scholars who are between the ages of 18 and 27 years to apply for the following vacancies.

Assistant Training Administrator (6 Positions)

Finance and Admin Clerk (3 Positions)

HR Assistants and Data Capturers (6 Positions)

Support Team Data Capturers (5 Positions)

IT Support and Admin Assistant (1 Position)

Vehicle Fleet Assistants (2 Positions)

Cape Town – The notion of ‘sustainability’ has become the most overused and consequently meaningless phrase within conservation and wildlife circles. Used in equal measure by those that manage responsibly and the abusers of wildlife, it’s hardly surprising then that the predator breeding and canned or captive lion hunting industry is also invoking the term as a way of trying to sanitize what they do.

But how sustainable will it all be when the ‘wildness’ and the thrill has gone?

Contrary to the promotional claims, much of what takes place behind the fences of South Africa’s predator farms adds up to an industry that cannot be sustainable. Those involved won’t see it, and neither will they listen to words of warning because of the lucrative returns they currently make. And government, a rather odd bed-fellow to this constituency, seem to have been seduced by flimsy short-term economic arguments.

The breeding, trading, petting, walking, viewing, filming, de-boning and killing frenzy currently underway, mostly in South Africa but also in other countries across southern African, is about making as much money out of these animals as they possibly can and doing this in the shortest possible time frame. Of course, not every operator has the same parameters, but in my experience, the vast majority have never had any other consideration.

In doing so, the only measures they use are human selected ones: pretty much every aspect of the ecological or natural world has been removed with the animals being bred and kept under intensive agricultural-type conditions. In other words, lions and other predators on these farms have already been tamed and are now well on their way to becoming domesticated.

However, such is the greed and short-sightedness, those involved seem not to care that this process provides the ultimate paradox, a situation that pulls the rug from under their very own feet – not to mention what it means for the vast majority of us opposed to these practices, or for future generations.

This entire industry is based on selling the notion that whatever it is buyers will be doing to or with the lions, the supplied creature will be a wild one. Reinforcing the ‘wildness’ of these animals and the thrill that comes with the interaction or use is the central tenet for the marketers as without this, what would the experience be? It’s cunning, and often comes with fabrications of danger to enhance the yarn. However, after a few generations of intensive breeding, they are already producing tame and docile animals, the first step to complete domestication. And we know there is no market in petting house cats and dogs or shooting domestic cattle and sheep.

So, what happens then when the ‘wildness’ and the thrill is gone? Will canned hunters or petting visitor’s part with their money without these attributes? Much like a pyramid scheme, the ‘wild’ and ‘thrill’ capital is fast running out and soon they will be left selling hype and a lie.

And while on scams, the volunteer programmes that feed revenue and free labour into many of these lion farms is something Government should also be looking into. They entice people, often young students who believe they are making a worthy conservation contribution, into paying substantial amounts of money to offer their services to these facilities. For the most part, it’s misleading marketing and it has to be putting hundreds if not thousands of locals out of work. Also cunning, but how does one justify this under ‘sustainable use’?

The domestication process is the most shocking and damning aspect to this industry, and it will be the shameful legacy of those involved, which includes the decision-makers who have failed to act. Imagine being involved in domesticating lions, Africa’s most iconic species and then trying to justify your actions as conservation? Or for that matter, claiming it as ‘sustainable use’, a principle that obligates us to responsibility and caution when managing wilderness and wildlife.

Shocking as it may seem, there is still the occasional defender, one of them being the North-West University in Pochefstroom where a tourism professor from the institution recently claimed that lion breeding programmes are needed for conservation, and to ensure ‘sustainable’ tourism and economic growth in the country, as if we have no other means of doing this. One can only wonder how approximately 800 canned or captive hunters out of the over 9million annual visitors, and making a contribution comprising a fraction of less than 1% to overall annual tourism revenues reaching close to R100billion are achieving this? And has this institution accounted for the damage that this type of unethical hunting is doing to the country’s reputation as a responsible destination?

These ludicrous claims put the university completely at odds with every other interested party who have called for an end to these practices. Most recently, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Hawaii, Motion 009 calling on the South African Government to “terminate the hunting and breeding of captive lions and other predators” was unanimously approved.

Prior to this we have had the majority of South Africa’s professional hunting community vote against these practices principally because they lack any form of ethical sustainability; almost the entire responsible tourism sector has pledged not to support these industries; the Minister of Tourism in South Africa has called for “stronger measures to control if not ban the breeding of lions in captivity because we don’t need it in terms of our conservation efforts”; in addition, the Minister has stated that our true conservation record and Brand South Africa is being damaged; three governments, Australia, France and Netherlands have banned the importation of lion trophies, and the US Fish & Wildlife Dept. give every indication they do not regard captive lions as part of conservation; and most tellingly, almost every recognized conservation agency and lion scientist has come out against these industries.

Farming lions to be petted, traded or killed cannot under any reasonable definition be equated to or classified as conservation, and neither should those involved be able to justify their actions under the banner of sustainable use. And to accept either of the above would be to defraud our conservation and tourism record as well as all those who are currently doing such vital conservation work.

Cape Town – CITES CoP17 has dealt what is believed to be a devastating blow to African lions, critically endangered with an estimated 20 000 lions left in the wild.

Nine African nations, namely Niger, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria and Togo wanted to raise protection for lions by uplisting them to Appendix I, the maximum level of protection.

The move was intended to end the lion bone trade.

However Lions remain on CITES Appendix II with a “zero annual export quota for bones, bone pieces, products, claws, skeletons, skulls and teeth removed from the wild and traded for commercial purposes.”

‘A compromise proposal’

The compromise proposal was drafted at CoP17, currently underway in Johannesburg until Wednesday 05 October is said to be an “attempt to appease the fierce opposition from lion bone and body part traders and the hunting for entertainment enthusiasts”.

According to the document prepared by the European Union and Niger in their role as co-Chairs of the Working Group on African Lion,  South Africa has been permitted to set its own export quota for the same body parts and products from their captive breeding operations.

‘You can’t tell the difference between wild or captive bred lion bones’

In response Blood Lions says, ”The trouble is, nobody can tell the difference between wild lion bones and captive bred lion bones. Tragically, it does not include lion skins or parts/derivatives obtained through captive breeding.”

ADI responded by saying, it is deeply dissappointed and believes his move actually “encourages opening markets in lion bone trade”.

“Countries that are not currently trading in lion bones will now want to join the trade. ADI strongly opposes canned hunting, trophy hunting, and all trade in live lions or their parts and derivatives. We urge all ADI supporters to take up this issue and take forward the battle to save the world’s lions.”

The decision is in stark contrast to the recent IUCN call for an end to captive bred lion hunting operations, and the recent recognition by the countries with wild lion populations, that the increasing lion bone trade poses a serious risk to the survival of the species in the wild.

‘Opening markets in lion bone trade’

Blood Lions maintains Lions desperately need Appendix I protection, “Canned hunting operations and commercial lion trade is not conservation, but actually fuels illicit trade.”

Added to the proposal, it states that subject to external funding, the Secretariat shall, in collaboration with African lion range States, the Convention on Migratory Species and IUCN investigate possible mechanisms to develop and support the implementation of joint lion conservation plans and strategies. It must also develop an inventory of African lion populations across its range, as well as develop strategies to reinforce international cooperation on the management of lions by undertaking studies on legal and illegal trade in lions to ascertain the origin and smuggling routes, in collaboration with TRAFFIC.

However, in a Conservation Action Trust piece written by Blood Lions Documentary maker Ian Michler, he says, “Contrary to the promotional claims, much of what takes place behind the fences of South Africa’s predator farms adds up to an industry that cannot be sustainable. Those involved won’t see it, and neither will they listen to words of warning because of the lucrative returns they currently make. And government, a rather odd bed-fellow to this constituency, seem to have been seduced by flimsy short-term economic arguments. “

Michler goes on to say that the notion of ‘sustainability’ has become the most overused and consequently meaningless phrase within conservation and wildlife circles.

“Used in equal measure by those that manage responsibly and the abusers of wildlife, it’s hardly surprising then that the predator breeding and canned or captive lion hunting industry is also invoking the term as a way of trying to sanitize what they do.

But how sustainable will it all be when the ‘wildness’ and the thrill has gone?”

Late Friday night (30th October), lion conservationists were left feeling angry and frustrated at the fate of the once mighty and proud African Lion, when news broke that Lions may NOT be listed as a CITES Appendix I Endangered Species (a listing which would further safeguard lions from extinction).

To decide the fate of the African Lion, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) established a working group on Thursday to discuss the details, literature and positions of various countries at the convention – currently being held in Sandton – with the purpose of coming to an agreed understanding whereby Lions would either be given improved protection under CITES Appendix I, or see their current listing under Appendix II amended in view of the above.

However conservationists at the event say that unbelievably Lions may not receive the protection they so desperately need, and which the public at large demands.

Lions are currently listed as Appendix II, with their numbers as low as approximately 15,000 – 20,000 throughout the entire African continent!

Last night at CITES CoP17 Ulinzi Africa Foundation posted live updates from discussions with US Fish & Wildlife Service’s Dan Ashe proposing to the lion working group at CITES “a split listing of lions in order to address the interests of South African captive lion breeders”. One conservationist described this as “saddening”.

Another update read: “South Africa willing to consider split listing but notes it should be done based on sub species” (see below) although this now appears to be off the cards.

onservationists are asking: has the African Lion been short-changed at CITES?

Some countries were not even invited into this discussion group to help determine the future of lions. A Burkina Faso spokesperson said: “Burkina Faso delegation notes with concern that they are a range country for lions and were not invited to the meeting in which 28 countries took part in.”

Tanzania on the other hand was invited… and aligned themselves with proposals by South Africa and Mozambique, saying “if you look at the sheer numbers of lions in these range states, we are talking about two-thirds of the lion population in Africa. We feel if these populations are listed in appendix I it will affect conservation of the species within these range states – it is going to be ‘counter productive’. We strongly oppose the inclusion of these four key lion populations in appendix I.”

What Tanzania did not mention are the remarks by various lion conservationists and professionals, that Tanzania appears to have high levels of corruption and occasional killing of young male lions which has devastating effects on the lion population.

Captured In Africa Foundation’s Drew Abrahamson explains: “For every one male lion killed, whether hunted by a trophy hunter, poached or killed by local farmers as a ‘pest’, up to seven lions may die as a direct consequence of that one lion being killed for his/her trophy or bones. That’s because that male is likely to be the dominant male of a pride, or perhaps looking to sire cubs of his own.

“The female killed may also be the pride’s protector or main food provider during hunting. So killing just one lion, is actually killing several lions all in one fell swoop”

Drew also recalls: “Poaching of our rhino as well as the trade in body parts escalated at the exact point that South Africa sold a stock pile of ivory. We must take heed of the examples already set with lion, rhino and elephants and pay attention to what’s gone before… that will always be the best evidence to work from when establishing new regulations and laws for the protection of endangered species.”

Guinea contributed to Friday’s African Lion discussion group, stating: “We are convinced that the lion meets criteria for listing on Appendix I on a continental level. We want Africa to speak with one voice. The trade of lion bones is a global threat which affects CITES for nearly 30 years.

“The trade of lion bones has been ongoing and is being exported to Asia… We have asked for stricter rules to stop that illegal trade and to strengthen the institutions of CITES.

“We regret an agreement cannot be reached for the protection of the lion.”

In response to South Africa’s position, Niger said: “With all due respect to South Africa, although we made so many sacrifices, if we cannot keep our position and they cannot accept our position, I’m sorry South Africa should be more flexible to our sacrifices. We cannot do more compromises.”

Earlier this year a documentary – Blood Lions – exposed the ‘canned lion’ hunting industry in South Africa. Up to 8,000 lions are in captivity in South Africa alone, bred to be killed, along with supplying an apparently legal trade in their bones to the Asian market.

Captured In Africa Foundation’s Paul Tully says: “It’s important to note, that when South Africa introduced a legal trade in lion bones in around 1997/98, there was barely no market for lion bones.

“Since then, the Asian market realised they could replace Tiger bones in things like Tiger Cake and Tiger Bone Wine, with Lion bone. This has caused a huge increase in not only trade of lion bones, but captive lion farming in South Africa to supply and cater to this demand.

“On top of the lion farming supplying lion bones, wild lion poaching has increased – with the view that Asian markets often prefer wild specimens as they believe them to be purer. CITES are seemingly quite happy for South Africa’s government to continue making a mockery of lions.”

Tully continues: “I thought CITES was here to stop this kind of trade which threatened species? Increased trade, increased poaching, lawless and unregulated lion hunting, captive lion farming exploiting this species even further, not to even mention the huge deceit towards tourists and wildlife lovers worldwide – what’s protecting the African Lion about that? What we are arguing has all be proven and shows a very worrying trend of exploitation and clear decline populations of lion.”

Drew Abrahamson sums up the feeling from South African citizens and conservationists fighting for wildlife worldwide: “South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe… you have let your continent and the lions down! Listen to those who have no agenda but a passion for wildlife.”

Saturday will see the African Lion discussion group reconvene to finalise their agenda for lions. Conservationists are hoping that sanity prevails and we can finally ensure protection for our heritage. The magnificent African Lion.

On a final note – well done and thank you to those countries speaking up for lions and against the exploitation for profit and greed.

 

Conservationists have reacted with shock, outrage and bitter disappointment as it was announced in South Africa on Sunday evening that the CITES Committee has approved the ongoing trade in lion bone, setting “quotas” for the selling of bones of captive lions.

Consumption of lion bone in Asia has increased over the past few years as it has become a replacement for tiger bone.

Documentary makers from ‘Blood Lions’ (the film which exposed the canned lion hunting industry in South Africa) said tonight: “CITES approves trade in lion bone for consumption in Asia for false medicinal use. Lions not uplisted.”

They added “Shame on those who voted.”

Will Travers, founder and President of Born Free Foundation, tweeted that it is an “APPALLING decision on #lions enshrining, perpetuating captive breeding & bone trade. Threatens ALL lions.”

He said: “Bleak future 4 #lions. #CITES permitting bone trade from captive lions reprehensible” and said it was a “sad day 4 CITES” and that “Bone trade = death = $$$.”

CITES itself tweeted: “Agreement reached today in @CITES #CoP17 Committee on strengthened conservation measures for African #lions.”

Whilst the CITES committee has decided to allow a lion bone quota from farmed lions in South Africa, it has banned tiger farming in China.

Blood Lions said thousands of captive lions in South Africa “will be thrown to the lion bone traders”. There are currently approximately 8,000 captive lions in SA… whose lives begin as petting cubs for local and international tourists, before becoming too large to pet and too tame for the wild… and are relocated to farms where hunters pay exorbitant fees to kill them.

Social media users have expressed “devastation” and “disgust” at the decision to allow the export of captive-bred lion bones, with one saying “how the hell can they vote this way? It all comes down to corrupt governments and the greed for the ALL MIGHTY DOLLAR…”

Conservationists had hoped that lions would be moved to Appendix 1 Endangered Species… but will unfortunately now have to wait for CoP18.

In happier CITES news, governments in Committee have agreed to close domestic markets of elephant ivory that contribute to poaching or illegal trade (although legally this may not be as easy to implement); and the African grey parrot, one of the most trafficked birds, has received the vote to be upgraded to the highest level protection via Appendix I listing. If only we could be saying the same for the lion!

CITES CoP17 is currently being held in Sandton, South Africa, and will run until 5 October.

 

‘Dit is net daar om hebsug te bevredig’

Die vonke het die naweek by COP17 gespat oor die toekoms van leeus toe dit blyk die moontlikheid is sterk dat die ernstig bedreigde diere steeds gejag en “uitgebuit” mag word sodat lande soos SuidAfrika met hul liggaamsdele veral hul beendere met Asiatiese lande kan handel dryf.

Animal Defense International (ADI) het gister gese nege Afrikastate (ondersteun deur Botswana en Kenia) het gevra dat die Afrikaleeu op bylae 1 geplaas word, maar trofeejagters soos Safariklub International en SuidAfrika skop hewig daarteen.

“Hierdie teenstanders wil toesien dat die handel in leeubeendere en vel voortgaan.”

Die beendere kom hoofsaaklik van leeus wat in gevangenskap geteel is en dan gejag word in die sogenaamde “geblikte jagtogte”, het Jan Creamer, direkteur van ADI, gese.

Sy het gese die groeiende handel in leeuliggaamsdele het ook ‘n vernietigende invloed op wilde leeus omdat stropers dit op die manier goedkoper kan kry.

Navorsing het gewys ‘n toename in die internasionale vraag na leeubeendere en vel het die afgelope 30 jaar regstreeks bygedra tot die “skokkende” afname van 43% tot 50% in wilde leeubevolkings.

Creamer plaas die blaam vir die groeiende handel in leeuliggaamsdele op die trofeejagters en die “geblikte” leeubedryf, waar die diere in klein kampies in SuidAfrika geteel word.

Volgens haar word plaaslike gemeenskappe “beroof’ van geleenthede wat ekotoerisme bied omdat hul wilde leeus gestroop en gejag word. Nog navorsing het gewys die ekonomiese voordele wat ekotoerisme vir gemeenskappe bring, is tot 15 keer meer as die van trofeejag en die intensiewe teel van leeus.

“Afrika se leeus moet op bylae 1 van Cites gelys word. Geblikte leeujag en die intensiewe teel van leeus en die kommersiele handel in hul liggaamsdele het geen plek in bewaring nie.” ADI meen die bedrywighede is net daar om die onwettige handel in leeubeendere te stimuleer en om diegene wat daarby betrokke is se hebsug te bevredig.

‘n Onlangse sensus wys daarop daar is net tussen 15 000 en 20 000 wilde leeus in Afrika oor.

Volgens die nieregeringsorganisasie (NRO) Blood Lions is daar sowat 8 000 leeus in SuidAfrika in gevangenskap wat geteel word om op kort afstand doodgeskiet te word sodat hul beendere na Asie uitgevoer kan word.

Paul Tullly van die NRO Captured in Africa het gese toe SuidAfrika in 1998 wetgewing ingestel het dat met leeubeendere handel gedryf mag word, was daar byna geen mark in die Ooste daarvoor nie.

“Sedertdien het die Asiate besef hulle kan tierbeendere met die van leeus vervang in produkte soos tierbeenwyne. Dit het ‘n geweldige toename in die teel van halfmak leeus in SuidAfrika tot gevolg gehad.”

Die stemproses oor die toekoms van leeus sou na verwagting vanoggend vroeg begin.

Lande kan self besluit oor ivoor

Die konvensie oor die internasionale handel in fauna en flora (Cites) en Afrikalande het ‘n kompromis bereik oor binnelandse handel in ivoor en die vernietiging van opgepotte ivoor.

Lande kan self daaroor besluit, se die Internasionale Fonds vir Dierewelsyn (Ifaw) in ‘n verklaring.

Tien Afrikalande het die lidlande van Cites vroeer die dag versoek om hul markte te sluit en hul opgepotte ivoor te vernietig, se Grace Gabriel, Ifaw se streeksdi rekteur in Asie.

“Die voorstel is deur die dag verwater, in so ‘n mate dat lande waar Afrikaolifante voorkom, versoek word om hul opgepotte ivoor strenger te reguleer. Dit sluit wel die vernietiging van opgepotte ivoor in, mits die politieke wil bestaan.”

Gabriel se opgepotte ivoor is ‘n teiken vir misdadigers en Ifaw meen daarom dit moet vernietig word.

Die Wereldnatuurfonds het in ‘n verklaring gese China moet gelukgewens word omdat hy die voorstel steun dat binnelandse markte vir ivoor vernietieg word. “Dit is ‘n massiewe stap.” Die land moet egter ‘n duidelike tydraamwerk opstel en bekend maak.

Ron Thomson, president van die True Green Alliance, het gese: “So lank as wat SuiderAfrika se olifantegetalle so groot soos nou is … is die diere nie bedreig nie. Uitwissing staar hulle ook nie in die gesig nie.”

Thomson het die uitspraak gemaak kort nadat pres. Ian Khama van Botswana gese het hy steun nie SuidAfrika, Zimbabwe en Namibie se voorstel om weer in ivoor handel te dryf nie.