Delta’s embargo on animal trophies will damage SA’s hunting sector

06 August 2015 - 21:24 By RDM News Wire
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Rhino horns. File photo
Rhino horns. File photo
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

South Africa's hunting sector is valued at about R6.2-billion a year and is a "major source of the country’s socio-economic activity‚ contributing towards job creation‚ community development and social upliftment"‚ and Delta Airlines’ ban on the shipment of hunting trophies could harm this sector.

The Department of Environmental Affairs on Thursday expressed disappointment in Delta Airlines’ embargo on the transportation all lion‚ leopard‚ elephant‚ rhinoceros and buffalo trophies worldwide as freight.

The decision by Delta Airlines earlier this week to enforce a blanket ban failed to distinguish between the trade in and transportation of legally acquired wildlife specimens‚ and the illegal exploitation and trade in wildlife specimens‚ the department said.

“Until as recently as May the airline indicated publicly that it would continue to allow such shipments - as long as they were legal.”

Last week‚ Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa welcomed the lifting of an embargo by the cargo division of South Africa’s national carrier‚ South African Airways (SAA)‚ on the transport of legally acquired hunting trophies of African lion‚ African elephant‚ rhinoceros and tiger.

This was after SAA Cargo noted it was satisfied sufficient measures were in place to ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

“As one of the first signatories to the Convention on the International Trade in Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES‚ South Africa has a strictly regulated hunting and trophy transportation permit system.

“Our species conservation track record is well known on the global stage‚” it said.

The department had put sufficient measures in place‚ including deploying environmental management inspectors‚ commonly known as the Green Scorpions‚ at OR Tambo International Airport since April 1.

These inspectors were also tasked with ensuring that regulations relating to CITES and the Threatened or Protected Species were monitored and enforced‚ the department said.

The Green Scorpions had been working closely with other law enforcement agencies by conducting “joint proactive compliance and enforcement operations at the OR Tambo International Airport”.

The department said it would step up communications with exporters and importers‚ to ensure that they notified the department timeously of their intention to freight consignments‚ in order to arrange for physical inspections.

“Through these measures the department has endeavoured to ensure that loopholes that may have existed in the current regulations‚ have now been closed.

“The department encourages airlines and shipping companies who still have embargoes in place‚ to reconsider their positions.”

RDM News Wire.

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