Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) Regulatory role in captive lion breeding for hunting 21 August 2018

Table of contents Introduction 1 DAFF’s Role In Captive Lion Welfare 2 Animal Welfare Definition 3 Existing Animal Welfare Related Legislation In South Africa 4 Other Important Game Legislation 5 Proposed Guidelines For The Welfare Of Captive Lions 6 Categories Of Captive Lion Operations In South Africa 7 Other Uniform Guidelines For All Categories 8 Lions Released For Hunting 9 Opportunities 10 Conclusion 11

1. Introduction The captive lion industry has been the subject of much negative publicity in recent years and this often overshadows the advantages of the sector – from an ecotourism, job creation and conservation point of view. This sector is regulated by multiple legislations that spreads mandates between multiple Departments: The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) administers provisions of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004) and other relevant regulations such as those dealing with Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS). Animal health and welfare legislation is administered by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) – Animals Protection Act, 1962 (APA) and the Performing Animals Protection Act, 1935 (PAPA).

2. DAFF’s Role In Captive Lion Welfare One of the main challenges is to have a legally binding set of norms and standards in place to give credibility to this sector and to provide assurances on the welfare of the affected animals and the integrity of operators in the sector. This can be done by drafting detailed guidelines that could be enforceable as regulations in terms of legislation administered by DAFF. It is, however, important to ensure that the process includes all stakeholders and interested parties and that all relevant legislation is also taken into consideration to avoid any inconsistencies. Central to these guidelines is the recent definition of animal welfare published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). This definition supports a scientific approach and includes basic inputs that ensure that an animal is in a good state of physical and mental health.

3. Animal Welfare Definition ‘Means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires: disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal

4. Existing Animal Welfare Related Legislation In South Africa Performing Animals Protection Act, 1935 (Act 24 of 1935) as amended This applies to any animal that is used for exhibition, training or display purposes (with or without monetary compensation.) This law excludes any public zoological gardens. Animals Protection Act, 1962 (Act 71 of 1962) This law applies to all animals regardless of their purpose or conservation status. Animal Matters Amendment Act, 1993 (Act 42 of 1993) Provide for directions in respect of injuries caused by animals Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1993 (Act 169 of 1993) Gives SPCA’s powers to enforce the Animals Protection Act

5. Other Important Game Legislation

6. Proposed Guidelines For The Welfare Of Captive Lions The aim of these guidelines is to ensure that captive lions are cared for in a way that ensures their general well being, taking the five freedoms into account, namely: freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition; freedom from fear and distress; freedom from physical and thermal discomfort; freedom from pain, injury and disease; and freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour From this, captive lion operations were divided into different categories due to the varying nature of the needs related to each category.

7. Categories Of Captive Lion Operations In South Africa Intensive breeding operations with no public interaction and no display Intensive breeding operations with no public interaction but display Intensive breeding operations that include public interaction and display (walking with lions; lion cubs, etc.) Zoos and lion parks Circuses, exhibitions and lions used on movie sets Animal traders – including the importation end export of lions Private pet owners Hunting   All these categories need to apply certain uniform standards that include certification, registration and licensing, identification of all animals, DNA profiles of all animals and the keeping of relevant records .

8. Other Uniform Guidelines For All Categories The following factors are considered for all captive lions: enclosures, housing and handling facilities enclosure and environmental design environmental enrichment spatial requirements security of facilities lion husbandry - general management and nutrition health, welfare and veterinary care waste management transportation and movement of animals training, certification and registration of handlers and managers public education permits for importing and for keeping lions

9. Lions Released For Hunting The release of lions for hunting should be strictly controlled and conform to all legal requirements and permits. All animals that are purchased or introduced should be sourced from registered breeding facilities or suppliers. Under no circumstances should lions that originate from any facility where there has been regular contact with humans (cub petting, walking with lions) be considered for hunting. A strict register of acquisitions and releases must be kept, along with the identification details of the animals hunted. Owners must make available the register to the competent authority twice per annum Products from hunts and from animals euthanized for genetic reasons can be processed , sold locally or exported – provided this is done with the necessary health certification and documentation.

10. Opportunities Development of a widely consulted comprehensive animal welfare legislation. Incorporation (in-part or in-toto) of existing private welfare standards Liaise with other departmental structures to incorporate the welfare mandate into existing certification and licencing. Develop a ranking system for facilities in terms of welfare, biodiversity, conservation and community empowerment.

11. Conclusion DAFF has a mandate on captive lion breeding and hunting in terms of animal health and welfare. The successful implementation of this mandate is dependent on the cooperative governance between DAFF and DEA, due to overlapping functions. A guiding document for the welfare of captive lions in South Africa is being finalised Opportunities are available to improve the general welfare of captive lions and thus how this economically important sector is perceived by the general public.

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