MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE COALITION TO STOP CAPTIVE BREEDING AND KEEPING OF LIONS AND OTHER BIG CATS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES (The Coalition)
30 October 2019
On the 17th May 2019, the former Minister Senzeni Zokwana of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made an amendment to the Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act No. 62 of 1998) (AIA) to include 33 wild mammal species, commonly bred by wildlife ranchers, under Table 7 of these regulations.
The AIA is enacted “to provide for the breeding, identification and utilisation of genetically superior animals in order to improve the [food] production and performance of animals in the interest of the Republic”. The 33 species, including Black & White rhino, cheetah, giraffe, lion and 28 indigenous and non-indigenous game species, are in effect now treated in the same manner as livestock in so far as the recognition of breeders’ rights is concerned.