Canned Lion Hunting in South Africa

South Africa will release its new industry wide regulations on hunting and has offered up some last minute surprises. South African Environment Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk is reported in the press to have banned the hunting of captive bred large predators within two years of their release on a property for the purpose of hunting. he original proposal set the release time at 6 months. The regulations apparently will prohibit “hunting large predators and rhino that are ‘put and take’ animals, in other words, a captive-bred animal that is released on a property for the purpose of hunting within 24 months.”

The new regulations will prohibit the bow hunting of animals with “thick skins,” and large predators, as well as hunting from vehicles. They will also introduce a uniform national system for the registration of breeding operations, game farms and more. The regulations will go into effect June 1, 2007.