Oct 02, 2017
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the continuation of its positive enhancement finding for the import of legally hunted wild and wild-managed lions from South Africa into the United States. This finding allows the import of wild and wild-managed lions hunted in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons.
There are approximately 2,200 wild lions and 800 wild-managed lions in the country. The positive enhancement finding from the FWS concludes that well-regulated and monitored hunting is beneficial to the species and not a driver of population decline.
The FWS, along with CITES, have recognized the importance hunting plays in conservation. In October 2016, the FWS stated “that sport hunting of wild and wild-managed lions does contribute to the long-term conservation of the species in South Africa,” and explained that, “lions are not in trouble because of responsible sport hunting.” Wild and wild-managed lions are most threatened by habitat loss, loss of prey and retribution killings during human-wildlife conflict.
According to the FWS, “The presence of private reserves has increased the number and diversity of wildlife in South Africa, thus fueling the hunting industry, which funds the ongoing success of private reserves. It appears that without the hunting industry, these reserves, which have become islands of wilderness in a sea of civilization in much of South Africa, would not be economically viable, and therefore would not exist.”
According to the FWS, information received from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs reveals that four private reserves in Africa are listed as having wild lion populations at this time. These include the Mapungubwe Game Reserve in Limpopo Province; the Khamab Kalahari Reserve in North West Province; the Associated Private Nature Reserves in Mpunalanga Province; and the Kalahari Oryx Private Game Reserve in Northern Cape Province. Hunters wishing to obtain information about whether the FWS has or will issue import permits for lions taken from these areas should contact the FWS directly.
The majority of lions harvested in South Africa are captive-bred. As SCI reported in October 2016, the FWS made a negative finding for the import of captive-bred trophies. The positive enhancement finding for wild lions does not affect that finding. As a result, hunters continue to be unable to import legally hunted captive-bred lions from South Africa into the United States.
SCI will continue to work with wildlife authority agencies, in conjunction with professional hunting associations, to provide a clear link between the hunting of lions and the enhancement of the species. Scientific principles, not the emotionalism of anti-hunters, should provide the foundation for the management of wildlife and habitat.
Source: https://www.safariclub.org/what-we-...ood-for-south-africa-wild-lion-import-permits
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the continuation of its positive enhancement finding for the import of legally hunted wild and wild-managed lions from South Africa into the United States. This finding allows the import of wild and wild-managed lions hunted in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons.
There are approximately 2,200 wild lions and 800 wild-managed lions in the country. The positive enhancement finding from the FWS concludes that well-regulated and monitored hunting is beneficial to the species and not a driver of population decline.
The FWS, along with CITES, have recognized the importance hunting plays in conservation. In October 2016, the FWS stated “that sport hunting of wild and wild-managed lions does contribute to the long-term conservation of the species in South Africa,” and explained that, “lions are not in trouble because of responsible sport hunting.” Wild and wild-managed lions are most threatened by habitat loss, loss of prey and retribution killings during human-wildlife conflict.
According to the FWS, “The presence of private reserves has increased the number and diversity of wildlife in South Africa, thus fueling the hunting industry, which funds the ongoing success of private reserves. It appears that without the hunting industry, these reserves, which have become islands of wilderness in a sea of civilization in much of South Africa, would not be economically viable, and therefore would not exist.”
According to the FWS, information received from South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs reveals that four private reserves in Africa are listed as having wild lion populations at this time. These include the Mapungubwe Game Reserve in Limpopo Province; the Khamab Kalahari Reserve in North West Province; the Associated Private Nature Reserves in Mpunalanga Province; and the Kalahari Oryx Private Game Reserve in Northern Cape Province. Hunters wishing to obtain information about whether the FWS has or will issue import permits for lions taken from these areas should contact the FWS directly.
The majority of lions harvested in South Africa are captive-bred. As SCI reported in October 2016, the FWS made a negative finding for the import of captive-bred trophies. The positive enhancement finding for wild lions does not affect that finding. As a result, hunters continue to be unable to import legally hunted captive-bred lions from South Africa into the United States.
SCI will continue to work with wildlife authority agencies, in conjunction with professional hunting associations, to provide a clear link between the hunting of lions and the enhancement of the species. Scientific principles, not the emotionalism of anti-hunters, should provide the foundation for the management of wildlife and habitat.
Source: https://www.safariclub.org/what-we-...ood-for-south-africa-wild-lion-import-permits
