One thing in the way of foreigners spending up to R6.2 million each in South Africa
The South African environment ministry’s failure to issue trophy export quotas for elephant, leopard and black rhinos for the last five years has halted hunting safaris that cost as much as $350,000 (R6.2 million) each, an industry lobby group said.
The industry has lost up to R2.25 billion as a result of the impasse, with the country ceding market share to regional competitors, said Richard York, the chief executive officer of Wildlife Ranching South Africa, which is waging a legal battle to get the quotas declared.
“We haven’t been able to offer hunting opportunities for some of our most iconic species,” York said in a response to queries, adding that no explanation has been given for the failure to issue quotas, which he said is a legal requirement.
“Hunters are now turning to alternative markets with clear, lawful frameworks,” York said. “This makes us look unprofessional and unreliable.”
Hunting tourism in contributes about 44 billion rand to the economy annually, a study by the South Africa’s North-West University found.
The hold on quotas clashes with the policy espoused by both current minister, Dion George, and his predecessor, Barbara Creecy, of pushing for more sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity and natural assets.
The environment department is advocating the harvesting of a greater amount of game meat for export and local consumption, and previously said it wanted to promote more leisure hunting and tourism.
Wild animal numbers have surged since a legal change in 1993 gave landowners ownership of the animals on their property, effectively giving them a monetary value.
The department said “it is considering the matter” of issuing quotas and declined to comment further when contacted by Bloomberg, citing court proceedings.
WRSA says a July 21 High Court ruling compels the minister to submit relevant records related to consideration of the quotas.
The department, in an earlier statement, said it isn’t compelled to comply until it has taken a decision on the quotas.
Provincial authorities can issue permits for hunts, but the amount that can be charged for those is a fraction of that paid by hunters from the US and elsewhere who want to take their trophies — be they elephant tusks or stuffed leopard heads — home.
The United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species has given South Africa the right to permit the hunting of as many as 150 elephants annually, 150 male leopards and up to 0.5% of the national black rhino population, or about 10 animals.
A black rhino hunt can cost as much as $350,000 (R6.2 million) per animal, York said. Elephants are cheaper at between $75,000 (R1.3 million) and $100,000 (R1.78 million), while hunting a leopard costs as much as $40,000 (R709,300).
“The absence of these quotas has been devastating,” York said.
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