National principles, norms and standards for the sustainable use of large predators in South Africa

24 No. 25090 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 JUNE 2003 APPENDIX 2 NATIONAL PRINCIPLES, NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF LARGE PREDATORS IN SOUTH AFRICA This document provides national principles, norms and standards for the sustainable utilisation of large predators in South Africa within the context of applicable national legislation and policies. Provincial policies may be more restrictive. Existing operations will have a one-year period of grace before having to conform to this policy. AIMS Aims of the principles, norms and standards are: to provide a national approach and minimum standards to all aspects relating to the management of large predators; to regulate the hunting of large predators; to promote the ethical hunting of large predators; to regulate the control of damage-causing animals; to protect the rights of owners of properties neighbouring those on which large predators are introduced; to regulate the import and export of large predators; to protect the genetic integrity of indigenous predator populations; and to ensure sustainable use of large predators. In this document the term large predator refers to lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dogs, hyaena and excludes exotic cats of the genera Panthera and Felis. 1. DEFINITIONS A large predator is considered to be wild if: it is free-ranging, it lives on wild prey populations, which do not require to be supplemented in numbers or with food, its own diet is not supplemented with food artificially, it occurs in its natural habitat within the historical distribution range of the particular species, and the particular species’ social requirements must be met at all times STAATSKOERANT, 13 JUNIE 2003 ~ ~ NO. 25090 25 Managed wild populations - A large predator population is considered to be a managed wild population if: it is free-ranging, it lives on wild prey populations whose numbers may require to be supplemented, it occurs in its natural habitat within the historical distribution range of the particular species, and the particular species’ social requirements must be met at all times Caotive - A large predator is considered captive if any of the criteria of the definitions for wild or managed wild populations are absent. Caotive-bred - A large predator bred under controlled unnatural conditions is considered to be captive-bred. Canned huntinq - Canned hunting is considered to be any form of hunting a large predator is tranquillised, artificially lured by sound, scent, visual stimuli, feeding, bait, other animals of its own species, or another species, or any other method, or where: captive large predators are hunted. 2. MANAGEMENT OF LARGE PREDATORS IN THE WILD This policy applies to predators which occur naturally in the wild and those that have been acceptably re-established in the wild within their natural distribution range. The following principles shall apply when re-establishing large wild predators: enough suitable habitat must be available to accommodate a viable group; sufficient suitable prey must be available to sustain the predators through natural hunting; adequate fencing as prescribed by the relevant provincial conservation authority must be erected only truly wild or properly rehabilitated large predators may be utilised for re-establishment purposes. The re-establishment of any large predator will be subject to an environmental assessment and feasibility study by the applicant, which will be reviewed by the relevant provincial conservation authority, and which will lead to the development of a formal ecological management plan. 26 No. 25090 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 JUNE 2003 Wild large predators may only be temporarily kept in a release camp prior to release and shall be subject to the fencing specifications prescribed by the relevant provincial conservation authority. Capture and.temp0rat-y keeping of large predators for any other reasons is subject to authorisation by the relevant provincial conservation authority. The written comments of adjacent landowners will be considered by the relevant provincial conservation authority when establishing large predators. 3. HUNTING OF WILD AND MANAGED WILD INDIGENOUS LARGE PREDATORS No large predator may be hunted without authorisation issued by the relevant provincial conservation authority. No human-imprinted predators may be hunted. The area in which the hunt will take place must fulfil the following requirements: the large predator must be wild as defined above; the area must be fenced according to the requirements of the relevant provincial conservation authority; and hunting of a specific animal will only be considered six months after introduction of the particular animal. NO large predator may be artificially lured by sound, scent, visual stimuli, feeding, bait, other animals of its own or another species or any other method. No dogs may be used, except where the predator has been wounded in the hunt and needs to be traced. NO large predator under the influence of any tranquilliser or similar drug may be hunted. No large predator may be hunted at night. The methods of hunting of leopard will be dealt with at the discretion of the relevant provincial conservation authority. STAATSKOERANT, 13 JUNIE 2003 NO. 25090 27 Hunting must be done on foot and from at least 200 m from the vehicle (except for disabled hunters) Hunting is only allowable using legal hunting methods. The relevant provincial conservation authority must be informed regarding the date and time of hunt and reserves the right to be present at the hunt. The hunter must be in possession of all permits, licences and relevant documentation and must be able to present these upon request. No large predator should be hunted in a pride situation. Wounded and hunted animals must be reported to the relevant provincial conservation authority within 24 hours. The conservation authority may specify the calibre of fire-arm or weapon used during the hunt. Special permits are required from the relevant provincial conservation authority for hunting with bow and arrow. KEEPING AND BREEDING OF CAPTlVE LARGE PREDATORS Large predators kept captive for species conservation and commercial purposes are subject to the following conditions. The establishment of a captive operation of large predators will be subject to an environmental assessment in terms of NEMA. The following will be minimum requirements: a management plan, and a business plan No large predator may be kept under captive circumstances unless the applicant satisfies the relevant provincial conservation authority that the capture, keeping and/or breeding of the predator/s has a conservation, commercial, rehabilitation or education objective or forms part of a bona fide research programme or project attached to a recognised institution of research or higher learning. No large predators may be kept as pets. Exhibition of large predators must conform to the Performing Animals Act (PAA) and the requirements of the NSPCA. The issuance of licenses in 28 No. 25090 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13 JUNE 2003 terms of the PAA must take into account the guidelines as set out in this document. All large predators in a captive operation shall be subject to micro-chipping as prescribed by the relevant provincial conservation authority. The applicant will be responsible for the costs of such micro-chipping. Such information will be housed in a national database, to be established by DEAT for this purpose, to ensure standardisation. Standardised micro-chips to be used as prescribed by DEAT. Provinces must supply DEAT with the information. Fencing specifications as prescribed by the relevant provincial conservation authority for the management of wild large predators must be adhered to (see section 3). The written comments of adjacent landowners will be considered when establishing a captive facility for large predators. No permit for the keeping of large predators in captivity will be issued before the facility has been inspected and approved by the relevant provincial Conservation authority. 5. HUNTING OF CAPTIVE LARGE PREDATORS 0 Hunting of captive large predators (i.e. canned hunting as defined in this document) is prohibited. 0 Hunting of captive-bred large predators will only be permitted once they have been certified as rehabilitated to wild status by the relevant provincial conservation authority as defined in this document. 6. CONTROL OF DAMAGE CAUSING LARGE PREDATORS The most effective control measures, taking into consideration the conservation status of the animal, should be applied at all times. Permits for the capture or destruction of large predators causing damage to property or which are a threat to human life will only be issued after the relevant provincial conservation authority has been satisfied that the capture or killing of the animal is warranted. The control of large predators causing damage shall be treated as prescribed by the relevant provincial legislation. STAATSKOERANT, 13 JUNIE 2003 No. 25090 29 The relevant provincial conservation authority will decide on the disposal of the carcass or the skin. Damage caused by large predators is an inherent agricultural risk and therefore the onus is on the landowner to use non-lethal preventative measures to protect his property from large predators that might cause damage. 7. IMPORT AND EXPORT OF LARGE PREDATORS No large predator shall be imported or exported or transported without the necessary internal, national, or provincial permits and without being micro chipped. Crates for the translocation of large predators must comply with IATA regulations for air transport and the requirements specified by the relevant provincial conservation authority. Where an application is received for the import of non-indigenous wild large predators into the country, the applicant will have to prove, by means of appropriate DNA testing, that the predators are genetically sufficiently dissimilar to local predators to the extent that it precludes the possibility of the hybridisation of subspecies, species, or other taxa. A certificate of health must be issued by a veterinarian prior to the import of any large predator and such certificate must indicate that each predator is free from diseases such as feline AIDS, TB or any other disease which may threaten local populations. Any other requirements by veterinary and other authorities must also be met. '