Planning to domesticate a rhino or lion? You might want to know about these policy changes

There are policy changes to phase out the domestication of rhinos

The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has opened a draft policy focused on conservation and trade conditions of elephants, rhinos, leopards and lions for public comment.

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The draft policies propose “three conservation and sustainable use policy objectives to enhance species management”, and “three international commercial trade-related policy objectives”.

These are

To end the captive keeping of lions for commercial purposes and close captive lion facilities, put a halt to the intensive breeding of lion in controlled environments, and end the commercial exploitation of captive and captive-bred lions.
To phase out the domestication and intensification of management of rhinoceros.
To enhance the conservation and sustainable use of leopard.
To promote live export of the five species only to range States or any other appropriate and acceptable destinations with suitable habitats on the African continent.
South Africa will work with range States to support a proposal for international commercial trade in rhinoceros horn from protected wild rhinoceros, for conservation purposes, when conditions become favourable.
Consider international commercial elephant ivory trade only when conditions become favourable.

Those wishing to comment on the proposed changes to legislation must do so within 30 days to Dr Tsepang Makholela, Private Bag X447, Pretoria, 0001; Environment House, 473 Steve Biko Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0001 or via e-mail.