Leopards have a reprieve

ALTHOUGH the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has allocated 150 leopard hunting permits to South Africa for 2016, the the Department of Environmental Affairs Chief Director Communications, Albi Modise has confirmed provincial quotas have been set at zero.

Modise would not go into detail about the motivation for the decision, but said it followed a report led by South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI).

In a Government Gazette published last year, the department suggested that leopard hunting might be unsustainable.

‘Recent research suggests that trophy hunting may be unsustainable in Limpopo, KZN and, possibly, the North West.

This is due mainly to excessive quotas, clumping of hunting effort, poor trophy selection and the additive effects of ‘damage-causing-animal’ control combined with other forms of illegal off-takes.

According to Modise, the decision, which effectively bans leopard hunting, applies throughout South Africa.

The department admits they do not have exact numbers of leopards in the wild, as they are illusive and difficult to count.

One of the main methods of counting is using camera traps which record animals moving around at night.

Religious and traditional use

Besides trophy hunting, leopard skins are sought after by the Nazareth Baptist Church and traditional leaders.

Some members of the Nazereth Baptist (Shembe) Church are slowly changing their custom and are warming to wearing fake leopard fur in a bid to stop the illegal hunting and killing of the wild cats.

Leopard skin is revered in the church and during festivals and important celebrations, male church elders proudly wear these and other animal skins.

‘It has high significance,’ said Ebuhleni group legal advisor Lizwi Ncwane.

The use of leopard skins by the Shembe people raised the interest of a conservation group Panthera, which then approached church elders and donated 4 500 fake leopard skins during a special festival.

‘The ideology that is carried by the Nazareth Baptist Church faith is that Shembe cares about human beings, animals and all that is on earth, like grass and plants.

‘That is why we have been co-operative because this is quite in line with what Shembe has taught us,’ said Ncwane.

Real leopard hides sell for up to R6 000, while the fake versions sell for far less.

Wearing fake fur will also save members the trouble of acquiring the necessary permits.