Draft Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros

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The Republic of South Africa, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and The Environment (DFFE) has issued its “Draft Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros” – Government Gazette, No. 49322, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), dated 19 September 2023. There are many contradictions between …

Trophy Hunting: An Unnecessary Evil

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The “Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill” heads for Committee Stage in the United Kingdom House of Lords on 12 September 2023. In response to tabled amendments to the Bill, the Humane Society International (HSI) UK has prepared a formal briefing – “Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill – HL Bill 119, Briefing …

Putting a stop to cruelty – Lion Bone Trade

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“Putting a stop to cruelty: why South Africa’s commercial captive lion industry should be shut down for good” – World Animal Protection report, August 2023 “The report adds credence to pre-existing concerns about how some of these types of facilities operate. Specifically, that some are using legal activities – like captive breeding and canned hunting – to …

Saving Sally: Trophy Hunters, Secrets & Lies

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SavingSally.org When Eduardo Goncalves (of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting) posed as a trophy hunter, he entered the fanatical, dark and macabre world of the trophy hunters and their fixers – hunting outfitters and canned* animal breeders offering trophy hunters kills for cash.  “Saving Sally: Trophy Hunters Secrets and Lies” outlines …

2022 Review

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United Kingdom Hunting Trophy Imports On the 25 November 2022, the first reading of Henry Smith MP’s “Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill” took place in the United Kingdom House of Commons – the bill passed unopposed to the next Committee Stage due 25 January 2023. The bill has the potential to …

Rhino horn trafficking as a form of transnational organised crime 2012-2021

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“Poaching rates across Africa have decreased by more than 50% since the peak in 2015, but they remain high, at equivalent levels seen at the start of the crisis. Poached horns from South Africa continue to be a key source for the illicit supply chain. Investigations indicate the main consumer market is China where rhino horn is …

To skin a cat: how organised crime capitalises and exploits captive tiger facilities

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“Although the international trade in tigers has been prohibited since 1975 when they were classified as an Appendix I species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), tigers continue to be bred in legal and illegal captive facilities – otherwise known as tiger farms. In …

Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill – United Kingdom

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The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, sponsored by Henry Smith MP [draft bill published 23 November 2022] was read in the United Kingdom House of Commons on 25 November 2022 [Parliament Live TV achieve (10:49 onwards)  link and/or the transcript]. [Update] The bill passed Committee stage 25 January 2023, the Report Stage/3rd …

Consultation on Conservation and Sustainable Use – South Africa

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Banner Image: Courtesy of Michelle Riley HSUS The Minster (Barbara Creecy), the Republic of South Africa, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) has released, for public consultation, a Draft White Paper on Conservation and Sustainable Use of South Africa’s Biodiversity: Government Notice 2252 of 2022 “South Africa’s Biodiversity 2022: …