South Africa has banned leopard hunting for a year

 

South Africa has imposed a year-long ban on leopard hunting and will review the ban at the end of the year.

The Department of Environmental Affairs acted on advice from South Africa’s scientific authority. Currently, the size of South Africa’s leopard population is unknown, but steps are being taken now to ensure the survival of the big cats.

According to AFP, Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), South Africa can allocate 150 permits each year for the trophy-hunting of leopards destined for export.

Conservation groups hailed the ban and suggested that it is extended at the end of the year until the exact size of the leopard population us known.

The mismanagement of trophy hunting and the illegal trade in leopard fur are the main threats to South Africa’s population of the big cat, according to the government.

AFP reports that South Africa earns substantial revenues from selling permits to wealthy foreigners willing to pay thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to hunt one of the “big five” (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino or buffalo).

Hunting generates some 6.2m South African rand ($379,000) for South Africa every year, according to the environment ministry.