Question NW3337 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs

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22 September 2015 - NW3337

Profile picture: Singh, Mr N

Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs

(1)Whether she is aware of the burgeoning tiger trade in the country which is steadily growing with exports of canned tiger hunting trophies, tiger skins and bones, as well as live tigers; if not, what steps does she intend to take in this regard; (2) in view of the more than 50 tigers that are reportedly kept by a Vietnamese national in the North West whose operation is reportedly not registered with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (details furnished), what steps does she intend to take in respect of reports that current relevant legislation in the country is extremely fragmented, inadequate and renders very little protection to these non-indigenous animals and requires an urgent regulatory framework; (3) what steps will she take with regard to (a) the absence of regulations regarding the possession of tiger derivatives, processing carcasses, or the sale or trade in carcasses and derivatives and (b) reports that private operators in Gauteng and North West are allowed to conduct all sorts of unethical tiger business under the Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance No 12 of 1983, as it only deals with the import and release of tigers?

Reply:

 

1.     Yes, The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is aware of international trade in tiger and tiger products from South Africa. The following table, obtained from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Trade Database (http://trade.cites.org) reflects the exports from South Africa from 2004 till 2014:

Taxon

Term

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Panthera tigris

bodies

       

1

   

1

1

   

Panthera tigris

claws

             

1

     

Panthera tigris

live

8

18

5

4

11

25

32

29

33

21

4

Panthera tigris

skins

 

1

1

1

   

2

2

2

   

Panthera tigris

skulls

 

1

           

1

   

Panthera tigris

trophies

4

 

2

   

6

3

4

3

1

 

Panthera tigris altaica

live

         

4

   

2

   

Panthera tigris altaica

trophies

         

1

         

It is clear from the above that the majority of trade is in live specimens. Trade in tiger specimens is regulated in terms of the CITES Regulations, promulgated in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004). It should be noted that due to the fact that tiger is listed in CITES Appendix I, import permits are issued by importing countries before an export permit can be issued by South Africa. The import permit must specify the purpose of the transaction and because commercial trade is not allowed in Appendix I specimens, the international trade authorised in terms CITES will be for non-commercial purposes only and this will be reflected on both the import and export permits. Compliance with the CITES Regulations and requirements are monitored by the Environmental Management Inspectors, who are responsible for the inspection of consignments and the endorsement of permits prior to export.

2.      The CITES Regulations, 2010 are implemented by all provinces as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs and provides a uniform regulatory framework to implement and enforce the provisions of the Convention. In terms of these regulations a captive breeding facility or a person who trades internationally in CITES Appendix I species (tiger) must be registered with the relevant provincial CITES Management Authority.

The Department identified the need to strengthen regulatory provisions relating to the activities involving CITES Appendix I listed specimens that are imported to South Africa and in this regard the following provisions have been included in the draft Threatened or Protected Species Regulations that was published for public participation in terms of Section 100 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004) on 31 March 2015:

Specific circumstances relating to the prohibition to possess and trade in listed protected species that are also included in Appendix I of CITES

74. (1) A person may not possess—

     (a) an imported specimen of a listed protected species that is also included in Appendix 1 of CITES; or

     (b) The off-spring of a specimen contemplated in paragraph (a);

     unless such person is authorized by a permit issued in accordance with these Regulations to possess such imported            specimen or the off-spring of such imported specimen.

(2) A person may not sell or donate an imported specimen contemplated in subregulation (1)(a), unless—

(a) such imported specimen originates from a commercial captive breeding facility that has been registered with the CITES Secretariat; and

(b) the selling or donation of such specimen is authorized by a permit issued in accordance with these Regulations.

(3)   (a) The regulatory provisions referred to above address the possession of tiger specimens as well as the captive breeding of tiger.

(b)    Illegal activities should be reported to the Department through the Hotline number: 0800 205 005. Concerns relating to the Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance No 12 of 1983 should be addressed to the relevant provincial legislature.

 

 

 

 

END

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