Question NW1112 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

In light of the hunting and export quota of 10 leopards for 2022 that was set on 25 February 2022, what number Damage Causing Animal permits for the lethal management of leopards were issued in (a) 2017, (b) 2018, (c) 2019, (d) 2020 and (e) 2021; Whether it can be reliably established that hunted leopards are seven years old or older when leopards are normally hunted at night; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (a) what are the reasons and (b) on what basis has a 2022 leopard hunting quota been set when there is a consensus in the established Leopard Advisory Forum of her department that there is a lack of general and robust data in relation to leopard population in SA; (a) what are the reasons and (b) on what basis has a 2022 leopard hunting quota been set when the Leopard Advisory Forum has made no recommendations yet?