Question NW3040 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
31 October 2017 - NW3040
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether she will advise which specific departmental and/or government authority is ultimately responsible and accountable for overseeing and verifying that only 800 lion bone skeletons are being exported each year; if not, why not; if so (a) where does such verification take place, (b) what does the process entail, (c) how many lion bones in kilograms have been shipped since 01 January 2017 and (d) if the quota has already been reached, how many kilograms of lion bone over-quota have been shipped?
Reply:
The Department and/or government authority responsible and accountable for overseeing and verifying that the lion bone skeletons exported each year does not exceed the set quota is the Department of Environmental Affairs. Prorvincial authorities discharge their specific functions associated with permit issuing for exporters.
(a) The verification is conducted throughout the value chain process starting from the details required from the applicant, the pre-permit inspection by the provincial authorities, and finally at the port of exit where the permits are endorsed by the Environmental Management Inspectors.
(b) The process is as follows:
- The quota is managed at a national level (applications are lodged with provincial nature conservation authorities and then submitted by Provincial authorities to the Department for quota allocation);
- The quota is restricted to trade in full skeletons only, with or without the head
- Upon receipt of an application, the officials at the Province conduct the initial inspection to confirm the existence of the skeletons in question;
- Once confirmed, the Province evaluates the application and determine whether the relevant permit can be issued;
- Skeletons have to be packed separately;
- If confirmed, the Province requests for a quota from the Department;
- The Department manages the quota and the distribution of tags and DNA collection kits;
- After allocating the quota, the skeletons are inspected for a second time where they are then weighed, tagged and a DNA sample is taken for forensic analysis;
- The quota numbers are indicated on all permits;
- During export, at the port of exit, the consignment is inspected again where the quantity is verified against the details on the permit and random DNA samples are collected for analysis; and
- When all the particulars are correct, the Environmental Management Inspector endorses the permit for export.
(c) The total number of endorsed permits at OR Tambo since January 2017 is 208 skeletons and 113 lion bones. These bones and skeletons are exported for various purposes, including but not limited to, trophy hunting, personal, education and commercial activities. The weighing at the port of exit was not a legal requirement during the first semester of 2017, but this requirement will now apply to future shipments. It must be noted that, weighing of the skeletons happens in the provinces and the weight appears on the addendum of the issued permits. Copies of the addenda are kept by the Provincial authorities and can be requested.
(d) The total quota of 800 skeletons, with or without the skull, for 2017 has been allocated to various applicants in the Provinces for export. The quota as per allocation has been reached for the year. No export of lion bone over-quota is allowed.
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