CONSERVATION NEWS
Farming wild animals – is China the model for South Africa?
Let’s put an end to farming wild animals.
Posted on May 4, 2020 by Team Africa Geographic in the OPINION EDITORIAL post series.
Authors: Jamie Paterson (science editor) and Simon Espley (CEO) of team Africa Geographic
Farmed lions in crowded pens in South Africa. These lions are petted by tourists as cubs, walked with tourists as juveniles and then either hunted in enclosures (canned hunting) or killed for their bones © Simon Espley
South Africa is a long-standing and respected leader when it comes to farming wild animals. Yes, there are instances of bad and biodiversity-damaging behavior (which we condemn via focused articles), but as an industry, the South African wildlife industry does earn its keep and its kudos, and it maintains sizable swathes of land for wildlife, and away from intensive crop and livestock farming. But recent moves by the South African government suggest that the game is about to change, and not for the better.
In 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture in South Africa quietly (and without public consultation or scientific research) passed a “minor amendment” to the Animal Improvement Act that reclassified 33 wild animals as farm animals – including lions, cheetahs, several antelope species, giraffes, zebras and both black and white rhinos. Now, the government plans to revise the Meat Safety Act of 2000 by expanding the list of animals to which the Act applies for slaughter, consumption, import, export, and sale. The intent was published in the official government Gazette on 28 February 2020. New animals added to this list now include impala, bushpig, warthog, giraffe, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros.
South African government aims to legalize rhino consumption!
Let’s stop this before it gets started.
Original story posted by Anita Froneman on 6 May 2020 | www.getaway.co.za
COVID-19 has brought the world to its knees and is believed to have been caused by the consumption of an endangered animal.
Now, South African Government is proposing an amendment to the Meat Safety Act which expands the list of animals that may be legally consumed by humans.
The proposed amended list classifies animals for slaughter, consumption, import, export and sale. This list now includes many threatened species in South Africa including rhino, elephant and giraffe. It also includes undefined birds, reptiles and fish.
While the Act is under revision, however, members of the public can have their say via online platform Dear South Africa. ‘The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Angela Thokozile Didiza, invites all interested institutions, organizations and individuals to submit written comments on the proposed update to Schedule 1, as provided for in section 1(2) of the Meat Safety Act, 2000 (Act No 40 of 2000), extending the list of animals to which the Act applies,’ the draft amendment notice says.
The original Meat Safety Act says that it aims ‘to provide for measures to promote meat safety and the safety of animal products; to establish and maintain essential national standards in respect of abattoirs; to regulate the importation and exportation of meat; and to establish meat safety schemes.’
The proposed extended list now includes a host of wild animals already on the brink of extinction.
12 Rangers Among 17 Killed in Congo Park Ambush
We stand with the DR of Congo in the fight against poaching.
12 Wildlife Rangers in the Democratic Republic of Congo were ambushed and killed by poachers.
Nsefu Wildlife sends our condolences to the families and friends of the Rangers and others that were killed in the ambush.
Nsefu Wildlife's Sewing Program makes Protective Masks in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Nsefu Sewing program allows locals to produce income and provide much needed items to the local community.
Nsefu Wildlife's Sewing Program team members make Protective Masks in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. These masks are essential in the reduction of the transmission of the disease among the local people.
Please help us support our Sewing Program.
Thank You Global March for Elephants and Rhinos - Toronto
Donations make our work possible!
In these incredibly difficult times for nonprofits battling for survival due to COVID-19's catastrophic impact on the global economy, we would like to thank our wonderful friends at Global March for Elephants and Rhinos -Toronto for their wonderful donation of $500!
Because of the impact of COVID, the tourism industry has been decimated and many, many people have lost their employment, thus poaching has escalated dramatically in Africa!
We are determined to keep our Nsefu Wildlife Ranger Team on the ground working full-time protecting wildlife from the threat of poaching and wildlife trafficking. We have a wonderful relationship with the our friends at GMFER and are incrediby grateful for their much-needed donation.
On behalf of Team Nsefu and the wildlife of Zambia...THANK YOU!
Coe Lewis
Co-founder
NSEFU WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION (Nsefu.org)