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South Africa allows the hunting of several protected species such as black rhinos, leopards and elephants. Permits to kill will be issued for a limited quantity, an approach that surprises when black rhinos are particularly considered a critically endangered species. The South African Ministry of the Environment justifies these hunting permits by a careful study of the populations and a virtuous economic interest in the preservation of the environment.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Roman Song
Populations of rhinos, elephants and leopards which increase enough to be hunted… It is the old males who are targeted in priority in a concern, says the Ministry of the Environment, of species management.
Thus, ten leopards, ten black rhinos and 140 elephants can be killed. Permits will be issued in areas where their population is not threatened. Everything is thought out and framed, assures the ministry, which does not hide its interest in the financial income that these hunting permits will generate, money that will return to local communities and to the preservation of species and the environment.
In 2019, trophy hunting brought in 13 million euros for South Africa. ” Hunting is part of our culture and heritage “, assures the South African Ministry of the Environment.
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With 150 hunting permits for elephants, South Africa will not harm its herds. It is moreover twice less than neighboring Botswana which had authorized nearly 300 hunting permits in 2021.