How to pass the buck Legislation for Conservation versus Wildlife Welfare in South Africa Dr Mandy Lombard Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University South Africa Karen Trendler Director ‘Working Wild’ Wild’ South Africa 1 3 4 2 5 8 6 9 7 9 provinces SA has one of the largest and most commercialized use of wildlife in the world but inadequate welfare legislation Wildlife Tourism in top 5 forex earners POOR people use wildlife for livelihoods (USE THE BUCK) Different value systems LEGISLATION fails on wildlife welfare (PASS THE BUCK) RICH people use wildlife for recreation (MAKE A BUCK) Legal system promotes Sustainable Use at all levels CONSTITUTION Right to use … DEA Dept. Environmental Affairs Sustainable use DAFF Dept. Agriculture, Forests & Fisheries Production Conservation Legislation Animal Welfare Legislation So who is responsible for the buck’s welfare? DEA DAFF Conservation Legislation Permit conditions NGO: National Council of SPCAs Animal Welfare Legislation Fundamental Problems Laws promote sustainable use conflict of interests w.r.t. welfare Laws weak financially-driven bad practice Laws fragmented responsibility passed around welfare is reactive Fundamental Problems Responsibility passed to NGO without power / capacity / funding Continuous argument dominated by stakeholders Different value systems Lack of a well-defined ethic Two examples to illustrate these problems Captive African Elephants Captive (canned) Lion Hunting Captive Elephant Issue Capture of calves from wild populations for elephant back riding Training Circus training and chaining DEA DAFF Conservation Legislation Animal Welfare Legislation Norms & Standards for Elephant Management Minimum Standards for Captive Elephant Use Canned Lion Hunting Issue Breeding of lions in captivity Removal of cubs to induce oestrous Release of drugged adults in small areas for hunting ~3,000 wild lions ~4,000 captive lions Constitutional Court DEA Conservation Legislation 2005 legal stakeholder process to list ToPs Predator breeders took DEA to court Way forward Multi-pronged approach Interdisciplinary research Disciplines Law New/strengthened/streamlined – welfare buck stays with user Empirical Science Better science to measure basic welfare requirements Social Science Reconcile different value-based views A well-defined ethic Actions Education and Training All legal system participants (policy drafters/magistrates, conservation/welfare officials, academic institutions) Networking and Coordination Amongst institutions, agencies & individuals International advisory panel Discussion document for policy officials What you can do …. publicwatch@mweb.co.za Conservation Scientists Wildlife Welfare into SA Policy Development Public Watch Let’s go get lunch…