Covering Letter for the lion bone quota submission
Dr Louise de Waal
June 2019

To: Honourable Minister Barbara Creecy

14th June 2019

Dear Honourable Minister Creecy, Honourable Deputy Minister Sotyu and Ms Phoshoko,

Thank you for the opportunity to provide information to be considered for the determination of the 2019 lion bone export quota. This is a matter of great public concern involving our national heritage, and the protection of same for future generations, in accordance with the guaranteed Constitutional right to environment. The importance of this cannot be underestimated.

The initial establishment of a legal export quota of lion bones in 2017 was based purely on purported market dynamics in the preceding years of unregulated and uncontrolled lion bone exports, i.e. an annual average export quantity of 800 lion skeletons. However, applying some form of data to an issue does not equate to science and hence this quota had no grounding in science or research.

At the time, lion bones were predominantly a by-product of the trophy hunting industry, a situation which has changed dramatically since the USA’s 2016 restrictions on trophy imports. This was a significant turning point for the industry that reacted by starting to breed lions purely for the bone export market. This had further grievous animal welfare implications, as a lion bred for its bones does not require to be in good physical health.

We believe that the setting of a lion bone quota should not be considered in a silo of CITES permits, nor is it the mandate of just the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF). The establishment of such a quota has much wider implications for, inter alia, wild lion and other wildlife conservation, animal welfare, ethics, Brand SA, and potentially human health, that concern all members of the public, as well as other government departments. 

Not only is the export quota decided in isolation, it is now also presented as a science-based consideration with a so-called public participation process based on scientific expert opinion and scientific peer-reviewed publications only, thus excluding the views and values of South Africa’s wider citizenry, and preventing critical ethical considerations from being taken into account. In addition, such scientific expert opinions are often sponsored or financially reliant on the very same industries, who benefit from such research.

Even though the notice calling for comments is issued under Sections 61 and 62 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) and DEFF are obliged to ask the public for written scientific information before publishing a non-detriment finding (NDF) assessment, which includes the setting of a lion bone quota. It is our view that a decision to publish a NDF is an ‘administrative action’ for the purposes of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA). 

Therefore, everyone has a right to procedurally fair administrative action in terms of the Constitution and PAJA. Hence, we believe the public has indeed a right to comment in general on the proposal to set the lion bone quota. 

In making the decision to publish a quota, Minister Barbara Creecy and any other relevant decision-makers must therefore consider all relevant information, including relevant non-scientific comments from members of the public, and ignore irrelevant information. 

Section 24 of the South African Constitution guarantees every person the right to environment. The highest court in the country has confirmed that this right is linked to animal welfare. Accordingly, same must be considered in any decision relating to this right and the interpretation of this section by the relevant department. 

Therefore, comments relating to the welfare of lions bred for or used in the lion bone trade, and any related industry, must be considered.

Although this call for public participation relates specifically to the 2019 lion bone export quota, we are of the view that DEFF needs to consider the captive lion breeding industry in its totality, when determining this decision. 

The lion bone quota will inevitably impact on current and future lions in captivity, as well as wild animal populations, in South Africa, regionally and globally. Thus, a summary of some of the issues pertaining to the captive lion breeding industry has been set out below. 

According to the Scientific Authority, a zero quota would be dangerous as this industry is led by the Asian demand for lion bones. However, pre-2008 there was no demand for lion bones. This has been created by the South African lion bone industry, which actively markets lion bones in Asia. 

However, a zero quota on leopard off-take did not create a spike in poaching of wild leopard, as is suggested would happen with a reduction of the lion bone quota. Research is also indicating that Asian consumers are open to sustainable non-animal alternatives.

Until such time as DEFF has established an independent high-level expert panel and the NSPCA’s court application to interdict the Minister’s authorisation for the export of lion bones has been finalised, the quota should be reduced to zero in order to avoid any further potential harmful effects. 

Please note that this submission is non-exhaustive and further information can be provided and/or substantiated as required. We reserve the right to amend or expand on statements contained herein, should further evidence come to light. This submission should be considered in totality and in the spirit in which it was drafted. 

Yours sincerely,

Dr Louise de Waal Audrey Delsink Frank Molteno Linda Park

Steering Committee 

On behalf of the Coalition “To Stop the Captive Breeding and Keeping of Lions and Other Big Cats for Commercial Purposes”