'Canned hunting' probe hailed

A move to appoint an independent probe into "canned hunting" has been hailed as a step in the right direction.

This was the general reaction on Thursday after Environmental Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk decided to appoint an independent panel of experts to investigate "canned hunting" of predators and trophy hunting in buffer zones adjoining the Kruger National Park - two of the most-emotional issues in nature conservation.

Gareth Morgan, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on environmental affairs, said it was clear Van Schalkwyk realised now that proposed regulations regarding canned hunting of predators were "totally too vague and without definition" to eradicate this "abhorrent industry".

In his budget speech in parliament, Van Schalkwyk referred to the "cancer in society" that had to be cut out.

Ran an SMS campaign
Louise Joubert of Sanwild said Van Schalkwyk had now "taken a step in the right direction".

She embarked on an SMS campaign about two months ago to determine what the feelings were about canned hunting.

She said thousands of people responded and expressed total opposition to the practice.

She said, however, that the panel - under chairmanship of Dr Chrispian Olver, former director-general of environmental affairs and tourism - was not really representative of the "broad public".

There were no representatives of organisations promoting animal rights on the panel of 11 members.

Hennie Kruger, one of the 47 owners of the Timbavati, which is one of the buffer zones adjoining the Kruger park, said he was "overjoyed" that a panel had been appointed to investigate trophy hunting.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa, who brought the whole question of trophy hunting - especially in the Timbavati - to the fore, said he welcomed the independent panel.