09 Apr 2017

There are three game ranches that have wild cats such as lions, cheetahs and leopards kept in confinement.

Responding to a parliamentary question, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said a total of 40 lions were exported to South Africa between 2012 and 2013, and since then, no additional export permits were granted.

Meanwhile, he noted that Section 88 of the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act of 1992 empowered the minister to give direction in terms of wildlife management listed under CITES, such as lions, cheetahs and leopards, whenever he deemed it appropriate to comply with public interests as well as international obligations.

Takatokwane MP, Mr Ngaka Ngaka had asked if the minister was aware that government did not allow wild cats in game farming, and if so, why.

Mr Ngaka had also wanted to know how many wild cats were exported in the past five years. ENDS