Pretoria: The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, has decided not to set the 2024-2025 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) export quotas for African Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, and Leopard hunting trophies, at this stage. This decision comes amid an ongoing legal case brought by Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA), currently before the Gauteng High Court, which challenges aspects of the quota-setting process.
According to South African Government News Agency, CITES is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. Within the framework of CITES, an annual export quota is a limit on the number or quantity of specimens of a particular species that may be exported from the country concerned within a 12-month period.
In a statement on Friday, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment explained that the Minister's decision aims to protect the integrity of the process and ensure legal certainty while the matter is before court. The department emphasized that it will await the outcome of the court proceedings before taking further steps. Once a judgment has been delivered, the Minister will consider the court's ruling and decide on the way forward in line with South Africa's conservation objectives and its obligations under CITES.
The department reiterated its commitment to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that future quota decisions are scientifically sound, legally compliant, and support both conservation and sustainable use. The outcome of the court case is expected to have significant implications for the management and conservation of these species in South Africa.