April 27, 2014 The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) is urging members of the general public involved in private wildlife estates (game ranch owners, golf clubs and all business houses that keep wild animals in captivity) to submit their yearly returns and renewal of their certificate of ownership and permits to keep animals in captivity before the end of April, 2014. This is a legal requirement under the Zambia Wildlife Act No 12 of 1998 and Statutory Instrument No. 66 of 2004 for all private wildlife estates to renew all permits that pertain to keeping wild animals in captivity failure to which shall attract a penalty fee. Non compliance to the above may lead to:- a) Closure of the private wildlife estates and disposal of wildlife animals on these properties. b) Not being allowed to trade in any wild animal. ZAWA has off late been receiving numerous reports from people complaining especially of stray monkeys in neighbourhoods around Lusaka. Just last week, ZAWA received another report of a stray monkey, which had found its way in somebody’s yard in Emmasdale. The monkey is suspected to have escaped from another house and ZAWA is undertaking investigations to find out who the owner is and ascertain whether that person has a valid permit of keeping wild animals in captivity as it is against the law to keep wild animals without a permit. Most game ranch owners and other business houses, which keep wild animals in captivity, are currently operating illegally on expired licences. The deadline for renewal of these licenses is December of every year. Out of a total of about 245 games ranches, only about 120 have renewed their licences by the set deadline, while the rest are operating illegally on expired licences contrary to the Zambia Wildlife ACT No.12 of 1998 and statutory instrument No. 66 of 2004. Among the important information required to be submitted alongside the application for renewal of certificate of ownership and permits to keep animals in captivity are the up-to-date annual returns, specifying all relevant aspects of biological and socio-economic parameters. Failure to comply will attract a penalty fee of 300 percent of the ruling fees for the renewal of the necessary permits. Furthermore, failure to submit the returns and renew the permits shall attract a penalty fee of not less than 500 percent of the ruling fees for the renewal of the necessary permits. And annual returns submitted to ZAWA with incomplete data shall attract a penalt fee of not less than 200 percent. Mwila Readith Muliyunda Communications & Public Relations Officer
Posted on: Sun, 27 Apr 2014 12:55:19 +0000
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