From South African Tourism Update Seaview denies links to lion hunting, bone trade 27 Thu, Mar 2014 Seaview Predator Park in Port Elizabeth has denied allegations that lions at the property are sold into the hunting industry or used in the bone trade industry. Seaview offers guests animal interactions, including interactions with lion cubs. The allegations emerged after a number of people who said they had volunteered at the facility posted reviews on TripAdvisor that said older lions at the facility were swapped or sold for canned hunting. Following these allegation, Seaview released a statement saying it was against lion hunting and bone trade. The statement said, furthermore, that the facility did not take part in bone trade or hunting in any way. However, the facility has admitted that some of its lions have been relocated to Letsatsi la Africa. The owner of Letsatsi la Africa, Jacobus van der Westhuizen, has been linked to lion bone trade. A Times Live report in 2011 lists Van der Westhuizen as one of five South African farmers who have shipped lion carcasses or skeletons to Vixay Keosavang, in Laos. Reports have linked Keosavang to wildlife trafficking. According to the Times Live report, Van der Westhuizen said it was the responsibility of the provincial departments of the environment, which issue permits, to ensure lion skeletons were not shipped to people with questionable records. I dont have a clue what they [importers] do with the animals,” he was quoted as saying. When contacted by Tourism Update, Van der Westhuizen would not answer any questions on where or to whom he sells lions. However, according to the company’s site, besides being a predator park, Letsatsi is active in breeding animals and sells in SA and exports worldwide. Seaview says prior to animals leaving the facility, an affidavit is signed to ensure their future. The facility has also published an affidavit signed by Letsatsi for the relocation of animals, which states that the animals will not be used for canned hunting or lion bone trade. However the affidavit is dated 2012, which is subsequent to published reports showing Letsatsi’s links to lion bone trade. At the time of publication, Seaview has not responded to a question on whether it would sell lions or any other animals to Letsatsi. However, according to the facility all the cubs that are currently at the park will reside there for life. The facility also stated that it had not bred lions for three years. According to Seaview, the animals at the facility act as “species ambassadors to raise awareness towards each species conservation efforts”. However, conservationists have levelled criticism at facilities that allow people to interact with lion cubs. Criticism against these facilities include that the cubs at these facilities are taken away from their mothers and that because these lions can never be released into the wild, then end up in the canned hunting industry. Andrew Parker, Joint Operations Director for African Parks, says human interaction with lion cubs has only a tenuous value in promoting empathy for the species. According to him, these interactions have no conservation value. Parker also points out that captive-bred lion cubs cannot be relocated into the wild. Tessa Reed
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:09:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015