Title: Publishing of Draft Notice Prohibiting Certain Activities involving African Lion (Panthera Leo) for Public Comment

Gazette reference: GN 3926 n GG 49383 on 29 September 2023

Deadline for submitting comments: 29 October 2023

On 29 September 2023, the Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, in terms of section 9A read with sections 99 and 100 of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004, announced her intention to prohibit the establishment or registration of new captive breeding facilities, commercial exhibition facilities, rehabilitation facilities or sanctuaries in respect of live specimens of African lion and the keeping of live specimens of African lion in any other new controlled environment. The main purpose appears to be to prohibit the establishment of new captive lion breeding facilities for lions and to provide that new sanctuaries, commercial exhibition facilities or rehabilitation facilities for lions may not be established unless they “provide a public function” or are operated on a non-profit basis.

Members of the public are invited to submit written comments by 29 October 2023 by email to lionprohibition@dffe.gov.za.