With the recent news of tigers and wild animals escaping from their enclosures, the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Destea) has issued a statement on the regulation and keeping of large predators in the province.
People who keep wild animals in captivity, including large predators, apply for a captivity permit which needs to be renewed annually. According to Destea, the permit applies to indigenous predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas and alien species like tigers, pumas, jaguars, and wolves, for example.
“In a bid to reinforce adherence to the regulation of keeping large predators in the province, Destea shall not issue permits for the keeping of any large predator within an urban area. The Free State Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) will continue to conduct regular inspections in close cooperation with the SPCA on large predator facilities. Persons found in transgression of the laws will be prosecuted and face severe penalties,” the statement said.
The department encourages community members to report people or share information regarding the keeping of any large predators within urban areas in the Free State, or “if it is suspected that animals in other facilities are being kept in cruel conditions, without the necessary permits, or not adhering to the strict enclosure specifications.”
For further information or if you would want to report a matter, contact Dave Hayter at 079-507-8820 or Leepile Garekoe at 079-951-0200.
Compiled by Gypseenia Lion
