OFM News spoke to Saayman regarding the implication associated with the hunting of captive-bred lions. 

This, after non-governmental organisations raised issues regarding the hunting of captive-bred lions and other predators for commercial purposes at the 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Conservation Congress - currently under way in the U.S.

Saayman says a clear distinction needs to be made between canned hunting and captive hunting.

"From an economic point of view, hunting captive-bred lions plays a significant role as there is a large number of South African farmers that breed lions at this stage. From a conservation point of view it is also important, because there is merit in breeding lions. It also has a negative impact on how people perceive South Africa and our wildlife management. It costs up to 65 US Dollars to hunt a lion. Prof. Saayman says the decrease in the population of these wild animals impacts our tourism industry negatively, which consequently affects our economy."

Saayman says the national government needs to review the permit issuing processes of hunting in order to minimise the extinction of our wildlife.

OFM News/Katleho Morapela