ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN (24) SOUTH AFRICA: A STORM OVER ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 12 (IPS) - SOUTH AFRICA'S PROPOSAL TO END AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON TRADE IN ELEPHANT AND RHINO PRODUCTS HAS SPARKED AN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY AND PROVOKED A DEEP SPLIT IN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES HERE.

A TOP DELEGATION, LED BY TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENT MINISTER DAWIE DE VILLIERS, IS IN MIAMI, UNITED STATES, THIS WEEK TO LOBBY SUPPORT AT THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES) FOR ITS BID TO HAVE THE SALE OF ELEPHANT AND RHINOS HIDES UNBANNED.

WHILE SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT CALLING FOR A LIFTING OF THE BAN BY CITES'S 124 SIGNATORY STATES ON TRADING IN IVORY AND RHINO HORNS, IT MAINTAINS THAT IT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SELL THE MEAT AND SKINS OF THESE ANIMALS SO AS TO EARN REVENUE NEEDED TO SUPPORT ITS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMMES.

ALTHOUGH SOUTH AFRICA'S HERDS OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO DO NOT FACE EXTINCTION, THE MOVE HAS ANGERED ENVIRONMENTALISTS AROUND THE WORLD AND AT HOME. IT HAS ALSO SENT RIPPLES OF DISSENT THROUGH GOVERNMENT CIRCLES.

DEPUTY ENVIRONMENT MINISTER BANTU HOLOMISA THIS WEEK ANNOUNCED THE SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO WITHDRAW THE PROPOSAL IF IT PROVOKED MAJOR DISSENT AT THE CITES MEETING.

HE INDICATED THE CABINET DID NOT FULLY APPROVE OF THE HARDLINE STANCE THAT THE SOUTH AFRICAN DELEGATION DECIDED TO ADOPT.

THIS FOLLOWED A PUBLIC COMPLAINT BY PETER MOKABA, CHAIR OF THE COUNTRY'S PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, THAT HIS GROUP HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THE PROPOSALS EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS MANDATORY IN TERMS OF CABINET PROTOCOL.

"WE DO NOT AGREE THE BEST WAY TO SAVE ELEPHANTS IS TO SHOOT THEM AND, GIVEN THE VERY CONTROVERSIAL NATURE OF THESE PROPOSALS, WE FEEL IT WAS INCUMBENT ON THE MINISTER TO CONSULT WITH US," MOKABA TOLD IPS.

THE OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN POSITION IS THAT ELEPHANT HERDS HAVE TO BE CULLED SO THAT LOCAL GAME RESERVES -- MAINLY THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK -- DO NOT EXCEED THEIR CARRYING CAPACITY OF AROUND 7,500 ANIMALS.

THE NATIONAL PARKS BOARD, WHICH FACES BUDGET CUTS AS THE NEW SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT GIVES PRIORITY TO SOCIAL RECONSTRUCTION PROGRAMMES, SAYS IT COULD EARN ABOUT ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM ELEPHANT HIDES AND MEAT AND THIS WOULD BE PLOUGHED BACK INTO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.

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