MINISTER BREDELL CONFIRMS: CAPENATURE’S HUNTING PERMIT IS NOW VALID FOR SIX MONTHS

The Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, Anton Bredell has today (19 April 2011) confirmed that Cape Nature will now be issuing (blanket) hunting permits to landowners - valid for six months. The permits allow the following prohibited hunting methods: night hunting and the use of artificial lights.
Reason given: The management of damage-causing animals in the Western Cape, particularly black-backed jackal and caracal, reached a point during 2010 where landowners demanded drastic measures to control and reduce jackal and caracal numbers, reportedly responsible for unusually high stock losses.
(Translation: it is local government election time and someone wants the farmers’ votes.)
I think that the Bredell cull is unlawful for several reasons. First, there is no provision allowing for the granting of blanket permits to exterminate a species in a whole area before any damage or losses have even occurred, for an extended period of six months into the future. There is no provision in the legislation for pre-emptive killings.
Second, there are a host of constitutional rights to be violated when the farmers cross in to the neighbours’ land to kill such animals there. Indeed, granting such an extra-ordinarily intrusive power is bound to lead to armed confrontations between landowners. The law presumes that one intends the natural and probable consequences of his actions. So, if a shoot-out takes place, and someone is killed, the family could lay criminal charges against both Minister Bredell and Cape Nature for culpable homicide, and recover large damages from them by civil action.
Third, granting such excessive powers to landowners to asset strip our environment pre-emptively, would offend our constitutional right to a healthy environment.
In short, the Bredell cull is unlawful, and everyone involved from Bredell himself downwards will be responsible both criminally and in damages when someone gets hurt.
Chris Mercer & Bev Pervan
Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH)
Registered non-profit NGO – PBO930030402
“For the Love of Wildlife”
2007 Marchig International Trust Award for service to animal welfare
http://www.cannedlion.org

Chris: This is so very sad. I've been to Africa 19 times (albeit in Kenya) and have
NEVER seen a caracal. Is there any possibility that translocation would be safe for
them? If they could be caught in a "Have a Heart" safe trap and relocated it would
be so much better than what they are planning on doing.

I don't know anything about caracals. Do they live in prides/family groups or are they
more or less solitary animals? Could they survive if translocated to new areas or
countries?

Are there no true wildlife authorities in South Africa who could over-rule these detrimental decisions be they made at local or national level? Perhaps they just don't give a darn and figure killing them would be quicker and cheaper?

What they are doing is similar to here in the US. Years ago a bounty was paid on the head of wolves, and they were wiped out. In the past 15 - 20 years we have ended up buying wolves from Canada to help get rid of the overpopulation of deer/elk, etc. Humans should know by now
to keep their hands out of these situation - that Mother Nature knows best.

Yes when I was in Nairobi a couple of years ago to give our presentation to the Wildlife Symposium, I was pleasantly surprised by the genuine compassion for animals shown at all levels, from conservation staff down to local communities. (Not to say that horrifying things are not done to animals by Kenyan villagers!)
But most South African farmers are very conservative, and quite reactionary when it comes to problem animals (now called DCAs - damage causing animals)
Caracals do live mostly solitary lives as far as we know. We rehabbed and released several of them but are not expert in the social habits of wild populations. In any event, they are so hideously persecuted in SA that I am sure their normal breeding habits and behavior has been skewed, with frenzied breeding etc
Conservation structures are so dysfunctional here, especially when dealing with farmers, that there will, as you know, be a public protest in Cape Town on 13th May.
I really would like to give you some heartening news instead of this dose of depression. I'll find something positive to report on...