The North Gauteng High Court has declared the quotas set in 2017 and 2018 for the export of lion bone skeletons to be unlawful and unconstitutional.
Judge Jody Kollapen reportedly also said that the Department of Environmental Affairs did not follow due process in establishing these quotas.
His judgment on Tuesday was in favour of the National Council of SPCA's who took on the Minister of Environmental Affairs and the South African Predator Breeders Association.
NSPCA spokesperson, Karen Trendler, said they recently opened a number of criminal cases against captive lion facilities that have neglected, and in some instances, completely disregarded the welfare of their lions.
She said it was for these reasons that the NSPCA launched this application as the lion bone quota directly impacts the welfare of captive lions.
“We are overjoyed that the importance of animal welfare, and the vital and legal role of the NSPCA in protecting captive and wild animals, has been recognised in this precedent-setting judgement,” Trendler said.
“One cannot simply use, abuse, and trade wildlife without considering their welfare and wellbeing,” she said.
The IFP welcomed the judgment with MP, Narend Singh, saying in a statement that the IFP never supported the idea of annual export quotas for trade in lion bone, bone pieces, bone products, claws, skeletons, skulls and the like for commercial purposes arising out of captive breeding of lion in South Africa.
“The entire industry is an abomination and should be declared unlawful in South Africa,” he said.
