Professional hunter fined for killing protected game

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A former professional hunter has been fined R50 000 by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court for nine offences involving protected game.

Thirty-two-year-old Gerald Conway pleaded guilty to trafficking crocodiles and a lioness to be hunted.

He also trafficked 10 blue duiker, and a 4kg antelope.

In his guilty plea, Conway said that as a professional hunter and game capturer he had been frustrated with the late issuing of licences and permits by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife.

He said this caused him to flout the law, although he said he had followed the regulations in the past and had previously received many valid permits.