EIA Comments on the Draft Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard, and Rhinoceros

EIA welcomes the opportunity to submit comments and recommendations on South Africa’s Draft Policy Position on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros.

The three international commercial trade-related policy objectives are acknowledged. Subject to our more detailed comments, EIA supports in general Policy Objective 4, the promotion of live export of the 5 species, particularly rhino and elephant, only to range states or any other appropriate and acceptable destinations on the African continent. In relation to the two other international commercial trade-related policy objectives, EIA strongly condemns Policy Objectives 5 and 6 as currently framed.

EIA recommends that the policy objectives be amended to instead pursue global consensus to permanently prohibit international trade in rhino horn and elephant ivory. EIA recommends that South Africa seize the opportunity to lead by example and encourage other countries in the region to move away from legal trade in ivory and rhino horn.