Ban on canned lion hunting will affect tourism sector: Dept
The Department of Environmental Affairs believes a ban on the hunting of captive lions and other predators will have a negative economic impact on private farmers and the country as a whole.
The comment comes after calls from seven NGOs to terminate the hunting of the animals and to end breeding for non-conservation purposes.
They made a presentation to a International Union for Conversation of Nature congress currently underway in Hawaii.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), South African Wildlife College (SAWC), Wildlands and the National Association of Conservancies (NACSA), and The Blood Lions team are some of the organisations that brought forward the petition.
The department's Albi Modise says international tourists travel to the county to hunt.