6',ur ef 4 No. 39468 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 GOVERNMENT NOTICE GENERAL NOTICES • ALGEMENE KENNISGEWINGS NOTICE NO. Environmental Affairs, Department of/ Omgewingsake, Departement van OF 2015 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTNOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL 1190 OF 2015 AFFAIRS 1190 National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (10/2004: Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Lion (Panthera Leo) 39468 NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: BIODIVERSITY ACT, 2004 (ACT NO. 10 OF 2004) BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE AFRICAN LION (PANTHERA LEO) I, Bomo Edith Edna Molewa, Minister of Environmental Affairs, hereby publish the Biodiversity Management Plan for the African Lion (Panfhera Leo) in South Africa for implementation in terms of section43(1)(b)(i) readwithsection 43(3)oftheNationalEnvironmentalManagement: Biodiversity Ac 2004 (Act No. 10 of 2004), set out in the Schedule hereto. BOMO EDIT ` -E LEWA MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39468 5 SCHEDULE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PL LION (Panthera leo) IN SOUT 44,416 Niadir environmental affairs Department: Environmental Affairs Nixie REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA PAN ERA LCADLITS MIA) CAT CONSERVATION This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 6 No. 39468 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 2015-2019 Jointly developed by Dr Paul Funston (Panthera), the CSIR and DEA Funston, P.J1 & Levendal, M.2 1Senior Director, Lion Program, PANTHERA, PO Box 8027, Kongola, Zambezi Region, Namibia LEADERS IN WILD CAT CONSERVATION 2CSIR, PO Box 320 Stellenbosch, 7599 CS1R cur f tore4ro1iq!1 science This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39468 7 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LION (Panthera leo) IN SOUTH AFRICA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The wild African lion (Panthera leo) is the management budgets, most of these threats largest African cat and the only feline that is are not imminent to lions here, although lion social living in prides that average twelve numbers continentally have decreased by individuals, but may reach more than thirty. about 30% over the last three decades. Threats Across their African range lions have declined to the wild lions currently are generally low. alarmingly over the last several decades Risks of genetic impoverishment of managed especially in west, but also east Africa. In wild lions are low and easily mitigated through southern Africa lions are largely stable and robust management interventions, while the have increased with the inclusion of large lion bone trade may shift from its current base conservancies in Zimbabwe and over 45 in captive lions to the poaching of wild lions for smaller reserves in South Africa. Available data body parts. indicates that between 32 000 and 35 000 free- ranging lions live in 67 lion areas (Riggio et al. The lion is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN 2013) Global Red List. It is also listed as Vulnerable on the South African list of Threatened and Lions were extirpated from most of their range Protected Species (ToPS) in terms of Section 56 in South Africa by the 1900s, with historic (1) of the National Environmental Management populations remaining in only Kruger National Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004). and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Parks. Today just Furthermore it is protected under Appendix II over 2 300 wild lions are well protected in of the Convention on the International Trade in these and other large national parks and game Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora reserves, with all populations either stable or (CITES). increasing. Over the last three decades lions have also been re-introduced into over 45 Lions can only exist in areas with sufficient wild smaller reserves with a total population of prey, and seldom co-exist closely with people. what are termed the ‘managed wild’ lions of Lions readily adapt to varied habitats and about 800 individuals. The management of generally have greater hunting success in areas these lions is challenging, with high growth with long grass or dense cover and on rates necessitating appropriate population moonless nights. Lions select landscape regulation, and the potential for inbreeding features that aid hunting and kill most of their due to isolation and small population size in prey within two kilometres of water. Density the respective reserves. and survival rates of lions are positively correlated with prey biomass. Most lions reside The reasons for the decline in lions in Africa are in territories with some lions being nomadic. many, and include habitat loss and conversion, Coalitions of males try to keep other male lions indiscriminate killing to protect life and out of their territories, while lionesses try to livestock, prey base depletion, bush meat exclude other prides, which does result in some trade, and excessive sport hunting. Because all mortality from inter-pride conflict. An average lions in South Africa are within largely pride consists of twelve lions, including four to adequately fenced reserves with sufficient five adult lionesses, two pride males, and Page 1 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za 8 No. 39468 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2 DECEMBER 2015 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LION (Panthera leo) IN SOUTH AFRICA dependent cubs and sub-adults. Lionesses tend the merits and ethics of the captive breeding to breed synchronously and female and subsequent release for hunting of captive relationships do not rely on dominance bred lions, although it remains legal to do so. hierarchies. There are substantial economic advantages to Lions favour medium to large-sized prey many South African societies that accrue from species with an average body mass of 190–550 the conservation and use of lions. At times kg, and tend to prey on the most common of communities bordering protected areas incur these species in each area. Rainfall and habitat stock losses due to lion predation. Fortunately, conditions strongly affect the susceptibility of largely due to adequate fencing, this is not as various prey species to lion predation: lions serious an issue as in other parts of Africa, and switch both within and between seasons, thus park authorities have funds and capacity to not selecting for the same prey species or sex deal with this issue. all the time. Lions tend to regulate prey populations in large parks, but sometimes There are several role player groups well negatively affect them in small, fenced placed to influence the future of lions in South reserves. Africa. This Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) was developed in close consultation In South Africa lions are exposed to six major with an encompassing group of stakeholders. viral diseases, with only canine distemper virus The first workshop in June 2013 identified the being known to have any major influence on vision, objectives and actions, and the second them. Most lion populations appear to be in March 2014 assigned responsibilities to exposed to feline immunodeficiency virus. implementing agencies and refined the Lions in Kruger National and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi monitoring plan. This is the first national BMP Parks are infected with bovine tuberculosis. compiled for lions in South Africa. Although there may not be consensus yet on its effect, no major consequences have been When the objectives for lion conservation in detected. On-going studies to determine how South Africa were developed, important and this exotic disease affects lions are under way. clear distinctions between the objectives for wild, managed wild and captive lion Lions are sensitive to excessive harvests populations were made. These respective because the removal of pride males through populations are defined as follows: hunting often results in infanticide by other males and mortality of dispersing sub-adults 1. Wild lions completely fulfil their role in forced out of the pride when too young. The biodiversity processes and are largely trophy hunting of lions is contentious due to unmanaged, and exist only in formally uncertainty concerning its conservation proclaimed national parks and game impacts and due to the dichotomy of reserves. Conservationists do not actively stakeholder views. The captive lion hunting manipulate vital rates and lion industry has grown rapidly in South Africa while demographics. the number of wild lions hunted in other 2. Managed wild lions include all lions that African countries has declined. No negative have been re-introduced into smaller effects of trophy hunting on wild lion fenced reserves (<1000km2), and are populations in South Africa have been managed to limit population growth and identified. There is intense controversy over maintain genetic diversity. Managers Page 2 This gazette is also available free online at www.gpwonline.co.za STAATSKOERANT, 2 DESEMBER 2015 No. 39468 9 BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LION (Panthera leo) IN SOUTH AFRICA actively manipulate some vital rates and Improve the conservation status of lions within a demographics. broader conservation context. 3. Captive lions are bred exclusively to generate money. Managers actively Sub-objectives: manipulate all vital rates and 1.1. Maintain the current degree of protection demographics. of wild and managed wild lions; 1.2. Reassess the conservation status of lions in South Africa; A specific set of actions was defined for each 1.3. Enhance the conservation status of objective. Lead agents or groups were then managed wild lions; and assigned to each action, to ensure that the 1.4. Assess the management of the captive lion lines of responsibility for action are clear. It was population. proposed that SANParks, supported by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Lion Objective 2 Management Forum (LiMF), (a group of Develop and implement effective communication interested parties which get together to discuss tools that are informed by scientific research. the status of lion in South Africa and (Communication, Education, and Public collaborate in developing better management Awareness) strategies for the important fenced populations), should be the lead agents for wild Sub-objectives: and managed wild lions.