EARTH DAY 2021 HOW MANY ASIAN TIGERS ARE IN CAPTIVITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

There are also veterinary and public safety concerns with regard to tiger trading and breeding in captivity. As you are aware3, in order to prevent the emergence of zoonotic pandemics, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have recommended that countries ‘suspend the trade in live caught wild animals of mammalian species for food or breeding purposes’ and to enact ‘regulations to control the risks of transmission of zoonotic microorganisms from farmed wild animals and caught wild animals intended for breeding’, including traceability of farmed wild animals.4

Non-compliance with vaccine requirements and keeping tigers in confined spaces increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission from tigers to humans as well as disease transmission between tigers.5 In particular, tigers carry parasites and other harmful pathogens transmissible to other animals and humans.6 These risks are of particular concern in South Africa where tigers are put in close contact with workers and the public. In addition, tigers in captivity represent a safety issue for workers and for the public (given the promotion of interaction at these commercial facilities in South Africa).

We continue to be concerned that South Africa’s management practices and controls for these facilities are inadequate and as a consequence there is little to prevent Asian Big Cats from entering illegal trade from or through such facilities7 including with regard to the disposal of specimens and body parts from Asian Big Cats that die in captivity.8 Moreover South Africa is failing to implement measures to restrict the captive population to a level supportive only to conserving wild tigers. There are also a number of individuals in South Africa that are breeding and keeping Asian Big Cats in their backyards in city suburbs.

Noting that the CITES Conference of the Parties has agreed that tigers should not be bred for trade in their parts and derivatives:

1. What measures has the Honourable Minister put in place to ensure the application of CITES Decision 14.69? 9 

2. For each of the operations concerned, how has the Honourable Minister determined that the captive population is restricted to a level supportive only to conserve wild tigers and how the captive breeding is at present supportive to conserving tigers in the wild?

3. What management practices and controls has the Honourable Minister
put in place to prevent parts and derivatives from tigers from entering illegal trade from or through these facilities?

The EMS Foundation is requesting the Honourable Minister:

1. Not to authorise, except under exceptional circumstances, the export and trade in captive-bred tigers, tiger parts and derivatives, including hybrids.
2. To require captive-breeding facilities to systematically report any birth, death and movement of specimens and provide adequate evidence. In the case of the death of tigers: (a)  require captive-breeding facilities to provide evidence regarding the cause of death, which should be attested by a veterinarian, the transfer of the corpse to a certified rendering plant and the destroying of the corpse in the presence of a designated authority to avoid any leak of tiger parts in the illegal circuit; (b)require that rendering plants deliver a document attesting to the proper disposal of the corpse by the owner and sufficient details to identify the specimen, such as species, length, weight, stripe pattern (via photographs) and any distinctive features.

3. Ensure that the national management authority, in cooperation with veterinarian services and other competent authorities, proceed to regular inspections of private facilities where tigers are kept captive to ensure compliance with registration, veterinary welfare, the Labour Relations Act and public safety requirements.