WAPFSA addressed an urgent cease and desist letter to the Limpopo Department: Economic Development, Environment and Tourism today. Please download the letter:
The WAPFSA cease and desist letter sent this morning refers:
We have been advised that the permit to shoot and kill a troop of baboons in
their natural range, has been issued by the LEDET. The culling exercise
over the period of one month will be starting today 6th May 2024 at the
Blyde River Botanical Reserve in the Limpopo Province. This permit has been
apparently issued to reduce the baboons’ presence and so-called destructive
nature, and a hunter has been appointed for the task.
We believe that it is the onus of the permitting authority to verify if the
conditions to issue a permit exist and are legitimate, particularly when
such issuing can have so grave consequences on the environment and the
well-being of animals.
Please confirm that all procedures have been put in place and you have
verified that:
a. There is effective proof of the so-called damage the baboons
have caused.
b. Methods used to discourage baboons from entering the residences
in the aforementioned botanical reserve have been unsuccessfully applied;
c. Photographic and video evidence of the destruction that these
baboons have caused, have been provided to LEDET;
d. Photographic evidence that baboon-proof measures and all
mitigation procedures have been unsuccessfully put in place by the Reserve
management, have been provided to LEDET before LEDET granted the permit.
Providing a permit to kill baboons because humans are inconvenienced is no
legal basis upon which to issue such a permit. Kindly confirm the above.
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