South Africa Withholds 2024-2025 Export Quota for Elephant, Black Rhino, Leopard
Hunters planning a safari to South Africa for elephant, leopard or black rhino should be aware of continuing delays with the issuing of CITES export quotas for these species.
Most recently, a lawsuit filed by the Wildlife Ranching of South Africa Association (WRSA) has resulted in further postponement of the 2024-2025 export quota. The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment was behind in determining the quota but in the process of doing so when WRSA went to court challenging aspects of the quota-setting process and the time taken to issue that quota. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Dr. Dion George subsequently announced that he would not issue the quota for these species until the resolution of the lawsuit, which is currently before the Gauteng High Court and could take several years to resolve.
In a press release, WRSA says they filed suit because the minister had failed to issue a quota for the season on a timely basis. They claim the Minister should issue the quota now despite the pending suit and that they will seek ways to fast-track the case.
In the meantime, the lack of an issued CITES quota means that anyone who may have hunted an elephant during the 2024-2025 hunting season will be unable to export that trophy until the case is resolved, withdrawn or dismissed, and the quota for that year issued. Provincial hunting permits would not have been issued for leopard or black rhino. White rhino hunts are not affected.
The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, which is not a party to this suit and has distanced itself from the litigation, has encouraged Minister George to have the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries begin working on the 2026-2027 season export quota now, using a transparent and timely review process.
“The association calls on Minister George to prioritize the 2026 quota process to provide certainty for hunting operators, conservation efforts and communities dependent on sustainable wildlife utilization,” a PHASA press release reads.
SCI members with questions may contact SCI’s Hunter Information Service for assistance by emailing [email protected]. The Hunter Information Service is an exclusive SCI membership benefit.