South African Leopard, Elephant, Black Rhino Trophies Unexportable for 2024-2025 Season
Hunters with elephant, black rhino and leopard hunting trophies taken during the 2024-2025 hunting season in South Africa are unable to export those trophies until a pending court case is resolved.
The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment was in the process of determining the 2024-2025 CITES export quota for these three species when the Wildlife Ranching of South Africa Association (WRSA) filed suit 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 hunted an elephant, black rhino or leopard in South Africa during the 2024-2025 hunting season will be unable to export that trophy until the case is resolved, withdrawn or dismissed, and the quota for that year issued.
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.