WCC 2016 Rec 100 - Activity Report

A scientific symposium on selective breeding of wild animals for commercial purposes was conducted in Namibia in 2016 to help the Ministry with obtaining professional and objective advice to deal with the increasing practice of selective breeding. The symposium was attended by local and international wildlife conservation and population genetics experts including the co-chairpersons of the antelope specialist group of IUCN. The key finding of the symposium was that intensive and selective breeding has negative impact on the wild populations although impact of genetic manipulation manifest itself over time. The key threat also identified is the impact the practice has on habitat fragmentation, and persecution of predators, mainly leopard and cheetah that prey on the selectively bred animals.

The professional hunters association of Namibia (NAPHA) distanced themselves from the practice of selective breeding and openly condemn it as an unethical practice. They specifically distanced themselves from the practice because of the claims made by the breeders that they are breeding animals for the hunting market.

Current conservation legislation in Namibia does not make provision for regulating or controlling the practice of selective breeding as it dates back to 1970s. In the absence of the legal provisions, the selective breeders have been organising themselves as an important part of the game ranching industry. To counter the unintended conservation implications of the practice, the Ministry is in the process of developing a modern conservation law that will strictly regulate the practice of selective breeding. As part of that process of creating a legal framework to address the issue, a policy on selective breeding of wildlife for commercial purposes will be developed in the 2018/2019 financial year.

(Note: Provided by Kenneth Uiseb, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia, in Feb 2018 but too late for the 2017 report)

A panel of scientists appointed by the Scientific Authority completed an assessment of the risks of intensive and selective breeding of wildlife to biodiversity and the biodiversity economy; this report was subject to peer review by independent scientists, amendments were made and the final report was presented to the Scientific Authority in late 2018. The Scientific Authority accepted the report and have forwarded to the Department of Environmental Affairs who will through the Wildlife Forum and Gazette notice invite comment from the wildlife industry and public. Based on the outcomes of the public participation process the final report may be amended.