*This is just a brief overview of wildlife permits. For more specific information, contact your nearest Nature Conservation Office.
Permits are always somewhat of a question mark. Not many people are aware of wildlife permits or where one should go to obtain one. When it comes to the wildlife industry, permits are essential in the buying and transporting of wildlife. Each province has its own rules and regulations about different wildlife species. Some animals may be transported to different provinces, others may not. So today I will answer some of the questions about wildlife permits!
Types of permits
There are a number of permits one has to take into consideration when dealing with game capture. The most common permits used are Import, Export, TOPS (Threatened Or Protected Species), Capture, Standing, Registration, Game Dealer, Wildlife Trader and AIS (Alien and Invasive Species) permits. Apart from these permits a farm owner could also have a Certificate of Adequate Enclosure also known as an Exemption Permit or Commercial Game Reserve Permit.
In order to get these permits, you can either submit a completed application form or apply online at the relevant permit office. Every province in South Africa has its own system when applying for permits.
Exemption Permit
An Exemption Permit also known as a Certificate of Adequate Enclosure is required by game farm owners in terms of the Game Theft Act. It is intended to regulate the ownership of game for commercial or hunting purposes in certain instances; to combat theft as well as wrongful and unlawful hunting, catching and taking into possession of game; and to provide for related matters. Such a certificate deems the land to be sufficiently enclosed, and thus vests ownership of the game in the landowner.
A Certificate of Adequate Enclosure, issued in terms of section 35 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance, provides farm owners with various rights not usually afforded to other farm owners.
These rights include:
The hunting of most species of protected wild animals specified on the certificate at any time (i.e. out of official hunting season) and by any means (i.e. including the use of prohibited hunting methods, other than fire or poison) without the prior acquisition of a permit to do so.
The capture and keeping in captivity of most animal species that appears on the certificate without having to first acquire a captivity permit.
It is important to note that in the case of the sale or donation of any live wild animal, in addition to a letter of sale or donation from the property owner, a transport permit is still required by the recipient to transport any live wild animal from a farm that has a Certificate of Adequate Enclosure.
It is also important to note that a Certificate of Adequate Enclosure will lapse upon the transfer or lease of the land, or any portion of the land, over which that certificate was issued.
Process to obtain permits
You can contact your nearest nature conservation office to obtain the necessary documentation form. Complete and submit the completed application form to them with supporting documents such as your ID and proof of payment (if applicable) or you can apply online if available in that province.
Permit applications can take anything from 14-90 days to be processed.
Permit validation in each province
Each province has different rules and regulations when dealing with game.
- Free State: ± 3 months
- North West: ± 2 months
- Northern Cape: 2 to 3 months
- Eastern Cape: ± 2 months
- Western Cape: 6 months
- Mpumalanga: 1 month
- Limpopo: 6 months
- Kwa Zulu Natal: 3 to 6 months
- Gauteng: ± 2 months
- AIS to convey: 3 months
- AIS for possession / selling: 5 years
- Exemption Permit: 3 to 5 years
- TOPS Import / Export / Transport: ± 6 months
- TOPS Permit: 3 years
Which wildlife species are not allowed in certain provinces?
- Black Wildebeest as a rule may not be moved in Limpopo. Black Wildebeest is also a TOPS species reason being that the main threat to this species was hunting pressure, habitat loss, and periodic outbreak of disease (Vrahimis 2013). However, now that the species has recovered and numbers are increasing, the most significant threats are hybridisation with the Blue Wildebeest, which can occur when the two species are mixed unnaturally on fenced land.
- Fallow Deer and Lechwe are not allowed in Mpumalanga since they are an Alien invasive specie.
- Waterbuck in the Northern Cape are allowed but a habitat analyses of the land has to be done first.
- KZN in general do not allow Sable, Gemsbuck and AIS species.
- The most common AIS species are Fallow Deer, Lechwe, Scimitar and Barbary sheep.
- The most common TOPS species are Common Reedbuck and Black Wildebeest.
Specifications of a standard game fence
Again, each province has their own requirements to a standard game fence. You can simply contact your nearest nature conservation office for more information.
What you should know
In terms of sections 44(1)(a), 57 and 58 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance, one needs a permit to import / export or transport any live wild animal. For birds, this provision only applies to birds that are listed as protected or endangered in terms of the ordinance.
In terms of section 31 of the Nature Conservation Ordinance, no person may keep any wild animal in captivity without a permit.
Permits are essential in dealing with game species. A game farm owner must have the necessary documentation in hand before buying, selling and transporting game. One should also be familiar with the different rules and regulations of each province regarding wildlife. If you’re not sure about the legislation concerning wildlife, you can always contact your nearest nature conservation office.
