The invitation was published in the South African Government Gazette No 44776 dated 28 June 2021, and allowed comment for 30 days from the date of publication. That deadline has passed at the time of writing this column, so it will be interesting to learn what comments have been received. The HLP itself was divided on certain matters, and some of the most controversial and challenging issues such as hunting of captive-bred lions, the semi-domestication and captive breeding of rhinos, and the trade in elephant ivory and rhino horn, remain contentious and divisive. It is debatable whether a government Policy Position alone can change such longstanding conundrums. However, it is encouraging that the Policy Position is positive in respect of hunting generally, so overall this should be welcomed by the hunting community.
Let's begin by looking at the issues identified for the attention of the HLP. These were (a) the captive holding and breeding of lion and rhino; (b) hunting of captive-bred lions; (c) trade in captive lion
