The Mpumalanga Parks Board has won a court judgement against the owners of a wildlife sanctuary who imported eight lions into the province illegally.
The conservation authority removed the lions from Enkosini Wildlife Sanctuary in January 2003 after it was discovered they had been imported without a permit, spokesperson David Nkambule said on Monday.
He said the owners had applied for a permit but it had never been granted.
”Those lions were captive bred lions. We don’t support captive bred lions in the province.”
However, he said he was not aware of any problems with the conditions in which the lions were kept.
The owners, Greg Mitchell and Kelcey Grimm, had brought a court interdict against the parks board, which was set aside by the Pretoria High Court. Their application for review was also dismissed with costs.
”We are going ahead with the criminal charges against Greg Mitchell and Kelcey Grimm,” said Nkambule. ”The High Court has borne testimony that the Mpumalanga Parks Board acted according to what was in the best interest of the eight lions.”
At present the lions are kept at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Krugersdorp.
”The lions are in excellent condition and are properly looked after.”
They will remain there until the board decides what to do with them, Nkambule said. — Sapa