Night Hunting Could be Banned

Those who participate in hunting parties must necessarily have a fire arms license issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Police and have the approval of the Director of National Parks and Conservation Service (NPCS). It will also be illegal to hunt from a vehicle and to use artificial light. In terms of deer hunting, the hunter can not use a rifle 0.22 caliber lead balls.

This bill calls for the granting of a hunting license will not be granted to a person who has been convicted previously ('5 years PRECEDING the date of application) and also provides a list of species (fauna and flora ) to be imported controlled. A National Invasive Alien Species Committee will be established to control these species. Those who want to import animals are required to have the approval of the Director of NPCs. No permit shall be required for animals participating in shows or exhibitions.

The bill also makes provision for the establishment of a National Parks and Conservation Fund to be fed through the payment for licenses for the use of natural reserves and the tax imposed on companies specializing in export monkeys. Anyone who does not comply with the provisions of this bill will be subject to a first fine of Rs 100,000 and imprisonment not exceeding five years. Those who sell protected species will be liable to a fine of Rs 50,000.

The bill also recommends the creation of a Native Terrestrial Biodiversity and National Advisory Council and the protection and conservation of plants, animals and endemic birds. It also protects aquatic species and control the introduction of new aquatic species in the country. The bill also empowers the president to declare a piece of land nature reserve.

Anyone wishing to extract plants, hunt animals or breed animals in nature reserves must first obtain a permit from the Director of the NPSC. It will also be compulsory license to import or export of protected species.

Even if a person owns a piece of land, can not eliminate endemic species. No person will not also allowed to destroy nests and kill native birds.

Before preparing this bill, consultations were undertaken with various partners. This bill replaces the Wildlife and National Parks Act of 1994 calls for the creation of the National Park Black River Gorges. It was replaced after 20 years by the new bill to better protect wildlife and to be compatible with the various international instruments on biodiversity and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to which Mauritius is a party over the years .