The Environmental Affairs Department says it’s agreed to export 800 lion skeletons to Asia this year.
It’s understood Asians use the bones to manufacture aphrodisiacs and traditional medicines.
Spokesman Albie Modise says the department is guided by the scientific authority which has conducted an in-depth research as to the viability of exporting the skeletons.
“We subscribe to what we refer to as sustainable internalisation of natural resources which argues that ‘let us use and consume natural resources as long as we do not threaten the contented sections of the species.”
