Captive Lion Industry To Be Banned In South Africa

May 6

In a landmark victory for animal conservation, the country will prohibit the captive keeping and breeding of lions, and also outlaw canned hunts, tourist interactions, and the sale of lion bones.

South Africa has taken the ‘courageous’ first steps to end its controversial, multi-million-dollar lion breeding industry.

In a major victory for animal welfare, the government will impose a ban on the keeping and breeding of captive lions. Canned hunts, as well as tourist interactions with captive lions, will also be outlawed, as will the sale of lion bones.

“This latest move by the government of South Africa is courageous - taking the first steps in a commitment to long-lasting and meaningful change”, said Edith Kabesiime, of World Animal Protection. “This is a win for wildlife.”

The new policies were inspired by the publication of a year-long, 600-page report, which was made public earlier this month. Prepared by a high-level panel of appointed experts, the report was initiated in 2019 by Barbara Creecy, Minister of the country’s environment department, who noted that there was "a predominant view that the captive lion breeding industry ... was doing damage to South Africa's conservation and tourism reputation".

The vast majority of the report’s recommendations have been accepted by the South African government, and now await ratification from parliament.

In announcing the news, Creecy said: “The recommendations will greatly transform the practices within the wildlife industry … The report provides a platform for not only achieving policy clarity, but also for the development of a new deal for people and wildlife in South Africa”.

This is a significant development, given that South Africa is the only country in the world to allow large-scale captive lion farming. With over 300 breeding farms, it is thought that there may be as many as 12,000 captive lions held across the country - more than six times the number of wild lions.

Lion breeding has repeatedly been condemned for its inhumane treatment of animals, with many kept in overcrowded, filthy, and disease-ridden facilities. Opponents have criticized the industry for monetizing every stage of the animals’ lives.

Tourists can pay to pet, pose with, or bottle-feed the cubs, and walk alongside older lions. Often, the tourists are unaware that the animals have been snatched from their mothers, and are beaten and drugged to ensure docility around humans.

Once they reach adulthood, the lions are often sent to their deaths in canned hunts, in which the animals are drugged and driven to fenced enclosures, where hunters pay up to $50,000 to shoot them.

While hunters can keep the heads and skins of the lions they have killed, the rest of the corpse is sold for thousands of dollars, mainly across Asia, for use in traditional Chinese medicine. Lion bones are also considered desirable ingredients in foods and wine.

As South Africa is one of the few countries to allow the sale of lion bones, a large number of breeding facilities specialize in supplying this lucrative market.

Last year, wildlife experts warned against the dangers of allowing this industry to continue. "Experts have told me of their belief that a major public health incident will occur in Asia and Africa as a result of the lion bone trade", said investigator Lord Ashcroft. "After the Coronavirus pandemic, for how long can South Africa afford to ignore these serious public health warnings?"

Under the new recommendations, the sale of lion bones is set to end, and all existing stockpiles of bones will be destroyed.

Ian Michler, Director of the Blood Lions charity, has welcomed the news, and said that the new laws were “far, far greater than anyone would have thought a year ago, or even six months ago”. “And it’s the first time we believe that we have a ministry or government that is really committed to dealing with these issues”, he adds.

Share on facebook

Share on Twitter