The producers of the feature film Blood Lions, Wildlands and Regulus Vision, are pleased to announce that they have secured both local and global distribution for the film, Blood Lions.

PBS International have picked up the global rights to the film, and will be distributing the film worldwide, outside of South Africa.

Indigenous Film Distribution will handle the South African rights.

Blood Lions follows acclaimed environmental journalist and safari operator Ian Michler, and Rick Swazey, an American hunter, on their journey to uncover the realities about the multimillion-dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa. It is a story that blows the lid off all the conservation claims made by the breeders and hunters in attempting to justify what they do.

Tom Koch, Vice President of PBS International: “Blood Lions is a rare program that reveals the dark and brutal side of trophy hunting in Africa.  Programs like this are equally rare and exceptional and should be seen by audiences around the globe.  We are proud to represent this film to the international community.”

Helen Kuun of Indigenous Film Distribution: “We are honoured to be able to showcase the film on the big screen to audiences around South Africa over the next few months. As part of the awareness campaign it is of great importance to create a way for audiences and media alike to interact with the film in a cinema environment. The DVD will be available next year.”

Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands and Executive Producer:  “Blood Lions exposes the cons of Lion breeding and hunting in South Africa. Over 900 lions are hunted each year, with 99% bred for the bullet. They are hand-reared by paying volunteers that believe they are saving “Africa’s Lions”. 4 days after their release from a life in captivity they are considered wild and can then be shot by hunters looking for a guaranteed kill; or slaughtered for the Lion bone trade to China. We have to stop this barbaric and fraudulent practise and believe that Blood Lions will help us do this.”

Pippa Hankinson of Regulus Vision:

“Blood Lions was produced to create global awareness. It a call to action – to encourage all who view it to make conscious choices. I believe we are all accountable. We are being challenged as to our roles and responsibilities regarding our relationship with and treatment of these magnificent creatures – indeed all animals – not only for us, but for future generations to come.”

“The Blood Lions campaign is starting to get significant traction. Since the launch, we have been overwhelmed by the global response across all sectors of society. This should serve as a clear indication to governments and the various authorities around the world that they need to come together to close down predator breeding facilities and canned hunting operations” says Ian Michler.

Interest in the film has exploded since its reception of a standing ovation at its World Premiere at the recent Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), on 22^nd July. The overwhelming response to the film and issues it raises on social media has been phenomenal, with the likes of Ricky Gervais and Ellen Degeneres tweeting the film and stories.

The killing of “Cecil the Lion” in Zimbabwe in an allegedly illegal hunt has brought the spotlight to South Africa’s practices of canned hunting, and a massive interest in the film, from both ordinary people and wildlife organizations, has enabled the producers to fast-track the distribution of the film.

The film will commence targeted and curated theatrical screenings across South Africa on the 14^th August, and will roll-out across the country thereafter. PBS have commenced the international sales of the film globally.

Following the illegal killing of an iconic lion, Cecil, outside the HwangeNational Park on Antoinette farm in Gwayi River Conservancy on the 1st of July 2015, it has become necessary that the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority further tightens hunting regulations in all areas outside the Parks Estate.
The Authority working with other law enforcement agencies has launched a crackdown to weed out any undesirable elements. To date our law enforcement agencies are following up on all found or reported cases and they have since arrested another culprit, Headman Sibanda, on allegations of breaching hunting regulations. He is currently assisting Police with investigations.
Further to that crackdown the following measures are going to be implemented immediately;
1. Hunting of lions, leopards and elephant in areas outside of HwangeNational Parks has been suspended with immediate effect. All such hunts will only be conducted if confirmed and authorized in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, and only if accompanied by parks staff whose costs will be met by the landowner.

2. Bow hunting has been suspended with immediate effect and no such hunting will be conducted unless it has been confirmed and authorized in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

3. Members of the hunting fraternity are being reminded that it is illegal for quotas to be transferred from one hunting area to another. Any case of quota transfer is regarded as poaching. The Authority will not hesitate to arrest, prosecute, and ban for life any persons including professional hunters, clients and land ownerswho are caught on the wrong side of the law.

All players in the hunting industry are being reminded to familiarize themselves with the relevant statutes governing the wildlife industry. Further, the Authority would like to appeal to all members of the public that they should report any suspected illegal wildlife activities to the nearest offices of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police and other Government law enforcement agencies.

E. Chidziya
DIRECTOR-GENERAL

Duisende straks geteel vir jagters

JOHANNESBURG. – Twee tot drie geblikte, halfmak leeus word elke dag in sogenaamde “trofee- jagte” in Suid-Afrika doodgeskiet.

 Die leeus is gewoond aan mense en is so mak dat hulle as’t ware na die jagter aangestap kom om ge- skiet te word.

 Dit is die verhaal van tot 8 O00 geblikte leeus wat in die doku- mentére rolprent Blood Lions Weergegee word. Die rolprent is Woensdagaand in Gauteng uitgereik.

Pippa Hankinson, vervaardiger van die rolprent, sé Blood Lions is gemaak met die doel om die Waar- heid agter die “wrede, onetiese” bedryf in Suid-Afrika aan mense regoor die Wéreld oor te dra.

“Ek het vier jaar gelede ‘n pri- vate leeutelery in die Vrystaat be- soek. Om te sé ek was geskok, is om dit sagkens te stel.

“Die beeld van 😯 leeus wat in klein kampies aangehou word, het my diep ontstel. Hul stres was voelbaar en die resultaat van inte- ling duidelik sigbaar.

 “Ek het eers later uitgevind daar is sowat 8 O00 van hulle wat oral op plase regoor die land Woon.

 “Hu11e word geteel vir ‘n bedryf wat vir die eienaars en jagonder- nemings miljarde aan inkomste verseker.”

 Volgens Hankinson is baie min van die plase vir gewone mense toeganklik en daarom Weet bitter- min Suid-Afrikaners wat agter die hoe mure aangaan.

 Ian Michler, veldgids, spesialis- navorser en verteller in die rol- prent, het die begin van die bedryf in die 1990’s meegemaak. Die re- gering is destyds gevra om in te gryp en dit te stop. Dit het egter nie gebeur nie.

 Volgens Michler moet hierdie bedryf in die kiem gesmoor word en moet al hierdie plase toemaak. Die uiteinde sal wees dat tussen 7 O00 en 8 O00 leeus van kant ge- maak sal moet word.

 “Hulle het géén beWarings- waarde nie. En sal nooit weer in die natuur vrygelaat kan word nie,” sé hy.

 Prof. Pottie Potgieter, voorsit- ter van die Suid-Afrikaanse Roof- diertelersvereniging, stem nie saam nie en sé in die rolprent leeus wat in gevangenskap geteel is, red Wilde leeus van uitWissing. Mense jag eerder hierdie leeus as Wilde leeus.

Volgens Karen Trendler, spe- sialis-Wildverpleegster, is sy ui- ters bekommerd oor die welsyn van die diere.

Van die welpies word drie dae ng hul geboorte van die leeuwyfie Weggeneem sodat sy onmiddellik weer op hitte raak. “S6 raak sy ‘n teelmasjien.”

Die welpies word met die hand grootgemaak en veral oorsese jong mense kom na die land om die diertjies te kom help versorg. “Baie min van hulle besef aan- vanklik dat hulle bydra tot die groei van hierdie ‘wrede’ bedryf.”

 Van hulle kom dit wel agter en is gewoonlik erg ontnugter, sé Trendler.

 Volgens haar val geblikte leeus tussen die krake in departemente en wetgewing deur. Die departe- ment van omgewingsake hou vol hy bemoei hom net met die Wel- syn van Wilde leeus en het toe dié halfmakdiere oorgegee aan die de- partement van landbou, bosbou en visserye, wat ook nie presies Weet wat om met die diere aan te vang nie.

 “Intussen groei die bedryf feit- lik daagliks,” Waarsku Trendler.

 Derek Hanekom, minister van toerisme, met wie ook ‘n onder- houd in die rolprent gevoer word, sé dié bedryf kan Suid-Afrika se beeld erg benadeel. Sy departe- ment kan dit egter nie reguleer nie.

 Die rolprent is op aanvraag be- skikbaar, maar sal ook in uitge- soekte teaters vertoon word.

Een van die geblikte leeus wat geen vrees vir mense het nie en hier met die slot om die hek van sy kamp speel.

Between 6 000 and 8 000 lions are being held in cages or confined areas, unrelated to conservation. That number will continue to increase with the rise of predator hunt fee.

The documentary film ‘Blood Lions’ has further placed the spotlight on human practices that threaten the predator species.

Released last week at the Durban Film Festival, the film explores South Africa’s canned hunting and captive breeding industries.

CapeTalk presenter Kieno Kammies spoke with Nick Chevallier, Field Director and Cameraman of ‘Blood Lions’, about the various human practices threatening lions.

Theses lions are born into captivity. The land owners inter-breed them and they are realising that it is an increasingly lucrative trade. Its starts with the exploitation of the cubs. That’s were the cash cow begins. Other revenue streams include walking with lions, and hunting.

— Nick Chevallier, Field Director and Cameraman of ‘Blood Lions’

According to Chevallier, the documentary highlights and challenges the vague South African legislation, which allows practice of “canned lion hunting”.

He says lions have become a multi-million rand industry largely governed by private property holders.

In the past week Southern Africa’s lucrative trophy hunting industry received two devastating blows: the release of an explosive new documentary detailing the unsavoury practices of canned lion breeders and hunters, and the international condemnation around the killing of Zimbabwe’s most famous lion. Under growing domestic and international pressure, the industry is coming in for scathing criticism, not only from environmentalists but also increasingly from within its own ranks.

Blood Lions, a film that reveals the shocking realities behind the burgeoning business of breeding and hunting lions in captivity in South Africa, premiered to standing ovations at the Durban International Film Festival last week. It’s estimated that between 6,000 and 8,000 lions are being raised and kept in around 150 to 200 facilities for the sole purpose of providing targets for wealthy international hunters.

On these intensive breeding farms, lions are ‘produced’ battery-style before being released into relatively small camps often only days before being shot. The industry and the South African government refer to this as legal ‘captive-bred hunting’. Opponents call it ‘canned hunting’ and consider it deeply unethical with no conservation value.

In a worldwide media outcry it emerged last week that a dominant, black-maned, 13-year-old male lion nicknamed Cecil, who was exceptionally popular among visitors to Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, was illegally shot by an American trophy hunter.

Walter Palmer, a dentist from Minnesota in the US, and professional hunter Theo Bronkhorst lured Cecil into the Gwaai concession adjoining the Hwange National Park by tying an animal carcass to the front of a vehicle. Palmer is then believed to have shot the lion, which was wearing a tracking GPS collar as part of a long-running research project, with a crossbow. It took the hunters approximately 40 hours to track the injured lion before they could finally kill it with a gunshot.

Palmer, who has since become the centre of intense public condemnation, claims he thought that he was conducting a legal hunt and that he was unaware of Cecil’s iconic and protected status. It is believed he paid between $45,000 and $50,000 for the hunt. No stranger to wildlife crime, the dentist, who has previously been cited for fishing without a licence and who in 2008 pled guilty to a federal charge of poaching a black bear in Wisconsin, is known to have killed a rhino and a leopard in earlier hunts.

Bronkhorst, whose hunting licence has been suspended, was charged with failing to prevent an illegal hunt at the Hwange Magistrates Court on Wednesday. After pleading not guilty, he was released on bail with a trial date set for 5 August. If found guilty he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. Honest Ndlovu, the owner of the land where the hunt took place, faces similar charges.

Under mounting pressure over the killing of Cecil and the revelations in Blood Lions, cracks seem to be appearing in the traditionally united front presented by the trophy hunting lobby. Individual hunters have started to publicly express their disapproval of the captive lion breeding and shooting business, and in and unparalleled move, Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa (Phasa) president Hermann Meyeridricks told the members of his organisation that its “position on lion hunting is no longer tenable”.

Meyeridricks suggests that Phasa has made “little demonstrable progress” in getting the government and predator breeders to “clean up” the industry and “to improve its standards and conditions to a generally acceptable level”. He also acknowledges that opposition to the hunting of bred lions is not restricted to “just a small if vociferous group of animal-rights activists” anymore, but that “the tide of public opinion is turning strongly against this form of hunting”.

Criticism has also come from the international hunting fraternity, including Europe’s Nordic Safari Club, which has removed all lion trophies hunted in South Africa from its official record books. Industry insiders allege that disreputable activities extend beyond lion hunting, suggesting that trapped caracals and leopards as well as crocodiles from breeding farms are being used in canned hunts.

According to Will Travers, the president of the Born Free Foundation, a well-known international conservation organisation: “Cecil’s tragic and meaningless destruction may just be the catalyst we need to take action to end lion trophy hunting and, instead, devote all our energies to conserving a species which, perhaps more than any other, represents the wild soul of Africa.”

Cecil’s killing has prompted calls to ban the importation of lion trophies to the US and Europe. Last year the US suspended imports of elephant trophies from Tanzania and Zimbabwe, declaring that trophy hunting of elephants was not sustainable or contributing to conservation in these countries and citing “questionable management practices, a lack of effective law enforcement and weak governance”. The European Union has banned the import of elephant trophies from Tanzania and Mozambique and recently tightened regulations prohibiting the import of lion trophies from several West African countries. Earlier this year the Australian government instituted a ban on imports of lion trophies from South Africa.

A number of major international airlines have barred hunting trophies from their flights, although South African Airways has now rescinded a similar ban.

The recent scandals are yet to elicit a response from environmental affairs minister Edna Molewa, who has been a staunch supporter of (some would argue an apologist for) South Africa’s captive lion breeders and hunters.

But clearly there are growing concerns in the government about the situation which is developing in the year before the country hosts the influential 17th Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and at which the South African delegation may well present a very controversial proposal to legalise the international trade in rhino horns. Global outrage over trophy hunting controversies and a declining reputation of the local hunting lobby are sure to present severe hurdles to getting such a provision passed at the conference.

Earlier this month, Molewa invited various pro-hunting stakeholders to a meeting in order “to address widespread and mounting public concern” and to establish “a forum to investigate a number of issues related to the lion industry in South Africa”.

 

This is an excerpt from an article published online by WildTrust

The debate centered on trophy hunting and the conservation of wildlife has been thrown into the spotlight following the killing of Cecil the lion.

The face of Cecil the lion was projected on the Empire State building over the weekend, one of many demonstrations sparked by the controversial trophy hunt by US Dentist Walter Palmer in Zimbabwe.

There are about 8000 lions bred in captivity in South Africa, and about 3000 wild lions in protected areas, in which hunting is prohibited.

Read More: http://wildtrust.co.za/arguments-for-and-against-trophy-hunting-in-south-africa/