I stand in support of the Global March Against Canned Lion Hunting knowing that is up to us to secure the survival of the pride of Africa. Thank you for speaking for the voiceless victims who live out their lives behind bars, never knowing the freedom that is rightfully theirs.

The IFP has supported the campaign the save our lions for several years. We have secured a commitment from the National Assembly to ensure that our wildlife receives the fullest legislative protection. We have petitioned the Minister of Environmental Affairs and have raised this urgent issue with the Speaker of Parliament.

But until the outcry from our communities reaches that crucial tipping point, I fear that little will be done at the level of policy making and legislative change. It is you, the voter, who gives your mandate to those in power. It is you who can change the way our Government sees the canned lion hunting industry.

As the Patron of the Wildlands Conservation Trust, I am encouraged by the launch of the film, “Blood Lions”, which reveals the truth about this industry and condemns our lions being bred for the bullet.

I am appalled to think how man has subverted the way we see lions. I think of the majestic descriptions of lions in literature throughout the ages, of golden manes and great, solemn, royal eyes. Then I think of ten lions in an online catalogue, being pawed over by foreign trophy hunters as they decide who to kill for a few thousand dollars.

This is patently evil and against the natural order.

My friend, Lawrence Anthony, said, “Until we allow all living creatures their place in the sun, we can never be whole ourselves.” Lawrence Anthony was one man, who went into Iraq when others were fleeing, to rescue the starving lions imprisoned in the palace of Saddam Hussein’s son. His courage is an inspiration, reminding us that we as individuals can and must act on our conscience.

Those who have gathered in this Global March are doing just that. I thank you, not only for my sake, but for the sake of my grandchildren. When they see this march, they become aware that lions need our protection. They and their generation are called to act, to take the lead from this generation for the sake of the continued survival of the pride of Africa.

On behalf of the IFP, I have asked the Honourable Ms Liezl van der Merwe MP to receive your petition today. We will ensure that it reaches those with the authority to change the law to finally Ban Canned Lion Hunting.

May our lions be freed.

Singer Miley Cyrus is nursing her wounds after she was injured by a vicious cat.

The 23-year-old animal lover’s pet turned on her on Monday (04Apr16), and left the Wrecking Ball hitmaker scratched and bloodied.

Miley shared a photo of her forehead injuries with fans on Instagram, adding a caption that read: “f**ked up by a pussy cat f*******ck”.

Cyrus shared two other snaps, including a close-up image of her bloodied scalp and a picture of deep, long lacerations on her tattooed forearm, with the expletive “F*******ck” written in the captions alongside cat emojis.

The former Hannah Montana actress has been an animal advocate for many years and she recently backed a campaign to end the hunting of lions in South Africa.

Posting a petition on Instagram last October (15), Cyrus invited fans to sign the appeal to protest the practice of breeding lion cubs to be killed for sport.

A message posted alongside the petition, aimed at the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, read, “Baby lion cubs… are bred every year for no other purpose than to be shot by tourists.

“These ‘Blood Lions’ are taken from their mothers… and are hand reared by their owners who tame them, so they are easier to kill… They are sent to a game reserve where they are stuck in small, crowded pens with dozens of other cats. Pictures of the lions are then taken and put on the Internet so that tourists from around the world can pay thousands of dollars to claim them as the victims of their next hunt in a practice known as ‘Canned Hunting’.”

Cyrus’ support of the campaign to ban the inhumane practice helped garner hundreds of thousands of signatures