Over 170 challenges found when keeping lions in captivity

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The Blood Lions and World Animal Protection research team reviewed over 90 scientific papers and identified 170 different physical and psychological conditions associated with the keeping of lions in captivity.

Our researchers found that:

  • 124 conditions were in the Health Domain such as disease and injury;
  • 19 conditions were behavioural problems like abnormal pacing or self-harm;
  • 15 conditions affected the lion’s mental state such as fear and anxiety;
  • 7 conditions were linked to the nutrition the lions received, such as too much or too little food;
  • 5 conditions were associated with environmental challenges such as a lack of stimulation. 

These conditions provide us with insight into the significant challenges experienced when keeping lions and other big cats in captivity. 

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Globally accepted animal welfare model used by our research team

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The welfare conditions identified by the Blood Lions and World Animal Protection research team were categorised according to a globally accepted animal welfare model, namely Mellor’s Five Domains Model.

Mellor’s Five Domains Model of animal welfare is a widely used assessment tool. It is an holistic approach in which the mental condition of an animal is considered in addition to the four physical or functional states (namely nutrition, environment, health and behaviour) to comprehensively assess an animal’s welfare state. 

By evaluating these Five Domains, an objective assessment can be made of the welfare challenges experienced when keeping lions and other big cats in captivity. 

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No national welfare norms and standards for commercially bred lions

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The newly published peer-reviewed paper by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlighted the fact that South Africa has no national welfare norms and standards for the captive breeding, keeping and trade of lions and other large felids.

Therefore, lions and other big cats are at risk of a wide range of both physical and mental welfare challenges. 

The lack of income for captive wildlife facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the absence of national welfare norms and standards for the captive breeding, keeping and trade of lions and other big cats in South Africa, has put the existing big cats in captivity at even more risk of serious welfare issues. 

In addition, the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), which is solely mandated with the enforcement of animal welfare in South Africa, is forced to operate without financial support from the national government

It is time for South Africa to #CancelCaptivity.

Why our recently published scientific paper should concern you

Blood Lions Youth For Lions Lion bone trade Tiger bones Predators in captivity Canned hunting Animal welfare Panthera leo Lions in captivity Cub petting Walking with lions Petting lion cubs Predator park Lion farm Lion park Commercial captive lion industry Tiger cub petting Captive predators Ban canned hunting Tigers in captivity Cheetahs in captivity Cute lion cubs Hand-feeding lion cubs Volunteer with lions Hand raise lion cubs Illegal wildlife trade Illegal lion bone trade Born To Live Wild Lion bone quota South Africa #CancelCaptivity

Why our latest scientific paper with World Animal Protection should concern you:

  • The paper highlights that there are major welfare concerns linked to captive lions in South Africa, but no national norms and standards in place to protect them.
  • Zoonosis (diseases that can jump from animals to humans) is a very real threat.
  • Not a single study has been conducted on the welfare of lions on commercial facilities in South Africa or even globally.

These are a few of the many reasons why we need to #CancelCaptivity.

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Major research gap in South Africa found in recently published study

Blood Lions Youth For Lions Lion bone trade Tiger bones Predators in captivity Canned hunting Animal welfare Panthera leo Lions in captivity Cub petting Walking with lions Petting lion cubs Predator park Lion farm Lion park Commercial captive lion industry Tiger cub petting Captive predators Ban canned hunting Tigers in captivity Cheetahs in captivity Cute lion cubs Hand-feeding lion cubs Volunteer with lions Hand raise lion cubs Illegal wildlife trade Illegal lion bone trade Born To Live Wild Lion bone quota South Africa #CancelCaptivity

Our research team found that not one single study focused specifically on the welfare of lions housed on commercial facilities in South Africa (or elsewhere).

In our recently published peer-reviewed welfare paper, a host of scientific research was reviewed that focused on captive lions in zoos, wildlife parks and sanctuaries across the globe.

The emphasis in the commercial predator industry is on intensive breeding practices that are consumer-driven and income-generation focused and generally don’t adequately address animal welfare and well-being. Hence, this is where lions are likely to face far greater welfare challenges.

This is a major research gap that needs to be addressed urgently.

It’s time for South Africa to #CancelCaptivity.

Bad to the Bone: Report on captive lions raises huge welfare, health red flags, and a zoonosis warning

This is an excerpt from an article written by Don Pinnock and published online by Daily Maverick on 17 May, 2022

Zoonosis, where disease jumps from animals to humans, caused the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from welfare concerns, the huge number of pathogens in caged and farmed lions is a time bomb waiting to explode.

In South Africa, up to 8,000 lions are being raised in nearly 400 commercial captive breeding facilities. Every now and then the NSPCA is called in by a concerned neighbour or a conservation organisation snaps some distressing pictures. There’s very little control and no scientific studies on the effect of permanently caging wild lions or holding them on commercial farms. 

In trying to get a scientific handle on this widespread industry, the NGOs Blood Lions and World Animal Protection embarked on a global search for hard facts on captive lion welfare. The results are disturbing.


We need YOUR support for our Open Letter to SA Ministers

Blood Lions Youth For Lions Lion bone trade Tiger bones Predators in captivity Canned hunting Animal welfare Panthera leo Lions in captivity Cub petting Walking with lions Petting lion cubs Predator park Lion farm Lion park Commercial captive lion industry Tiger cub petting Captive predators Ban canned hunting Tigers in captivity Cheetahs in captivity Cute lion cubs Hand-feeding lion cubs Volunteer with lions Hand raise lion cubs Illegal wildlife trade Illegal lion bone trade Born To Live Wild Lion bone quota South Africa #CancelCaptivity

We need your support in urging the South African government to finally prioritize the welfare and well-being of captive lions.

We are appealing to Minister Creecy (Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries) to urgently carry out a comprehensive national audit of the current commercial captive lion industry, including the welfare conditions of the big cats involved, in order to minimise unintended negative welfare impacts during the planned phase out of the industry.

We are also appealing to Minister Didiza (Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development) to bring more urgency to the progression of the new Animal Welfare Bill by setting some clear and prompt timelines for the development and implementation of this Bill, and to urgently involve outside stakeholders into the process.

Sign the Petition and Read the Open Letter to these South African Ministers below.

It’s time for South Africa to #CancelCaptivity.

NEWS: Research has identified 170 physical and psychological conditions

Blood Lions Youth For Lions Lion bone trade Tiger bones Predators in captivity Canned hunting Animal welfare Panthera leo Lions in captivity Cub petting Walking with lions Petting lion cubs Predator park Lion farm Lion park Commercial captive lion industry Tiger cub petting Captive predators Ban canned hunting Tigers in captivity Cheetahs in captivity Cute lion cubs Hand-feeding lion cubs Volunteer with lions Hand raise lion cubs Illegal wildlife trade Illegal lion bone trade Born To Live Wild Lion bone quota South Africa #CancelCaptivity

In a newly published, peer-reviewed welfare paper, Blood Lions in partnership with the World Animal Protection identified 170 physical and psychological conditions associated with keeping lions in captivity.

Some of the welfare challenges identified by our researchers included a wide range of diseases, physical injuries, malnutrition and obesity, a lack of (clean) water and abnormal behaviours, like excessive pacing and self-mutilation.

It’s time for South Africa to #CancelCaptivity.

Lack of welfare studies on captive breeding exposes lions to undocumented cruelty

This is an excerpt from an article written and published online by Farming Portal on 12 May, 2022

This has been revealed in a joint scientific study published earlier this month by World Animal Protection and Blood Lions..

“With a substantial captive lion industry of more than 350 commercial facilities holding between 8,000-10,000 lions and the complete absence of scientific welfare studies in that industry, we are in the dark in terms of the extent and nature of the welfare issues we are dealing with. The many atrocities found by the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) on commercial lion farms during welfare inspections show that we are not dealing with theoretical challenges, but rather a very real and highly problematic situation”, says Dr. Louise de Waal (Director, Blood Lions). 

The aim of the study was to identify the welfare challenges lions in the commercial captive predator industry in South Africa face on a day-to-day basis. 

Some welfare challenges identified included a wide range of diseases, injuries, malnutrition and obesity, lack of (clean) water, and abnormal behaviours like excessive pacing and self-mutilation, which were all associated with the keeping of captive lions in facilities such as zoos, wildlife parks and sanctuaries across the globe. However, not one study focussed specifically on the welfare of lions exploited by commercial facilities in South Africa.


New study reveals severe welfare challenges lions face in captivity

This is an excerpt from an article written by Taylah Strauss and published online by Getaway on 10 May, 2022

In a recent study, conservation group Blood Lions and non-profit organisation, World Animal Protection, delved deep into the welfare issues of lions in captivity and called on the South African government to crack down on the exploitative captive lion industry.

The captive lion industry is comprised of more than 350 commercial facilities housing anywhere between 8000 and 10,000 lions, with very little regard for their wellbeing. The study identified 170 unfavourable conditions associated with the industry, such as malnutrition, obesity, dehydration, and abnormal behaviours such as self-mutilation or excessive pacing.

Following a report recommending the closure of the country’s commercial captive lion industry, Barbara Creecy, Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), announced in May 2021 that South Africa would no longer breed or keep captive lions for commercial use.

It has been a year since the announcement, and the captive lion industry has undergone very little change. Breeding, canned hunting and trading of captive-bred lions is still legal, as well as interactive tourism encounters, such as cub petting.