MYTH: Captive bred lions are as wild as the lions in reserves

Blood Lions Cancel Captivity #cancelcaptivityBlood 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 #ThinkBeforeYouGo

Although the wild instinct of captive-bred lions may well remain, they are human-habituated animals and are ill-equipped to survive in wild areas.

Captive bred lions have never learned to hunt for themselves and/or deal with other predators and dangerous wild animal species.

Physically captive-bred lions are also weaker due to a lack of exercise throughout their lives.

This is another reason why captive-bred lions cannot be released into the wild.

It is time for South Africa to #CancelCaptivity


MYTH: Captive-bred lions are genetically pure

Blood Lions Cancel Captivity #cancelcaptivityBlood 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 #ThinkBeforeYouGo

The genetics of captive-bred lions are often compromised.

The prevailing view amongst carnivore specialists and conservationists is that captive-bred lions do not contribute to the conservation of the species, especially since inbreeding is prevalent in captivity which has a negative effect on genetic integrity and provenance.

Lion ecologists agree that releasing compromised genes into a healthy wild population is extremely risky.

This is another reason why captive-bred lions cannot be released into the wild.

South Africa – it is time to #CancelCaptivity


MYTH: Captive-bred lions can be released into the wild

Blood Lions Cancel Captivity #cancelcaptivityBlood 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 #ThinkBeforeYouGo

This is one of the most common myths linked to the captive lion breeding industry.

As much as a wild animal is never fully tame, captive-bred lions are human-imprinted and therefore lose their fear for humans.

This could therefore pose a significant risk for human-wildlife conflict when introduced into wild spaces.

This is just one reason why captive-bred lions cannot be released into the wild.

South Africa – it is time to #CancelCaptivity


MYTH: Breeding lions in captivity will save the species in the wild

Blood Lions Cancel Captivity #cancelcaptivityBlood 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 #ThinkBeforeYouGo

A common myth linked to the captive lion breeding industry is that it has the ability to supplement and save the wild species. This is not the case.

The IUCN assessment in 2016 showed that lion populations across the continent had indeed declined by 43% over a 20-year period (or 3 lion generations).

The reasons for this decline include habitat degradation and fragmentation, reductions in prey animals, human-lion conflict, and, importantly, the trade in lion products (particularly bones).

However, lions breed very successfully in the wild, and lion ecologists agree that we don’t need to spend resources on captive breeding for reintroduction without proven success records.

What we need to do is to create more safe space for lions to thrive in functional wild ecosystems.

South Africa – it is time to #CancelCaptivity


Blood Lions says Creecy’s task team will help bring end to captive lion industry

This is an excerpt from an article written by Kgomotso Phooko and published online by The Citizen on 18 August, 2022

The captive lion industry, including canned hunting, petting zoos and commercial trade in lion bones, was banned last year.

The Blood Lions campaign has welcomed the announcement from Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, that she will appoint a ministerial task team to create exit strategies for the controversial captive lion breeding industry.

Creecy on Monday said the department is looking for an advisory panel to identify voluntary exit options for lion breeders. The nominations to join the panel should be submitted within 14 days.

Members of the public are urged to submit nominations of members who have relevant qualifications, including expertise and experience in a number of areas associated with the captive lion industry.

One of the steps taken by the department to end the captive lion industry is the draft White Paper on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in South Africa.

The White Paper was created to review the current policies, legislation and practices on management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

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PRESS RELEASE: South Africa on the brink of phasing out the commercial captive lion breeding industry

18 August 2022

When the Blood Lions campaign was launched following the premier of the film in 2015, taking on the captive predator industry seemed a near impossible task. Today, we are at the cusp of seeing the closing down process begin, and all those that have held the vision and participated in the process can take credit.

Over the past month or so, some significant and welcome steps have been taken by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) to end the captive lion industry. The gazetted draft White Paper on the Conservation and Sustainable use of South Africa’s Biodiversity provides an overarching policy context for biodiversity legislation, regulation and implementation in South Africa.

The White Paper is a substantial document. There are shortcomings, even contradictions, but in the main it heralds significant progress on many of the issues that have needed attention in our welfare and wildlife management legislation. The authors and Ministry need to be commended”, says Ian Michler, Blood Lions Director.

It is a progressive though ambitious document recognising the intrinsic value of wildlife and biodiversity, recognising the importance of well-being of individual animals in the definition of sustainable use and purposing the adoption of One Health and One Welfare approaches. This document maps out a new vision for people and wildlife and many of its clauses should have direct impacts on those involved in breeding predators, canned hunting and the exploitation of wildlife in tourism facilities.  The draft White Paper is open for public comment until 10th September 2022.

After her announcement in May 2021, when Minister Creecy stated that South Africa will no longer breed captive lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially, she is now in the process of appointing a Ministerial Task Team. This panel of experts will be required to identify voluntary exit options and pathways for lion breeders from the captive lion industry, and oversee the implementation and monitoring of these.

“After decades of opposition and a strong mandate from a High-Level Panel in 2020, we welcome the Government’s announcement that it will begin the process of closing down the captive lion industry.  A voluntary exit route laid out and monitored by a ‘task team’ of experts seems to be a sensible way to start”, says Michler.

For this Task Team, who will take the first steps towards ending the captive lion industry, Creecy is looking for people with specific expertise and experience in areas such as animal welfare, veterinary care, disease risk, traditional practices associated with lions, and labour law and trade unions with particular reference to business closure and retrenchment.

This team of experts will be established as soon as possible and their work is due to be completed by end March 2023. Nominations for this panel are now open until 26th August.

Michler says, “Minister Creecy’s recent announcement to start the process of ending the captive lion industry is the right thing to do. It’s a brutal industry with no conservation merit or scientific benefit, and the tourism and trade components are entirely exploitative of animals in a manner that undermines Brand South Africa. She has received widespread support from the conservation and ethical tourism sectors, as well as those involved in predator research.”

Draft White Paper submissions:

Ministerial Task Team nominations:


More information

  • Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
  • Email: management@bloodlions.org
  • Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and global campaign that works to bring an end to predator breeding and “canned” hunting industries in South Africa.
    www.bloodlions.org

Ministerial task team to identify and recommend voluntary exit options from captive lion industry

This is an excerpt from an article written and published online by Cape Times and IOL News on 16 August, 2022

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy is to appoint a ministerial task team to identify voluntary exit options and pathways for lion breeders from the captive lion industry.

On Tuesday, the department said the appointment of this advisory panel in terms of Section 3a of the NEMA followed a high-level panel which made recommendations to the minister on matters relating to the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

In her budget speech in May this year, Creecy proposed that the department develop processes that would allow for voluntary exit options and pathways from the captive lion industry.

“The minister has invited members of the public to submit nominations for members of the ministerial task team to the department.

“Members nominated must have the necessary qualifications, expertise and experience in a number of areas associated with the captive lion industry, animal welfare, conservation and sustainable use of South Africa’s biodiversity in general, veterinary care and carnivore interventions, disease risk from husbandry and disposal of carnivores, traditional practices associated with lions, persons with relevant academic experiences and resource mobilisation,” the department said.

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WATCH: Blood Lions Releases Powerful Message on World Lion Day

This is an excerpt from an article written and published online by SA People News on 10 August, 2022

Today is World Lion Day (10 August) – a day to celebrate one of Africa’s most iconic species and to raise awareness on conservation issues globally.

Lions are recognised worldwide for their importance not only from a nature conservation and ecological perspective, but also symbolically, culturally and in terms of tourism.

The significance and dignity of wild lions in South Africa have been replaced by the commodification of captive lions at every stage of their lives.

Currently, 8,000-10,000 lions and thousands of other big cats, including tigers and cheetahs, are bred and kept in captivity in approximately 350 facilities in South Africa.

These predators are bred for commercial purposes, including cub petting, voluntourism, “canned” hunting, the lion bone trade and live exports.

In honour of World Lion Day, a short video clip was produced by Blood Lions to highlight one stage in the exploitative cycle, namely the cub petting, where thousands of tourists and volunteers pay to play with, bottle feed and hand-raise captive-bred predator cubs. These unsuspecting tourists and volunteers are made to believe that their money will contribute to the conservation of wild lions and that the cubs they interact with will be returned to the wild.

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#WorldLionDay2022: Call for the public to stop supporting the exploitation of wild animals

This is an excerpt from an article written by Karen Singh and published online by The Mercury and IOL News on 10 August, 2022

Campaign manager of Blood Lions Dr Louise de Waal said the public can create a change in the commercial captive lion breeding industry by not supporting the exploitation of these wild animals.

De Waal was speaking as the world commemorates World Lion Day on Wedneday in celebration of one of Africa’s most iconic species and to raise awareness on conservation issues globally.

Lions are recognised worldwide for their importance not only from a nature conservation and ecological perspective, but also symbolically, culturally and in terms of tourism.

A statement by the Blood Lions Campaign said currently 8 000 –10 000 lions and thousands of other big cats, including tigers and cheetahs, are bred and kept in captivity in approximately 350 facilities in South Africa. These predators are bred for commercial purposes, including cub petting, voluntourism, canned hunting, the lion bone trade and live exports.

In honour of World Lion Day, a short video clip was produced by Blood Lions to highlight one stage in the exploitative cycle, namely the cub petting, where thousands of tourists and volunteers pay to play with, bottle feed and hand-raise captive-bred predator cubs

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World Lion Day – Organisation Shares Tips for Avoiding Facilities Catering to the Lion Trade

This is an excerpt from an article written by Tyler Leigh Vivier and published online by Good Things Guy on 10 August, 2022

What would our children say if they knew what was really happening to the iconic lion in South Africa? Blood Lions share a video in honour of World Lion Day and keep the conversation going about ending the trade in South Africa.

Today is World Lion Day (10 August) – a day to celebrate one of Africa’s most iconic species and to raise awareness on conservation issues globally. Lions are recognised worldwide for their importance not only from a nature conservation and ecological perspective, but also symbolically, culturally and in terms of tourism.

The significance and dignity of wild lions in South Africa have been replaced by the commodification of captive lions at every stage of their lives. Currently, 8,000-10,000 lions and thousands of other big cats, including tigers and cheetahs, are bred and kept in captivity in approximately 350 facilities in South Africa. These predators are bred for commercial purposes, including cub petting, voluntourism, “canned” hunting, the lion bone trade and live exports.

In honour of World Lion Day, a short video clip was produced by Blood Lions to highlight one stage in the exploitative cycle, namely cub petting, where thousands of tourists and volunteers pay to play with, bottle feed and hand-raise captive-bred predator cubs. These unsuspecting tourists and volunteers are made to believe that their money will contribute to the conservation of wild lions and that the cubs they interact with will be returned to the wild.

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