Wild & Captive-Bred Lions
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South Africa’s Captive Predator Population
South Africa’s
Captive Predator
Population
South Africa is one of the only African countries that allows the breeding and keeping of predators in captivity for commercial purposes, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, servals, as well as exotic species such as tigers, jaguars, pumas and even ligers (a crossbreed between lion and tiger).
In 2023, the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) to identify and recommend voluntary exit pathways from the captive lion industry, appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), undertook a national audit. The MTT stated in their final report that there are 342 captive lion facilities registered in South Africa in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (NEMBA): Threatened or Protected Species Regulations, 2007 (TOPS) holding a total of 7,838 lions in captivity.
The MTT also reported that in addition to lions, the industry holds at least 2,315 other predators.
Blood Lions believes that the captive predator population in South Africa is highly underestimated, and the captive lion population may be as high as 10,000 lions, with thousands of other big cats that are bred and kept in captivity for financial gain. The majority of captive predator facilities are based in the Free State, Limpopo and North West provinces.
Wild Lion Population
wild lion
population
In 2016, an IUCN assessment showed that lion populations across the African continent had declined by 43% over a 20-year period (or 3 lion generations). As few as 20,000 lions might now remain, occupying as little as 8% of their historic range. The reasons for this decline include habitat degradation and fragmentation, reductions in prey animals, human-lion conflict, and, importantly, the legal and illegal trade in lion products (particularly bones, claws and teeth).
South Africa is the only range state with a stable or even slightly growing wild lion population. Nevertheless, we have only around 3,500 lions left in the wild, including approximately 2,000 wild lions in the Kruger National Park, 250 in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, 120 Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, and around 800 wild-managed lions in smaller (private) reserves.
lion conservation listings
1.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species listing: Vulnerable
2.
TOPS listing (NEMBA): Vulnerable
3.
CITES listing: Appendix II
Lack of Conservation Value of Captive Lions
Lion ecologists and conservationists around the world agree that there is no conservation value in the breeding of lions in captivity, as none of the animals kept in captivity can be used in wild relocation programmes. These captive lions are tame, genetically compromised and ill-equipped to survive in wild areas, not to mention that human-imprinted lions lose their fear of humans and can pose a significant risk to people. Importantly, even if we could, there is no need to rewild captive-bred lions, as South Africa’s wild lion population is stable and we have a surplus of wild lions in our managed private reserves.
The High-Level Panel report is very clear on this issue, and states that “rewilding of captive lions is not feasible from conservation principles and captive breeding is currently not necessary for conservation purposes”. Furthermore, it states that the “captive lion industry threatens South Africa’s reputation as a leader in the conservation of wildlife”.
With this in mind, please ask yourself: If there is no conservation value in the captive breeding and keeping of predators, why is the captive population so substantial?
Blood Lions and the World Animal Protection recently published a peer-reviewed article concluding that currently there is no scientific evidence to substantiate industry claims that commercial captive lion breeding protects wild lion populations. On the contrary, the findings suggest it may be driving demand with potentially damaging consequences for the species in the wild.