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.
.