#CancelCaptivity

#Cancel
Captivity

In a joint scientific study published in 2022, Blood Lions and World Animal Protection identified a major research gap that exposes the lack of welfare studies that focus on captive lions housed on commercial farms in South Africa. The welfare challenges identified in our research were all associated with captive lions in facilities such as zoos, wildlife parks and sanctuaries across the globe.

With between 8,000-10,000 lions in captivity in South Africa and the absence of scientific welfare studies on the industry, we are completely in the dark in terms of the extent of some of the welfare issues we are dealing with. In our researchers’ review of more than 90 peer-reviewed scientific papers, more than 170 physical and psychological conditions were identified.

What does this mean for captive lions? 
And what can we do about it?

Lion Welfare Research

Read the original peer-reviewed article about Welfare Concerns associated with Captive Lions.

Support our Open Letter to

South African Ministers

Blood Lions and World Animal Protection ask the public to urge the South African Government to finally prioritize the welfare and well-being of captive lions.

We urge Honourable Ministers Creecy [Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE)] and Didiza [Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD)] to keep the pressure on the progress of the upcoming legislative changes, as justice delayed is justice denied for the thousands of lions and other big cats currently trapped in this cruel industry.

Sign this petition to support our Open Letter to South African Ministers Creecy and Didiza.

Read our Open Letter to Ministers Creecy and Didiza HERE.

#CancelCaptivity Campaign

#CancelCaptivity
Campaign

Join us as we unpack our research findings on the welfare challenges faced by lions and other big cats in captivity.
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

BREAKING: Scientific paper published on the challenges of keeping lions in captivity

BREAKING NEWS: Blood Lions in partnership with the World Animal Protection has published a welfare paper focusing on the challenges of keeping lions in captivity. The study reviews more than
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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

NEWS: Research has identified 170 physical and psychological conditions

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
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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 for our Open Letter to SA Ministers

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
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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

Major research gap in South Africa found in recently published study

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
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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 recently published scientific paper should concern you

Why our latest scientific paper with World Animal Protection should concern you: These are a few of the many reasons why we need to #CancelCaptivity. WARNING: viewers may find the
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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

No national welfare norms and standards for commercially bred lions

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
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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

Globally accepted animal welfare model used by our research team

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
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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

Over 170 challenges found when keeping lions in captivity

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.
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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

124 Health conditions identified that affect lions in captivity

Our recently published research identified 124 health conditions affecting lions kept in captivity globally, ranging from a broken tooth and a tail-bone fracture due to fighting, to anorexia, parasitic infections,
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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

19 conditions associated with negative behaviours of captive lions

Our research recognised 19 conditions associated with negative behaviours affecting lions kept in zoos, sanctuaries and safari parks globally, including excessive pacing, unnatural aggression, self-harm, refusal of food and withdrawn
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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

15 conditions associated with negative mental experiences of captive lions

Boredom, frustration, neuroticism, irritation, frustration and anxiety are just some of the 15 negative mental experiences of lions kept in zoos, sanctuaries and wildlife parks that our recently published research
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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

7 Nutritional concerns associated with keeping lions in captivity

The welfare conditions identified by the Blood Lions and World Animal Protection research teams were categorised according to a globally accepted animal welfare model – Mellor’s Five Domains Model. In
Read More
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

5 Environmental challenges associated with keeping lions in captivity

The NSPCA – National Council of SPCAs found the following environmental issues during welfare inspections on commercial captive lion breeding facilities in South Africa: South Africa – it is time
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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

Health implications of removing cubs from their mothers

What are some of the health implications cubs experience after being removed from their mother within days of birth? Watch to find out as Specialist Wildlife Vet Dr Peter Caldwell
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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

Health implications of bottle feeding cubs

What are some of the Health implications of bottle feeding cubs? One of the biggest concerns is around the use of milk replacers. Specialist Wildlife Vet Dr Peter Caldwell explains:
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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

Health impacts of repeated pregnancies on captive lionesses

What are some of the Health impacts of repeated pregnancies on captive lionesses? Specialist Wildlife Vet Dr Peter Caldwell explains:
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