The shooting of Cecil the lion and the documentary ‘Blood Lions’ have caused great controversy, but he South African Predator Breeding Association (SAPBA) aims to set things straight.

The lion-hunting industry made global headlines after the American Walter James Palmer shot Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, causing great controversy.

At home the documentary Blood Lions had tongues wagging. It showed how lions lived in terrible conditions and are abused

Canned lion hunting also causes great controversy, with more than 1,000 lions being shot in this manner every year.

Children worse off

It is time to set the lion industry straight. That is why the South African Predator Breeding Association (SAPBA) contacted Prof Melville Saayman and his team at TREES (Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society) at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus to investigate the value of the lion industry in South Africa.

This study, which will focus mainly on the main breeding areas of North West and the Free State, will also determine how many lions are part of the industry, as numbers vary between 4,000 and 6,000.

“A ban on hunting in Zimbabwe and the accompanying loss of income for Zimbabweans mean that approximately 2,3 million children are now deprived of the necessary aids. This means that the education sector is suffering, it means that bread is taken from their mouths.

“It means that 2,3 million children are worse off and their current low quality of life has deteriorated even more as a result of a bad decision by the government,” said Saayman.

“We can already see how poaching is increasing and we see unemployment increasing as well. This is not a healthy situation.”

According to Saayman, the Blood Lions documentary portrayed a rather skewed picture of the industry, but also succeeded in putting the spotlight on offences that need to be wiped out.

A surplus of lions

“Blood Lions created a bad impression of the industry and one of our challenges will be to rectify the situation. There are undesirable practices that harm the whole industry.

“However, this can be attributed to only a few people, but still leads to the fact that misperceptions about the industry are created. There are one or two bad apples in the lion cage.”

Saayman further says that South Africa’s lion population is far from showing problems, but more can be done to distribute the lions effectively and also to utilise them better.

“We will also determine what must be done with the surplus of lions, because it has to be determined what the best will be for the market. Some of the lions have to go back to the parks and some must be introduced to new areas to improve the gene pool.

We have a healthy number of lions in the country and thanks to our breeding programmes we are not in a dangerous situation, but we will have to see what is going to happen with the surplus lions,” he explained.

Erasing bad patches

“There are various possibilities as far as the surplus lions are concerned. They can serve an educational purpose, they can play a major role in ecotourism, like walking with lions and, as was mentioned before, they can be distributed to improve the gene pool in the country.

“Of course we can also export lions to countries where there is a shortage of lions. This will mean that those countries will have to guarantee that they will care for the lions.

“We did that in the past, but then the animals were poached.”

Saayman also praised SAPBA’s commitment to improving the industry, as well as to striving for a better future for lions in the country: “Cecil and Blood Lions hurt the industry a lot.

“The initiation of this study shows that the industry is serious about erasing the bad patches, and that will be to the benefit of the whole industry.”

Die naam van die Suid-Afri- kaanse leeujagbedryf is deur die modder gesleep.

Dit was die toedoen van die dokumentére rolprent Blood Lions en die onwettige jagtog waarin die Amerikaanse tand- arts dr. Walter Palmer Cecil die Zimbabwiese leeu doodgeskiet het, se prof. Melville Saayman, hoof van die Noordwes-Universiteit se navorsingseenheid vir toerisme, die ekonomiese omge- wing en gemeenskappe (Trees).

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Roofdier- telersvereniging het hom pas genader om sy beeld te help herstel en die “vrot appels” in die bedryf te help identifiseer, het Saayman Donderdag gese.

Volgens hom het Blood Lions en Palmer die kollig op die leeu- jagbedryf (gebliktejagbedryi) laat val en plaas die “groenes” sommer nou die hele jagbedryf onder verdenking.

Blood Lions, se hy, het die be- dryf se beeld skeefgetrek, maar ook die kollig geplaas op mis- drywe wat uitgewis moet word.

“Blood Lions het ‘n slegte in- druk van die bedryf geskep en een van ons uitdagings gaan wees om dit reg te stel. Daar is ongewenste praktyke wat die hele bedryf skade berokken.”

Saayman meen meer kan gedoen word om leeus na ander gebiede te versprei om hul genepoel te verbeter.

Thousands upon thousands of Shembe Church followers have always worn leopard fur. KwaZulu-Natal ecologist Tristan Dickerson convinces them to go fake on the capes and give leopards a future

Scarcely a day goes by without reports of atrocities committed against wildlife. The slaying of Cecil, the celebrated black-maned lion of Hwange, dominated the world media. Simultaneously, the documentary Blood Lions exposed appalling details of canned- lion hunting in South Africa.

Such news provokes massive public anger but no sooner has the dust settled than fresh outrages make headlines.

You have to wonder if there’s any hope for the wild animals with which we share this planet.

Mercifully, amid all the doom and gloom, positive stories do emerge; stories of people like Tristan Dickerson, a soft- spoken man with the patience of a saint and the heart of a lion, whose trailblazing, fake, leopard-fur capes have, in his words, “eliminated a huge threat to leopards in South Africa”.

The story begins in Phinda Private Game Reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where Tristan, a behavioural ecologist, spent five years monitoring leopard populations and the impact of hunting on their numbers. “My focus was on cattle farmers, and problems they were having with leopards,” says Tristan. He knew it would accomplish nothing to “go in fighting”. More could be achieved by using science to ensure that hunting was sustainable.

But even though a strict permit system governs hunting in KZN, Tristan found that many leopards were being caught in snares, or poisoned. Until then, his research hadn’t touched on illegal hunting. Two simultaneous events happened next to shed new light on the situation. “I was invited to a Shembe Church gathering near Phinda. There I saw 200 congregants wearing leopard skins.” The gathering was small and the 200 furs worn there represented but the tip of the iceberg.

The second incident occurred when Tristan and the Organised Crime Unit were working together on other poaching- related incidents. They raided a rural house belonging to a tailor and found it packed with leopard skins. “We took 160 samples and extracted DNA from 112 of them. Of those, 92 were different leopards.” After a year of painstaking legal work, the case went to court but was thrown out on a technicality.

Many would have given up, but not Tristan. “You slowly get desensitized and stop reacting emotionally.” He adopted a different approach, and looked into the Shembe religion. “I started attending bigger gatherings and speaking to people to find out why they use leopard skins. I thought, if I could understand that, I might come up with a plan.” His findings turned out to be the saving grace: the faithful wore leopard skins not because of any perceived strength or superficial power transferred from the pelts, but simply for aesthetic reasons. “The Shembe people love leopards,” says Tristan

Furthermore, those who couldn’t afford real skins wore fakes, notably impala hides painted with black spots, or poor quality leopard lookalike fabric from China, while they saved up to buy the genuine article. “It’s a matter of belonging, as with emblems in other religions,” Tristan says. The answer thus lay in developing an alternative that would pass for the real thing, one that would become known as the Furs for Life project.

The Shembe leadership was open to the idea, so Tristan set about creating an authentic-looking design. His target was not only new converts or those who couldn’t afford real skins but also church members wanting to replace worn-out furs. Given that the average lifespan of a real skin is five years, and that an estimated 22 000 members of the church wear skins, South Africa’s leopards were in dire trouble. To come up with a design that couldn’t be faulted, Tristan digitalised four patterns from skins confiscated at the tailor’s house. “Those leopards didn’t die entirely in vain,” he says.

Over the next few years, and as Tristan learnt the intricacies of the textile business, everything that could go wrong, did.

The first major hitch happened just months into the project when the only machine in Africa that could do the job broke down. Repairs were out of the question because the Pietermaritzburg factory that housed the high-tech Jacquard knitting machine had practically gone out of business. “The minimum wage laws had led to the collapse of the textile industry in South Africa,” Tristan explains.

 Next stop was China, one of the few countries that have massive machines with the memory required to produce a continuous repeat of the four different designs, each sequence measuring 3m x 1.4m. Negotiations ensued, language difficulties compounding the already complex process, and samples were couriered to China.

At last, after years of intensive work, the first shipment of fur arrived. Role players gathered for the unveiling and, as the first bag was opened and the faux fur was revealed, everyone fell silent. The spots were brown. “Every bag was the same,” Tristan says. “We had 300 metres of faux fur with brown spots instead of black.”

With the deadline for handing over the furs three weeks away, the only solution was to paint the spots black. Still, and even though the hastily applied colour ran out after the first couple of washes, the replicas were so good, the church accepted the concept. Tristan also assured the recipients of those first dud furs that they would receive replacements.

Happily, the next consignment was a success, Tristan and graphic designer, Greg Lomas travelling to China a number of times to oversee the process. Since then, the project has run smoothly and 8 500 synthetic capes e or amambatha e have been handed out at Shembe gatherings. This means that 30 per cent of furs worn at Shembe gatherings are now replicas, compared to l0 per cent a year ago.

By the end of 2016, around l8 000 amambatha will have been distributed free of charge. The only requirement is that each recipient fills out a form that helps researchers understand the skin trade better. “We gather how long a real fur lasts for or how often they’re replaced,” says Tristan. “We can also see if Shembe followers feel that having a leopard skin is a crime, and if leopard numbers in KZN are dropping.”

The project presents a model of achievement that should inspire other conservation causes. Much of that success is down to the relationship that Tristan built with key players in the church and the resulting mutual understanding and respect. He is, though, modest about his own role. “None of what’s been achieved would have been possible without the commitment of the Shembe people. They’re the ones making the change that is conserving leopards. They understand that heritage is in us and not on us and that, if you wear something different, you’re not changing your heritage.”

While he is still fully involved in Furs for Life, Tristan has since left Phinda to take up the post of general manager of PheZulu Safari Park in the Valley of a Thousand Hills in KZN. “It was a hard decision to leave Phinda,” he says. “It was my dream job. But my wife, Tarryne and I wanted our children to have the chance of a better education than what we could give them in the bush.”

Today, he might live in a much tamer area, but Tristan is no less committed to protecting wildlife. “Small reserves like this one are extremely important in that they can make a powerful impact on many people who might not otherwise get to experience the wild.”

He tells me that l0 000 schoolchildren visit Phezulu every year. “I hope that at least one in thirty is touched by what they see and learn here.”

Considering that Tristan’s dogged persistence and innovative ideas have helped ensure the survival of one of the most hunted cats in Africa, there can be no doubt he’ll succeed in touching those young minds.

Status of Leopards

According to Tristan, leopards are the most persecuted cat species in the world. Only 2 500-3 000 leopards remain in South Africa. In KZN the number is between 300 and 600. Illegal hunting, killing for skins, legal destruction because of stock loss, revenge killing that often results in many leopards dying, and by-catch from snares for the bush meat trade, are pushing this magnificent animal to the brink of extinction.

 Furs for Life

• The project is supported and funded by Panthera, a USA- based organisation that works in partnership with local and international NGOs, scientific institutions, local communities and governments around the globe to conserve the big wild cats and their ecosystems.
• Panthera has recently established an office in South Africa. www.panthera.org/ programs/leopard/furs-life- leopard-project
• To Skin a Cat is a documentary by Colwyn Thomas and Greg Lomas about Tristan’s mission to save the leopard. Production is in the final stages and the film should be released within the next few months. To see a trailer go to toskinacat.org
• Tristan employs up to five women from the Valley of a Thousand Hills to sew the amambatha. He provides the venue at his home, plus machines and all materials.

The Shembe Church

• I Shembe is considered the fastest-growing religion in the country and is spreading into Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Membership is currently estimated at between one and five million.
• I Only married men who can afford the full ceremonial attire, and who dance at gatherings, are entitled to wear amambatha
• In KZN, leopard skin was originally worn only by royalty but, about 30 years ago, Shembes started using it for ceremonial attire.
• The African Congregational Church, whose women members wear leopard-fur headdresses, has expressed interest in the faux furs.

A video of an adorable lion cub attempting to roar has gone viral, as the tiny animal’s sounds delight viewers.

The video, uploaded by Chubby-Fish, has amassed over 3.4 million views since Wednesday.

However the video seems to have been originally uploaded by BigMania in May, which amassed over 1.2 million views.

Neither of the videos gives very much information about where the lion cub is, with some viewers suggesting it is calling for its mother.

Hopefully this cub is not part of a lion cub petting programme. To read more about this issue, see our feature on Five Things to learn from Blood Lions.

 

On 7^th October, MSNBC will present the American television premiere of “Blood Lions,” a compelling documentary which takes audiences inside the so called “canned lion hunting” industry in South Africa. Blood Lions will air at 22.00 on the East Coast and at 23.00 (West Coast).

“Blood Lions” follows environmental journalist and safari operator, Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, as they expose the multi-million dollar industry of canned hunting – where lions are bred and raised in confined areas for trophy hunting.  Also known as captive bred lion hunting, canned hunts allow hunters to select their lion ahead of time and complete a hunt in a matter of days.  Canned hunts provide a cheaper and faster way of hunting predatory animals compared to wild lion hunts.

It’s a world many Americans do not know exists and yet, Americans are in large part the ones fuelling the industry.   In the wake of the hunting and death of Cecil the lion, the film reveals a dark dimension to trophy hunting in Africa.

The documentary includes the perspective of both proponents of this practice who say that hunting helps preserve Africa’s lion population and conservationists who are quick to dispute that claim.

Senior Producer for MSNBC, Tim Smith, commented that: “Blood Lions is a revelatory and sad tale that demands to be told – and we are pleased to be able to bring it to our viewers.”

Ian Michler, environmentalist and a lead character in “Blood Lions”, had this to say:   “While it is true that the majority of trophy hunters coming to South Africa are from the USA, and that many of them are going after captive-bred lions, it is equally true that Blood Lions is also receiving significant support in the USA; And this support ranges from donors and the wider citizenry who are concerned or outraged about what is going on to decision-makers and politicians. I would like to thank all of you – the millions of Americans who have been so outspoken and vociferous about predator breeding and canned hunting – your support has been vital to raising the profile of Blood Lions around the world. For all of us, the first screenings of the film here are very exciting and we so look forward to getting actively involved in the campaign across your great country.”

Producer, and driving force behind the film, Pippa Hankinson said:   “We have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary response that “Blood Lions” has received from so many across the USA, and are immensely grateful to MSNBC for the incredible opportunity to premiere this important story on American television.   The film exposes the cruel exploitation of South Africa’s lions which are being intensively bred on farms resembling large scale puppy mills.   These magnificent animals are being bottle fed and hand reared simply for the bullet – for vast profits – in an industry which is not open to public scrutiny.   “Blood Lions” is a call to action – a call to all who view it to make conscious choices around our responsibilities towards our planet and the amazing creatures with whom we have the privilege to share it.   Our hope is that our film will help make the changes that are so needed, to ensure that our children’s children will be able to see these majestic animals roaming free in the wild – where they rightfully belong!”

The playgrounds of trigger-happy trophy hunters are far removed from the fertile fruit farms of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. But a recent television expose of driven hunting has established a disturbing link between the agricultural and hunting sectors.

The link is Anton de Vries, a Dutch businessman and fruit exporter whose companies, Safe and Bono, are strategic partners in the government’s agrarian land reform policies.

 De Vries owns or manages more than 2O fruit, livestock and game farms in South Africa, including three in All- days, Limpopo, where the driven hunt took place.

 Unlike traditional hunting, in which target animals have a reasonable chance of escape, all the shooters had to do was take pot shots at the traumatised targets who were chased into their sights.

Like canned lion hunting, in which the animals are caged and drugged, driven hunting is not illegal in South Africa. Unlike canned hunting, however, this unethical sport has until now never been exposed in South Africa.

It comes in the wake of the recent killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe and the release of Blood Lions, a documentary exposing the brutal underbelly of canned lion hunting.

The fact that De Vries has been implicated in this hunt adds further fuel to an ongoing investigation by the SABC into his activities in allegedly swindling farm workers and farming cooperatives out of their profits and thus depriving the rightful beneficiaries of the government’s land reform policies.

Through its BEE company, Bono, whose CEO is the politically connected Evans Nevondo, Safe is mandated to provide infrastructural and economic empowerment on the farms it manages.

On its website Bono advertises its certification by Fairtrade, an international body that sets standards for exports, based on adequate labour and living conditions for farming communities.

But Bono was decertified in July for noncompliance.

The driven hunt in Limpopo was justified on the grounds that it gives work and food to impoverished rural communities where unemployment is rife and job opportunities scarce.

 In this hunt more than 100 animals were gunned down in what the NSPCA has condemned as a “massacre”. That’s not taking into account the scores of animals that were wounded in the process. After De Vries was exposed on televi- sion for the driven hunt in Limpopo, the Safe and Bono website was shut down.

At the time, neither De Vries nor Nevondo were available for comment. But shortly after their activities were exposed on SABC News, their PR firm made contact, requesting their clients be given the right of reply to the serious allegations levelled against them.

Organisers halt screening of film due to controversy and the ‘truth’ of cub rearing

Travel conference organisers have decided not to screen a documentary that raises critical questions about key tourist attractions that their event promotes.

 Local delegates to the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) 2015 asked the hosts to include a screen- ing of the film Blood Lions in their programme. The documentary shows young, conservation-minded volunteers from around the world paying thousands of rands to work at South African facili- ties that offer tourists the opportunity to pet lion cubs and go for bush walks with juvenile lions.

What most of the volunteers don’t know is that the majority of the lions they help to raise are destined for the bullets of wealthy trophy hunters.

“Wildlife volunteering in Africa is huge. Kids from all over the world want to come here to help animals,” says Blood Lions director, Bruce Young. “The organisers of the conference are key players in this whole industry and, given its location, timing and content, you would have thought that sharing Blood Lions with delegates would be a valuable exercise. We want youngsters who end up at lion breeding facilities to ask themselves some crucial questions, where do these cubs come from and where do they end up?”

Wendy Morrill, a conference organiser, said, “several discussions were had regarding if and how to share relevant content from the film with WYSTO 2015 delegates. Unfortunately the involved parties were not able to come to terms of a mutual agreement.”

There will be a session on lion programmes and volunteer organisations for registered delegates hosted by Dr Jackie Abell of the African Lion Environmental and Research Trust (Alert), which claims to focus on lion conservation through research, education and responsible development. lt bases much of its work on the suggestion that captive-bred lions can be successfully re-introduced into the wild.

SA conservationist lan Michler, the central character in Blood Lions, has criticised Alert for attempting to “legitimise its lion captive-breeding programmes and money-spinning tourist operations… under the banner of conservation, science or education”, while a group of researchers who examined Alert’s assertions found that “the lion encounter industry relies on animals so habituated to human presence that they can never be released”.

Travel conference organisers have decided not to screen a documentary that raises critical questions about key tourist attractions that their event promotes.

Local delegates to the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) 2015 asked the hosts to include a screening of the film Blood Lions in their programme. The documentary shows young, conservation-minded volunteers from around the world paying thousands of rands to work at South African facilities that offer tourists the opportunity to pet lion cubs and go for bush walks with juvenile lions.

What most of the volunteers don’t know is that the majority of the lions they help to raise are destined for the bullets of wealthy trophy hunters.

“Wildlife volunteering in Africa is huge. Kids from all over the world want to come here to help animals,” says Blood Lions director, Bruce Young. ”The organisers of the conference are key players in this whole industry and, given its location, timing and content, you would have thought that sharing Blood Lions with delegates would be a valuable exercise. We’re not trying to discourage volunteering, but we do want youngsters who end up at lion breeding facilities to ask themselves some crucial questions: where do all of these cubs come from and where do they end up?”

According to Wendy Morrill, one of the conference organisers, “several discussions were had regarding if and how to share relevant content from the film with WYSTC 2015 delegates. Unfortunately the involved parties were not able to come to terms of mutual agreement”.

“We are, however, running a session on lion programmes and volunteer organisations for registered delegates”. This workshop will be hosted by Dr Jackie Abell of the African Lion Environmental and Research Trust (ALERT), which claims to focus on lion conservation through research, education and responsible development. It promotes operations that allow tourists to walk with lions in Zambia and Zimbabwe, and bases much of its work on the suggestion that captive-bred lions can be successfully re-introduced into the wild.

South African conservationist Ian Michler, who is the central character in Blood Lions, has criticised ALERT for attempting to “legitimise their lion captive-breeding programmes and money-spinning tourist operations … under the banner of conservation, science or education”, while a group of researchers who examined ALERT’s assertions found that “the lion encounter industry relies on animals so habituated to human presence that they can never be released”, that “untrained volunteers are placed in extraordinarily dangerous situations that have resulted in attacks, including fatalities”, and that “captive-origin lions have no role in species restoration”.

One of the sponsors of WYSTC 2015 is African Impact, “a Cape Town based volunteer experience organisation,” which “helped establish” and has a “strong partnership” with ALERT.

Conference delegates have been invited to an unofficial, free screening of Blood Lions on Tuesday, 22 September at 5:30pm at the Cullinan Hotel, across the road from the conference venue.

On 7th October, MSNBC will present the American television premiere of Blood Lions, a compelling documentary which takes audiences inside the so called “canned lion hunting” industry in South Africa. Blood Lions will air at 22.00 on the East Coast and at 23.00 on the West Coast.

Blood Lions follows environmental journalist and safari operator, Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, as they expose the multi-million dollar industry of canned hunting – where lions are bred and raised in confined areas for trophy hunting. Also known as captive bred lion hunting, canned hunts allow hunters to select their lion ahead of time and complete a hunt in a matter of days. Canned hunts provide a cheaper and faster way of hunting predatory animals compared to wild lion hunts.

It’s a world many Americans do not know exists and yet, Americans are in large part the ones fuelling the industry. In the wake of the hunting and death of Cecil the lion, the film reveals a dark dimension to trophy hunting in Africa.

The documentary includes the perspective of both proponents of this practice who say that hunting helps preserve Africa’s lion population and conservationists who are quick to dispute that claim.

Senior Producer for MSNBC, Tim Smith, commented that, “Blood Lions is a revelatory and sad tale that demands to be told – and we are pleased to be able to bring it to our viewers.”

Ian Michler, environmentalist and a lead character in Blood Lions, had this to say: “While it is true that the majority of trophy hunters coming to South Africa are from the USA, and that many of them are going after captive-bred lions, it is equally true that Blood Lions is also receiving significant support in the USA. This support ranges from donors and the wider citizenry who are concerned or outraged about what is going on to decision-makers and politicians. I would like to thank all of you – the millions of Americans who have been so outspoken and vociferous about predator breeding and canned hunting – your support has been vital to raising the profile of Blood Lions around the world. For all of us, the first screenings of the film here are very exciting and we so look forward to getting actively involved in the campaign across your great country.”

Producer, and driving force behind the film, Pippa Hankinson said, “We have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary response that Blood Lions has received from so many across the USA, and are immensely grateful to MSNBC for the incredible opportunity to premiere this important story on American television. The film exposes the cruel exploitation of South Africa’s lions which are being intensively bred on farms resembling large scale puppy mills.   These magnificent animals are being bottle fed and hand reared simply for the bullet – for vast profits – in an industry which is not open to public scrutiny. Blood Lions is a call to action – a call to all who view it to make conscious choices around our responsibilities towards our planet and the amazing creatures with whom we have the privilege to share it. Our hope is that our film will help make the changes that are so needed, to ensure that our children’s children will be able to see these majestic animals roaming free in the wild – where they rightfully belong!”

On 7th October, MSNBC will present the American television premiere of “Blood Lions,” a compelling documentary which takes audiences inside the so called “canned lion hunting” industry in South Africa. Blood Lions will air at 22.00 on the East Coast and at 23.00 (West Coast).

“Blood Lions” follows environmental journalist and safari operator, Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, as they expose the multi-million dollar industry of canned hunting – where lions are bred and raised in confined areas for trophy hunting. Also known as captive bred lion hunting, canned hunts allow hunters to select their lion ahead of time and complete a hunt in a matter of days. Canned hunts provide a cheaper and faster way of hunting predatory animals compared to wild lion hunts.

It’s a world many Americans do not know exists and yet, Americans are in large part the ones fuelling the industry. In the wake of the hunting and death of Cecil the lion, the film reveals a dark dimension to trophy hunting in Africa.

The documentary includes the perspective of both proponents of this practice who say that hunting helps preserve Africa’s lion population and conservationists who are quick to dispute that claim.

Senior Producer for MSNBC, Tim Smith, commented that: “Blood Lions is a revelatory and sad tale that demands to be told – and we are pleased to be able to bring it to our viewers.”

Ian Michler, environmentalist and a lead character in “Blood Lions”, had this to say: “While it is true that the majority of trophy hunters coming to South Africa are from the USA, and that many of them are going after captive-bred lions, it is equally true that Blood Lions is also receiving significant support in the USA; And this support ranges from donors and the wider citizenry who are concerned or outraged about what is going on to decision-makers and politicians. I would like to thank all of you – the millions of Americans who have been so outspoken and vociferous about predator breeding and canned hunting – your support has been vital to raising the profile of Blood Lions around the world. For all of us, the first screenings of the film here are very exciting and we so look forward to getting actively involved in the campaign across your great country.”

Producer, and driving force behind the film, Pippa Hankinson said: “We have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary response that “Blood Lions” has received from so many across the USA, and are immensely grateful to MSNBC for the incredible opportunity to premiere this important story on American television. The film exposes the cruel exploitation of South Africa’s lions which are being intensively bred on farms resembling large scale puppy mills. These magnificent animals are being bottle fed and hand reared simply for the bullet – for vast profits – in an industry which is not open to public scrutiny. “Blood Lions” is a call to action – a call to all who view it to make conscious choices around our responsibilities towards our planet and the amazing creatures with whom we have the privilege to share it. Our hope is that our film will help make the changes that are so needed, to ensure that our children’s children will be able to see these majestic animals roaming free in the wild – where they rightfully belong!”