05 May 2021

Minister Barbara Creecy and the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) have courageously taken the crucial and long-awaited step towards changing the status quo of the commercial captive lion breeding industry in South Africa.

Minister Creecy announced on Sunday, 2 May 2021, that South Africa would no longer breed captive lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially. She has instructed her Department to put processes in place to halt:

• The sale of captive lion derivatives, including the appropriate disposal of existing lion bone stockpiles and lion bone from euthanised lions.
• The hunting of captive bred lions.
• Tourist interactions with captive lions, including, so-called voluntourism, cub petting, etc.

“The [High-Level] Panel identified that the captive lion breeding industry poses risks to the sustainability of wild lion conservation resulting from the negative impact on ecotourism, which funds lion conservation and conservation more broadly, the negative impact on the authentic wild hunting industry, and the risk that trade in lion parts poses to stimulating poaching and illegal trade”, said Minister Creecy in her announcement.

“In terms of captive lion and captive rhino breeding, where there were majority and minority recommendations, and having applied my mind, we will be adopting the majority recommendations on these issues”, the Minister said, which were supported by 62.5% of the High-Level Panel (HLP). The Department will be initiating processes to implement these majority recommendations (see Appendix 1).

In implementing the majority recommendations, the HLP proposes (full text in Appendix 1 below):

• Development of minimum standards for the welfare and well-being of captive lions.
• Development of minimum standards for health and safety in the workplace for workers at captive lion, including mitigating the risks of zoonotic disease transmission.
• A policy decision to prohibit trade in lion bones and derivatives.
• An immediate moratorium on issuing of permits for hunting of captive bred lions.
• Immediate amendment of permit conditions to exclude activities, such as tourist interactions.
• Immediate amendment of permit conditions to prohibit breeding and require the sterilisation of lions to prevent further breeding.
• No issuing of new captivity permits.
• Enhancement of mechanisms to prevent and avoid stimulating illegal trade in lion derivatives from captive facilities.
• Establishment of an independent committee to formulate a process for the ethical and humane euthanasia of captive lions and disposal of their carcasses.

Blood Lions Position Statement

The Blood Lions film and global campaign was launched in 2015 and has worked tirelessly to end this cruel and unethical industry and its spin-off activities. This announcement by Minister Barbara Creecy is highly significant and we commend the Minister in her decisive leadership to bringing an end to the commercial captive lion breeding industry. The Blood Lions team welcome the chance to play a role in assisting her, the various Departments and entities in the phasing out process to come.

We do however recognise that there may be grey areas in the HLP recommendations and proposed implementations (details in Appendix 1 below). We urge the Minister and her Department to be cognisant of such potential loopholes that could be utilised by the commercial captive lion breeding industry in continuing the various spin-off activities.

Given the considerable scale of farming and trade of captive lions in our country, the recommendations that came out of the HLP consultations concur with the views held amongst the global conservation community, welfare organisations, “ethical” hunting bodies and the general public, who all condemn the industry.

By implementing a ban on the use of captive lions and their derivatives, in conjunction with an immediate breeding ban and end to all activities involving captive bred lions, DFFE will effectively take the lead towards a more ethical and responsible South Africa. These are the first steps in shifting away from commodifying our wildlife, while moving towards a true “ecologically sustainable…use of natural resources”, as described in Section 24 in the Bill of Rights of our Constitution.

Opposing this brutal industry has been a long journey and Blood Lions’ ultimate goal has always been to end the captive lion breeding industry. After many setbacks, we sense an important change in attitude and we applaud the Minister, her department and the HLP.

Blood Lions congratulates the Minister on these bold steps and offer our full support in developing and implementing a responsible phase-out plan in order to ensure that the commercial predator breeding industry is successfully closed down in South Africa, once and for all.

Captive lion breeding industry status based on recent Blood Lions research

• Captive facilities: The official statistic in 2019 was 366 facilities, but research indicates an estimated 450+ facilities, including 97 captive hunting facilities, 133 facilities open to public & offering interaction, 61 offering volunteering opportunities, and only 10 sanctuaries.
• Number of captive lions: The official statistic in 2019 was 7,979 lions in captivity, but research-based estimates are between 10,000-12,000 lions.
• Tourism interactions: Tourism activities that use captive lions for commercial gain include bottle feeding cubs, cub petting, ‘pay to walk’ with lions, selfie opportunities and volunteering.
• Hunting Trophies: South Africa exported 8,855 lion trophies under CITES between 2008-17 with the vast majority from the captive lion population. The top importing countries are USA, Spain, Russia, China and Canada.
• Lion bones: South Africa exported 6,634 lion skeletons under CITES between 2008-17 weighing a total of about 70 tonnes, all from the captive lion population. Top 3 importing countries are Lao People’s Democratic Republic (48%), Vietnam (44%) and Thailand (5%).
• Live exports: South Africa exported 1,895 live lions under CITES between 2008-17 (95% captive bred) for zoos and breeders overseas with China, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Vietnam as the top importing countries.
• Zoonosis research: A peer-reviewed paper on African Lions and Zoonotic Diseases: Implications for Commercial Lion Farms in South Africa was adopted by the HLP. This joint World Animal Protection and Blood Lions research identified 63 pathogens associated with wild and captive lions and 23 human diseases that can potentially be transmitted from lions to people. The paper has also been developed into a popular science document “Unpacking the Sick 5”.
• Animal welfare research: A research paper called “Welfare Challenges Relating to Commercial Captive Lion Breeding in South Africa” has been submitted to the Journal Animal Welfare and is awaiting publication. This review of scientific literature identifies some of the main challenges associated with caring for lions in captivity. It also highlights the apparent lack of scientific research involving commercial breeding facilities in South Africa, where animals are housed in large numbers, subjected to intense breeding practises and have regular contact with people.
• Industry gap analysis: A research paper called “Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach” has been submitted to the Journal Animals and is awaiting peer-review. Here we are using a “gap analysis” management tool to outline some of the key considerations necessary for a responsible and well-managed exit from the lion farming industry in South Africa.
• SA Brand damage: Over the years, significant brand damage has most likely been inflicted on South Africa’s tourism and conservation reputations through negative media attention in media coverage involving this industry. To give an indication of the potential brand damage, from January to mid-November 2020, 397 pieces of national and international media coverage were published with the keywords canned hunting, captive lion breeding and/or lion bone trade. This generated an estimated circulation of 1 billion people and an advertising value equivalent of nearly ZAR 29 million.

More industry background can be found in the “Context” section in Appendix 1 below, excerpts taken from the HLP Recommendations report.

More information:

• Read the Minister’s full speech HERE.
• Download the Ministerial High-Level Panel report HERE.
• Read HLP industry context, outcomes and recommendations in Appendix 1 below.
• Watch the Blood Lions film HERE.
• Find more information on Blood Lions HERE and YouthForLions HERE.
• Follow Blood Lions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and YouthForLions on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
• Watch Blood Lions YouTube channel HERE.

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Appendix 1 – HLP Goals and Majority Recommendations for Captive Lions

Below are excerpts from the HLP report pp 328-330.

Context:

In respect of the breeding and keeping of captive lions in South Africa, the HLP recognises that –

• The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Environment held a Colloquium on captive lion breeding for hunting in 2018, which resolved (reports No 167—2018) that “The Department of Environmental Affairs should as a matter of urgency initiate a policy and legislative review of Captive Breeding of Lions for hunting and Lion bone trade with a view to putting an end to this practice”.
• Rewilding of captive lions is not feasible from conservation principles and captive breeding is currently not necessary for conservation purposes.
• The commercial lion business involving intensive and selective breeding, handling, canned hunting and bone and other derivative trade presents a threat to South Africa’s reputation with associated political and economic risks including negative impacts on the broader photo-tourism market, and tourism to South Africa in general.
• The captive lion industry threatens South Africa’s reputation as a leader in the conservation of wildlife, and as a country and destination with iconic wild lions, as the housing of wild or captive-bred lions is perceived as the domestication of this iconic species.
• There is a Lion non-detriment finding (NDF) that suggests that trade in captive trophies and captive live specimens and lion bones does not impact negatively on wild populations.
• The captive lion breeding and hunting industry presents a direct risk to the trophy hunting industry in terms of the hunting of wild lions and trophy hunting in general, and feeds the perception that we hunt farmed or semi-tame animals in SA.
• The captive lion industry provides very little economic activity benefiting a few relative to the other components of the sector, including relatively few jobs.
• The captive lion industry does not contribute meaningfully to transformation in South Africa.
• The captive lion industry does not contribute to the conservation of wild lions.
• The trade in lion derivatives poses major risks to wild lion populations in South Africa, including concerns raised by communities adjacent to Kruger National Park about increasing lion poaching in Kruger National Park, and, especially, wild populations in other countries with relatively low conservation funds to protect them.
• The trade in lion derivatives poses major risks to stimulating illegal trade, including through the laundering of poached parts.
• There are demonstrable (peer-reviewed) zoonotic risks associated with the intensive breeding and keeping of lions, which poses a high risk of an epidemic of existing or new zoonotic diseases, emerging in South Africa, and moving abroad; COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred in a number of animal species, including felids, with potential for mutation and back-infection to humans, and the World Organisation for Animal Health have listed lion as one of the species with a high susceptibility to infection.
• The captive lion industry does not represent ecological sustainable use.
• There is a presence of a large number of lions currently in captivity in many locations.
• There are major concerns over work conditions and safety of workers on lion farms.
• There are major concerns about the safety of tourists visiting these facilities and many attacks and fatalities have been reported.
• Although some operators may implement acceptable standards of welfare, there are major welfare contraventions in the industry in general.
• Investors in captive lion breeding, keeping, and use through hunting, interaction tourism, derivative sales etc. do so at their own risk, as with investment in any novel or developing industry.
• An existing stockpile of lion bones is registered with the Department.
• There are risks to employment, economy, and to the lions themselves associated with an immediate ban on trade with captive lions and derivatives.

Goal

Given the above context, the majority of the HLP has agreed the following goal in respect of captive lions –

South Africa does not captive breed lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially.

Recommendations

With a view to the achievement of the goal above, the majority of the HLP recommends the following –

Minister puts in place a process to halt and reverse the domestication of our iconic lions, through captive lion keeping, breeding, and commercial use, putting in place ethical and humane procedures for euthanasia of existing captive lions;

and

Minister puts in place policy decisions for an immediate halt to (1) the sale of captive lion derivatives, including the appropriate disposal of existing lion bone stockpiles and lion bone from euthanised lions, (2) the hunting of captive bred lions, and (3) tourist interactions with captive lions, including, so-called, ‘voluntourism’, cub petting, etc.

and

The Minister engages with other Departments and the SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authority) to identify mechanisms to protect employment of workers on captive lion facilities, including redeployment to other components of the wildlife sector, repurposing/retraining, and/or incorporation into the agricultural sector.

In implementing these recommendations, the majority of the HLP proposes –

• That minimum standards for the welfare and well-being of captive lions for accredited zoos, rehabilitation centres, and sanctuaries are agreed through an independent process (role-players, regulatory authority) and included in permit conditions, for as long as facilities continue to hold captive lions.
• That minimum standards for health and safety in the workplace for workers at captive lion facilities are finalised and implemented, including mitigating the risks of the transmission of a pathogen from the captive lions to humans (zoonotic spill over).
• A policy decision to prohibit trade in lion derivatives implemented through, for example –
  • a zero quota as an interim measure, and
  • an immediate prohibition in terms of Section 57(2) of NEMBA because of the negative effect on wild lions in terms of poaching for body parts, and laundering of skeletons, and
  • in the longer term, an amendment to Section 57(2) to make it broader, i.e. broaden from negative impact on wild population, such as negative impact on conservation and sustainable use more broadly, and to consider also animal well-being and human health, including from zoonosis.
• An immediate moratorium on the issuance of permits for hunting of captive bred lion. In the longer term, an Amendment of Regulation 24 and 26 of TOPS regulations to include lions as a listed large predator, and concerns raised by the HPL.
• Immediately amending the conditions of permit holders to exclude activities such as tourist interactions. In the longer term, to use the new clause 9A in the revised NEMBA for well-being of animals.
• That no permits should be issued for any new entrants into the field of captive lion keeping and breeding.
• The immediate revision of permit stipulations to prohibit new breeding, and to require the sterilisation of lions to prevent further breeding, or immediate euthanasia.
• The enhancement of mechanisms to prevent and avoid stimulating illegal trade in lion derivatives from captive facilities, including an audit of captive lions and the controlled disposal of skeletons.
• That the Minister establishes an independent committee to formulate a process for the ethical and humane euthanasia of captive lions, and disposal of their carcasses, in consultation with captive lion breeders and keepers, and other stakeholders.

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ENDS

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02 May 2021

Today at a stakeholder’s feedback meeting in Pretoria, Minister Creecy of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) took crucial and long-awaited steps towards changing the status quo of the commercial captive lion breeding industry in South Africa.

Minister Barbara Creecy announced that South Africa will no longer breed captive lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially. She has instructed her Department to put processes in place to halt the sale of captive lion derivatives (including the appropriate disposal of existing lion bone stockpiles and lion bone from euthanised lions); the hunting of captive bred lions; tourist interactions with captive lions (including, so-called voluntourism, cub petting, etc). (p. 329 HLP report).

“The [High-Level] Panel identified that the captive lion breeding industry poses risks to the sustainability of wild lion conservation resulting from the negative impact on ecotourism, which funds lion conservation and conservation more broadly, the negative impact on the authentic wild hunting industry, and the risk that trade in lion parts poses to stimulating poaching and illegal trade”, said Minister Creecy in her announcement today.

The Department will be initiating processes to implement these majority recommendations by the High-Level Panel (HLP), established by the Minister in October 2019, in order to mitigate these risks and shift away from this abhorrent industry.

“Blood Lions has campaigned against this cruel and unethical industry and its spin-off activities for many years, and we are extremely happy by the Minister’s decision to bring an end to the commercial captive lion breeding industry”, says Dr Louise de Waal (Director and Campaign Manager of Blood Lions). “We commend the Minister in her decisive leadership, and we would welcome the chance to play a role in assisting her, the various Departments and entities in the phasing out process to come.”

Currently, 8,000-12,000 lions and thousands of other big cats, including tigers and cheetahs, are bred and kept in captivity in more than 350 facilities in mostly the Free State, North West, Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces. These predators are bred for commercial purposes, including interactive tourism, “canned” hunting, lion bone trade and live exports.

Blood Lions and the World Animal Protection together with many other stakeholders in the animal welfare and conservation sectors made a wealth of compelling science-based evidence available to the HLP in written and oral submissions in 2020. Reasons provided to phase out the commercial captive lion breeding industry in South Africa included among others the risk of zoonosis, animal welfare concerns, the unregulated nature of the industry, the fragmented policies pertaining this sector, as well as damage to South Africa’s tourism and conservation reputation and threats to the wild lion population from poaching.

“By working together, we can ensure that lions remain where they belong – in the wild. We stand ready to offer our expertise, working collaboratively with governments, NGOs and the tourism industry to find practical solutions”, says Edith Kabesiime (Wildlife Campaign Manager (Africa) for World Animal Protection)

By implementing a ban on the use of captive lions and their derivatives, in conjunction with a breeding ban and an immediate end to all activities involving captive bred lions, DFFE will effectively take the lead towards a greener and more responsible South Africa. These are the first steps in shifting away from commodifying our wildlife, while moving towards a true “ecologically sustainable…use of natural resources”, as described in Section 24 in the Bill of Rights of our Constitution.

“Opposing this brutal industry has been a long journey. Our ultimate objective has always been to end the captive lion breeding industry, and after so many setbacks, we sense an important change in attitude. We applaud the Minister, her department and the HLP. Going forward, we hope to be of assistance to them in closing down the industry”, say Ian Michler and Pippa Hankinson (Directors of Blood Lions).

Given the considerable scale of farming and trade of captive lions in our country, the recommendations that came out of the HLP consultations concur with the views held amongst the global conservation community, welfare organisations, hunting bodies and the general public, who all condemn the industry.

“The only effective way to safeguard both people and animals throughout this industry is to conduct a phased shift away from commercial captive predator breeding operations”, de Waal states. “These steps will not only ensure improved welfare conditions for captive lions and other big cats, health and safety of the public at large, but also the protection of wild lions and the safeguarding of Brand South Africa from reputational damage, as the Minister acknowledged in her statement this morning.”

“Thousands of farmed lions are born into a life of misery in South Africa every year in cruel commercial breeding facilities. This latest move by the Government of South Africa is courageous – taking the first steps in a commitment to long-lasting and meaningful change. This is a win for wildlife”, adds Kabesiime.

Blood Lions and World Animal Protection congratulate the Minister on these bold steps and offer their full support in developing and implementing a responsible phase-out plan in order to ensure that the commercial predator breeding industry is successfully closed down in South Africa, once and for all.

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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

• Contact: Kirsty Warren
• Email: KirstyWarren@worldanimalprotection.org

World Animal Protection is a global organisation with 14 offices around the world and for 55 years they have been protecting animals from needless suffering. From the frontlines of disaster zones to the boardrooms of large corporations, they are fighting to create better lives for all animals. www.worldanimalprotection.or.ke

9 March 2021

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses a real and serious health risk to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities.

“Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health issues for people”, says Dr Louise de Waal (Director of Blood Lions). “These diseases are associated with at least 63 potentially harmful pathogens linked with both wild and captive lions, as identified in our peer-reviewed paper.”

Underestimating the impact of such pathogens and the associated zoonotic diseases could lead to future epidemics with reductions in life expectancy, increased child and maternal death and serious socio-economic consequences.

The Sick 5 are Human Ehrlichiosis, Human Babesiosis, African Sleeping Sickness, Toxocariasis and Trichinosis.

The first two are tick-borne diseases, where the bacteria and parasite respectively are transmitted from animals to people by ticks. Toxocariasis and Trichinosis parasites are transmitted more directly to humans, the former for example by handling faeces contaminated soil and the latter has a direct animal-human transmission.

African Sleeping Sickness (or Trypanosomiasis) is caused by a parasite transmitted by the tsetse fly and is listed as a Neglected Tropical Disease by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Over the last century, this disease has caused several epidemics in Africa.

In South Africa, more than 8,000 lions are bred and kept on commercial farms for tourism activities, captive hunting, the bone trade and live exports. These wildlife farms can be a hot bed for diseases, especially when poor hygiene, poor diet, and other stresses associated with captivity weaken the animal’s immune system. Such welfare issues were highlighted as commonly occurring on South Africa’s commercial lion farms in a recent NSPCA report.

Furthermore, contagious diseases can spread rapidly when large numbers, and sometimes even different species, of wild animals are kept in the same enclosures, as this increases the risk of transmission.

Despite the large number of lions bred in captivity in South Africa and the long list of diseases found to affect them, the researchers did not find any scientific studies investigating health and diseases on commercial lion farms here in South Africa. Without this vital information it is impossible to effectively prevent, monitor or manage potential health risks on these farms, particularly considering this industry is poorly regulated and animal welfare enforcement lies with the NSPCA only.

“Our research identified substantial gaps in our knowledge base concerning the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa, which can have huge health implications for tourists interacting with lions, farm staff caring for the animals, taxidermists preparing the trophies, and slaughterhouse workers killing lions and preparing their skeletons”, says de Waal.

To avoid potential health risks and future pandemics, the Blood Lions “The Sick 5” campaign focusses on three major calls to action for members of the public and other entities:

1. Asking the public to stop interacting with captive wildlife – an industry that has been condemned by global conservation authorities and leaders in the tourism sector.
2. Urging the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) to set a zero CITES lion bone export quota.
3. Calling for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to curb the global wildlife trade.

Link to peer-reviewed paper on zoonosis: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1692/htm

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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

23 December 2020

Durban, South Africa [23 December 2020] – Green Kids Club, Inc. announced today the release of the seventh title in its “Environmental Heroes” book series.  The new book, the title of which includes fun word play alluding to the main animal characters is called, “A Tail of Three Lions”.  The story is about a young lion cub named Tau living in Africa who looks to rescue his brother from hunters, and introduces the concepts of poaching and exploitation as well as recognized lion sanctuaries to children.

A Tail of Three Lions is co-written by Sylvia Medina, founder of Green Kids Club and Ian Michler, the lead character of the award-winning documentary, Blood Lions and co-leader of the related campaign to end practices like farming, poaching and other forms of exploitation threatening African lions.  The book is illustrated empathetically by Morgan Spicer and, with rich photographs in the back pages following the story, also introduces children to facts about lions, their habitat and human threats.   

Co-Author and Blood Lions co-leader, Ian Michler, commented, “Humanity has an abusive relationship with the environment and all other species, and much of this is due to a lack of appropriate education and awareness during our school years. Green Kids Club and its thoughtful books geared to children such as A Tail of Three Lions play such a significant role in filling this knowledge gap.  In addition, by purchasing the book you are also supporting lion conservation in the wild and efforts that are aimed at securing the survival of Africa’s most iconic species.”  

Author, and Founder of Green Kids Club, Sylvia Medina commented, “I am thrilled to collaborate on this book with Ian, who has well-documented the unfortunate circumstances of lion farming, exploitation and poaching, pioneering his research in the Blood Lions movie and by leading an associated campaign to end all of these threatening practices.  Just over a century ago over 200,000 lions were living in Africa and today there are only between 14,000 and 25,000 left. As with all the books in this Environmental Heroes series, we hope to educate elementary-aged children about the challenges animals face in their environments and how humans can both be a hindrance as well as a help for them to thrive.”

The Environmental Heroes series are books featuring stories about animals and their survival, often with human heroes that help them on their journey, and, in addition to today’s title release, include the following titles: Grizzly 399; Learning About Elephants; Princess; Little Moyo; Molelo, The Fire Elephant; and, Elee and the Shining Star.  The stories take children on adventures while at the same time helping them to learn about natural resources, conservation, preservation and appreciation for animals and their habitats.

About Green Kids Club

Green Kids Club (GKC) was founded by Sylvia Medina, an environmental engineer, activist and mother of three.  GKC encourages children to be the protectors of our environment and endangered species. GKC works with, and, by donating sales proceeds from its books, supports non-profit initiatives including: Elephants Without Borders, Love the Wild Foundation, Saving the Survivors, The Cougar Fund and Orang Utan Republik Foundation.  GKC also works with schools across the USA and internationally, including locations in Belize and Botswana. To purchase Green Kids Club books, go to https://www.greenkidsclub.com/shop or to their Facebook page.

About Ian Michler

Ian Michler has spent the last thirty years working as a safari operator, specialist guide, environmental photojournalist and consultant across Africa. He has published seven natural history books on Africa and his writing has appeared in a broad range of local and international publications.  Ian is also the lead character, researcher and co-leader of the related campaign for the award-winning documentary Blood Lions.  Blood Lions, which was distributed by PBS International, follows acclaimed environmental journalist and safari operator Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, on their journey to uncover the realities of the multi-million dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa. He is based in South Africa, where he runs his safari company, Invent Africa (www.inventafrica.com).

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More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions website: www.bloodlions.org

4 December 2020

Condemnation of South Africa’s captive lion breeding industry and its associated spin-off industries has increased globally, with lion scientists, conservation bodies, international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and SA’s leading tourism body presenting a joint pack of letters to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries that all call for a ban.

CAPE TOWN – Representatives from two conservation and animal welfare organisations – Humane Society International-Africa (HSI-Africa) and Blood Lions – backed by other NGOs, scientists and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) ­– presented five separate letters to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries today.

In their letter, 41 international and national animal welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) assert that “… the captive lion breeding industry lacks regulations, enforcement controls and standards. Industry-generated Norms and Standards are voluntary and are not enforceable. As a result, there are pending cruelty prosecutions of lion breeding facilities for contraventions of the Animals Protection Act 71 of 1962.”

Bred for slaughter
South Africa has 400+ facilities with approximately 10 000 – 12 000 lions in captivity for commercial use in cub petting, canned hunting and the lion bone trade. According to HSI-Africa, most lion trophies exported from South Africa are lions that originate from the country’s notorious captive lion breeding industry.

“These animals are bred with the intention of slaughter, one way or another, whether for their bones or as hunted trophies. In addition to the global opposition to trophy hunting, the cruelty of ‘canned hunting’ is making South Africa a pariah in conservation and animal welfare and protection communities,” said HSI-Africa wildlife director Audrey Delsink.

The NGO letter also raises a red flag relating to pandemics: “The current Covid-19 pandemic causing global chaos with its credible link to wildlife utilisation should be raising concerns about the zoonotic risks, including tuberculosis, associated with the unregulated, inadequately monitored intensive breeding, slaughter and utilisation of lions.” 

A recent study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection identified 63 pathogens recorded in both wild and captive lions, as well as 83 diseases and clinical symptoms associated with these pathogens. This includes pathogens that can be passed from lions to other animals and to humans.

HSI-Africa and Blood Lions are among the stakeholders that made comprehensive submissions on captive lion breeding to the Ministerial High-Level Panel that was appointed in November 2019 to review existing policies, legislation and practices relating to the management and handling, breeding, hunting and trade of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros. Their recent presentations were marked by a unanimous call for an end to the captive lion breeding industry.

Read the NGOs’ full letter here: https://bit.ly/3mGk2Pg

No scientific evidence
The scientists’ letter – which represents many leading lion conservation and research organisations, as well as individuals with extensive experience, scientific knowledge and credibility in the field of lion biology, conservation and management – states that “Captive bred lions are not suitable for reintroduction [to the wild] or species restoration and would not be good candidates due to inbreeding and behavioral concerns.”

Dr Louse de Waal, Blood Lions campaign manager, agrees: “There is no published, peer-reviewed evidence to show that the commercial captive lion breeding industry provides direct conservation benefits to wild lions or provides a buffer to lions in the wild.”

The scientists also say that South Africa’s captive lion breeding industry has “created a legal channel for lion bone that formerly did not exist in Asia and are the main supplement for the illegal tiger bone trade to Southeast Asia. Bones from captive bred lions are illegally combined with tiger bones to continue fueling this trade.”

“More and more evidence is showing that the Asian demand for tiger and lion bones and other body parts is driving illegal killings of wild lions in South Africa and in neighbouring countries,” added Dr de Waal. In support of the scientists’ letter asking for an end to captive lion breeding, an additional endorsement letter was also signed by 41 scientists. Signatories to that letter include the US Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA).

Read the lion scientists’ full letter here: https://bit.ly/2JzrnBU

The scientists’ endorsement letter: https://bit.ly/2KWjvKX

Impact on tourism
The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), joined by 115 national and international tourism organisations, requested Minister Barbara Creecy to:

1. declare a zero CITES export quota for lion bones;
2. declare a moratorium on lion breeding in captive breeding and tourism facilities;
3. no further permits to be issued for new facilities; and
4. bring an end to captive lion breeding and all its associated spin-off industries as Parliament directed in December 2018 through the implementation of the National Assembly Resolutions.

SATSA represents more than 1 300 inbound tourism products across southern Africa. “The voice against tourism experiences that include animal interactions has grown so loud that many tourism businesses are feeling the impact of these changes – irrespective of how ‘ethical’ their approach to animal interactions may be. The impact has also filtered through to how South Africa is being perceived as a tourism destination,” said the association.

Read the tourism full letter here: https://bit.ly/3lE6PFh

SATSA’s endorsement letter: https://bit.ly/3qsdExh

– ENDS –

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Media contact HSI-Africa: Marisol Gutierrez, HSI-Africa media and communications manager, +27 72 358 9531, mgutierrez@hsi.org

Media contact Blood Lions: Dr Louise de Waal, Blood Lions campaign manager, +27 76 148 1533, management@bloodlions.org

Images are available at: https://bloodlions.org/gallery/

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About Humane Society International
Humane Society International works around the globe to promote the human-animal bond, rescue and protect dogs and cats, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, promote animal-free testing and research, respond to natural disasters and confront cruelty to animals in all of its forms. www.hsi.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HSIAfrica
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hsiafrica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsiafrica

About Blood Lions

Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that works to end the predator breeding, canned hunting and lion bone trade industries in South Africa. www.bloodlions.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloodLionsOfficial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Blood_Lions
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bloodlionsofficial
World Tourism Month video:  Let’s Do Better. Be Better: https://youtu.be/CK0Bt1FGViA

27 September 2020

Lion farms could put public health and thousands of animals at risk of disease.

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how lion farms in South Africa pose a potential health risk to thousands of local and international tourists, as well as the work force and respective communities.

Researchers from the two organisations reviewed almost 150 scientific studies investigating diseases in African lions. They identified 63 pathogens (including bacteria, parasites and viruses) that affect both wild and captive lions, some of which can be passed from lions to other animals, and some to humans. They also compiled a list of 83 diseases and clinical symptoms associated with these pathogens, highlighting the potential harm they can cause to the health of both animals and people.

In South Africa, more than 8,000 lions are bred and kept on commercial farms for tourism, hunting and the bone trade. Wildlife farms can be a hot bed for diseases, especially when poor hygiene, poor diet, and other stresses associated with captivity weaken wild animals’ immune systems. Diseases can spread rapidly when large numbers, and sometimes even different species, of wild animals are kept in the same enclosures, as this increases the risk of transmission.

The health risks are not only of concern for lions but also for people. Zoonotic diseases can be passed between animals and humans when people come in close contact with wildlife. Many lion farms promote direct contact with the animals for tourism activities, where people pay to pet and hand-rear cubs, as well as recreational hunting for “trophies”. Farmed lions are also killed so their bones can be exported to Southeast Asia for use in traditional medicine products, requiring many industry workers to handle lions during the slaughter, preparation and export of the skeletons.

Captive lions can carry a range of harmful pathogens that can affect humans, including Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Despite the large numbers of lions bred in captivity and the long list of diseases found to affect them, the researchers did not find any scientific studies investigating health and diseases on commercial lion farms in South Africa. Without this vital information it is impossible to effectively prevent, monitor or manage potential health risks on these farms.

Dr Louise de Waal, campaign manager for Blood Lions says “the research identified substantial gaps in our knowledge base concerning the captive lion breeding industry, which can have huge health implications for farm workers and tourists. With the High-Level Panel expected to make recommendations to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) around the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of among others lions before the end of the year, we hope that they will take note of these important findings”.

As the world struggles to respond to the current global health pandemic, it is more important now than ever to be aware of public health risks from contact with wild animals and to reduce risks wherever possible.

“With tourism slowly beginning to reopen, we have the opportunity to do better. To be better. To create a greener and kinder tourism without wildlife exploitation. The kind of tourism that keeps it wild,” de Waal adds.

Please be a voice for our lions and join all the other tourism organisations, as they make a difference by signing our letter, with HSI Africa, addressed to the South African Government calling to stop the captive predator breeding and its associated spin-off industries.

Watch this video clip to learn more:

Online link to tourism letter: https://forms.gle/WCJxpHrQsTRXv5Kr5

Link to peer-reviewed paper on zoonosis: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/9/1692/htm

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More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in South Africa. www.bloodlions.org
• World Animal Protection is a global organisation with 14 offices around the world and for 55 years they have been protecting animals from needless suffering. From the frontlines of disaster zones to the boardrooms of large corporations, they are fighting to create better lives for all animals. www.worldanimalprotection.or.ke

STATEMENT: 10 September 2020

The full bench of the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg (the “High Court”) has dismissed the appeal filed by Zanchieta Wild Cat Farm (“Zanchieta”) against the whole of the judgment of the Honourable Ms Justice Mokgohloa, and instructed Zanchieta to pay BLOOD LIONS’ legal costs, including the costs incurred by the employment of Senior Counsel.

On 19 November 2015, Zanchieta launched an application for urgent injunctive relief against the producer and executive producer (collectively, “the producers”) of the documentary feature film, ‘BLOOD LIONS’.

Zanchieta purports to be a wildlife rehabilitation centre and sanctuary. However, Zanchieta failed to disclose in its papers that according to its own brochure provided to volunteers it also acts as a nursery for cubs that are brought to the farm by neighbouring breeders to be hand-raised before they are allegedly relocated into reserves.

Images of Zanchieta’s lions as well as an interview with one of its representatives were included in the documentary as well as on various websites/pages including Facebook and YouTube. In its founding papers, Zanchieta alleged that the images and footage were defamatory of it insofar as it associated Zanchieta with canned lion hunting and the lion bone trade. It was further alleged that as a result of this association volunteer agencies now refused to refer volunteers to Zanchieta, this being its primary source of income. The urgency of the application was based on screenings of the documentary which were to be held in the United Kingdom on Friday, 27 November 2015 and Saturday, 28 November 2015.

Accordingly, Zanchieta sought to prevent of all further screenings of the film and requested that an amended version of the documentary be redistributed excluding all images, footage and references to Zanchieta. Zanchieta also sought a correction to be included in the amended version recording that Zanchieta is not involved with canned lion hunting or the lion bone trade.

BLOOD LIONS’ legal team of Andrea Gabriel SC and Peter Whelan and Alan Wright of Bowman Gilfillan Incorporated raised non-joinder and certain jurisdictional points. It was also argued on behalf of the producers that any reference to Zanchieta was not defamatory and that it had failed to make out a case for urgent injunctive relief.

The application was heard in the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg by Mokgohloa J on Friday, 27 November 2015. The urgent application for relief was not granted and judgment was reserved until the following week with the screenings in the United Kingdom going ahead as planned.

On 2 December 2015, Mokgohloa J granted an order dismissing the application in its entirety together with costs, including the costs of senior counsel (the “Order”). In handing down the Order Mokgohloa J commented that she had viewed the footage. Reasons therefore were delivered on 22 August 2016 (the “Reasons”).

Thereafter, and on 12 September 2016, Zanchieta filed an application for leave to appeal to the full bench of the High Court against the whole of the Order as well as the Reasons, which application was granted by Mokgohloa J on 11 April 2017 (the “Appeal”).

The Appeal was first set down for hearing on 30 July 2018 before the Honourable Mr Justice Seegobin, the Honourable Mr Justice Vahed and the Honourable Mr Justice Mngadi. 

Zanchieta however erred in its preparation of the record. In the result, inter alia, the hearing of the Appeal was postponed sine die so as to allow Zanchieta to rectify the record.

This notwithstanding, Zanchieta failed to remedy the record and solely as a result of the efforts of BLOOD LIONS and its legal team was the Appeal set down for hearing, and heard, on 4 September 2020.

On the same day as the hearing of the Appeal, the full bench of the High Court dismissed the appeal, and instructed Zanchieta to pay BLOOD LIONS’ legal costs, including the costs incurred by the employment of Senior Counsel.

The Blood Lions team is extremely happy with this outcome, and would like to thank our legal team Advocate Andrea Gabriel SC, and Peter Whelan and Alan Wright of Bowman Gilfillan for their incredible support once again.

—— ENDS ——

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More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in South Africa. www.bloodlions.org

10 August 2020

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

The significance and dignity of wild lions in South Africa have sadly been replaced by the commodification of captive bred lions.

Today, Blood Lions in partnership with World Animal Protection, has launched a global campaign called, 800 Voices for 800 Lions, to create awareness and drive action around the lion bone trade from South Africa to Southeast Asia.

South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that allows the intensive captive breeding and keeping of lions and other big cats for commercial purposes. In 350+ facilities, thousands of lions, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, servals, and many exotic species, such as tigers, jaguars, pumas, and even ligers (a crossbreed between lions and tigers), are bred and kept in mostly substandard conditions.

“We want to inspire the public to raise their voice for lions by letting their imagination flow freely in creating a lion masterpiece, whether this is painting, drawing, photography, music, poetry or dance. We are aiming for at least 800 pieces of lion art, representing the quota of 800 lion skeletons South Africa exported every year for use in traditional medicine that have no proven curative benefits,” says Dr Louise de Waal (Campaign Manager, Blood Lions).

For more than a decade, South Africa has been supplementing the demand for tiger bones in South East Asia for the use in traditional Asian medicine practices, with a steady supply of lion bones from the captive population. Since 2008, nearly 7,000 lion skeletons weighing a total of around 70 tonnes have been exported from South Africa.

“In an attempt to increase the profitability of this breeding industry, especially when it comes to the lion bone trade, animal welfare is often not a priority. Lack of adequate basic animal welfare conditions, such as sufficient water, food, space, shelter and medical care, is sadly inevitable and a stark reality in most commercial breeding farms”, states the World Animal Protection.

In 2016, an official lion bone export quota from the captive population was agreed at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) through an annotation to Appendix II.

Subsequently, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries set a legal export quota of 800 skeletons in 2017 and 2018, although both quotas lacked a sound scientific basis and were solely driven by the economic principle of supply and demand.

“We urge Honourable Barbara Creecy, Minister of the South African Department for Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, to implement a permanent Zero lion bone CITES export quota for lion skeletons, parts and derivatives and destroy all existing bone stockpiles”, adds de Waal.

Watch this short film to learn more:

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More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in South Africa. www.bloodlions.org
• World Animal Protection is a global organisation with 14 offices around the world and for 55 years they have been protecting animals from needless suffering. From the frontlines of disaster zones to the boardrooms of large corporations, they are fighting to create better lives for all animals. www.worldanimalprotection.or.ke

31 July 2020

The Honourable Mr Justice Koen has dismissed the Ukutula application against BLOOD LIONS, and instructed Ukutula to pay BLOOD LIONS’s legal costs.

On 20 September 2019, Jacobs Safaris CC trading as Ukutula Lodge (“Ukutula”) launched an application for injunctive relief against, inter alia, the producer of the documentary feature film, ‘BLOOD LIONS’. 

Ukutula submitted that it was defamed because, given the central message of BLOOD LIONS that lions are bred in captivity, with the subscript ‘Bred for the bullet’, Ukutula was included in the documentary feature film because the producer wanted to tell the public, absent supporting evidence, not to visit Ukutula, because in doing so they are fuelling the trade in lions ‘for the bullet’.

Accordingly, Ukutula sought to, inter alia, have all depictions, references and images of Ukutula removed from the documentary feature film and that the producer provide Ukutula with a formal written statement confirming that there is no evidence that Ukutula is involved or associated with the canned lion hunting trade and/or the lion bone trade and/or the breeding of lions for the canned hunting trade and/or lion bone trade and/or the raising of cubs for the canned lion hunting trade and/or the lion bone trade together with a formal written apology for the alleged false depiction of Ukutula as being involved with those activities.

BLOOD LION’S legal team of Advocate AJ Dickson SC and Peter Whelan, Alan Wright and Michaela Kritzinger of Bowmans raised non-joinder and prescription points. It was also argued on behalf of BLOOD LIONS that any reference to Ukutula was not defamatory and that it had failed to make out a case for injunctive relief.

Ukutula conceded that the documentary feature film does not contain any express statement that Ukutula is involved in the canned hunting trade or lion bone trade. The issue, as accepted by Ukutula, was whether the documentary necessarily implied that Ukutula is involved in the canned lion hunting and the lion bone trade.

The application was heard in the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division, Pietermaritzburg by the Honourable Mr Justice Koen on Friday, 19 June 2020.  

On 30 July 2020, Koen J handed down judgment dismissing the application in its entirety together with costs. In handing down the judgment Koen J commented that he had viewed the footage.

Koen J held that the documentary is not defamatory of Ukutula. He went on further to state that “[b]ut even if I was wrong in that regard, I am not persuaded that any such defamation would be wrongful. What was shown in the film would be justified by the defences of media privilege and fair comment.”

The Blood Lions team welcome this outcome, and will continue their efforts to raise global awareness and to bring an end to the practices associated with captive lion breeding and canned hunting in South Africa, as well as the export of lion body parts and products to Asia for the medicine market.

We would like to thank our lawyers at Bowman Gilfillan, Advocate AJ Dickson SC, our supporters and partners, and the millions of concerned citizens around the world who are united in their determination to bring an end to these practices.

—— ENDS ——

More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in South Africa.
• Blood Lions website: www.bloodlions.org

29 July 2020

In support of World Tiger Day (29 July), Blood Lions puts the focus on the international trade in tiger body parts and makes the link to South Africa’s legal lion bone trade, in their latest campaign movement. Since 2008, nearly 7,000 lion skeletons weighing a total of around 70 tonnes have been exported from South Africa to South East Asia for use in traditional Asian medicine practices.

This trade in lion bones is “supplementing and feeding the demand for tiger bones with a cheaper supply, against which criminal networks are making significant profits. The lion bone trade is keeping the desirability and demand for tiger very much alive, which is a huge problem for tiger conservation”, says Debbie Banks (Campaign Leader for Tigers and Wildlife Crime – Environmental Investigation Agency).

Since the beginning of the 20^th Century, 95% of the world’s wild tiger population has disappeared and this magnificent big cat is now highly endangered. With fewer than 4,000 tigers left in the wild, every conservation effort protecting these apex predators in their natural habitat needs global support to avoid extinction.

“Almost every part of the tiger has a value in the marketplace. The skin is used in home décor, bones are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat rheumatism or arthritis and to make tiger bone wine. Bones are also used to make bracelets, tiger teeth and claws to make expensive jewellery set in silver and gold with gems, and their meat is consumed as a delicacy”, says Banks.

South Africa is one of the few countries in Africa that allows the intensive captive breeding and keeping of lions and other big cats for commercial purposes. In more than 350 facilities big cats, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, caracals, servals, and many exotic species, such as tigers, jaguars, pumas, and even ligers (a crossbreed between lions and tigers), are bred and kept in mostly substandard conditions.

“We believe that there are now an estimated 60 breeding facilities in South Africa holding 1,000-1,500 tigers – an endangered predator that receives no protection under South Africa’s conservation legislation”, says Dr Louise de Waal (Campaign Manager – Blood Lions).

“Many of these tigers are, like their African cousins, slaughtered for their body parts, (illegally) exported often in consignments labelled as lion bones, or sold legally through CITES as live animals to South East Asia with no clear insight in their final destination or fate.”

Blood Lions is calling on the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Ms Barbara Creecy, to set a zero CITES export quota for lion body parts and to destroy all bone stockpiles, to ensure among others the conservation of the last remaining wild tigers. “We can’t turn a blind eye to the damage South Africa’s legal lion bone trade inflicts on the conservation efforts of the last remaining tigers in the wild”, says de Waal.

Watch this short film for more information:

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More information:

• Contact: Dr Louise de Waal
• Email: management@bloodlions.org
• Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and campaign that blows the lid off claims made by the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in South Africa.
• Blood Lions website: www.bloodlions.org