When it comes to discussing income generating spin-off activities from the commercial captive lion industry in South Africa, the global live trade in wild animals is often overlooked.

Large numbers of wild animals, including big cats, are exported legally on a daily basis from South Africa under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) system.

Over the coming weeks we will be discussing the live export of indigenous felid species like lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals and servals, as well as exotic big cat species such as tigers, jaguars and pumas.

It is time to #CancelCaptivity