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South Africa to ban lion breeding for cub petting

This is an excerpt from an article written and published online by BBC News on 02 May, 2021

South Africa has revealed plans to clamp down on breeding lions for hunting or so tourists can pet cubs.

The move comes after the results were published from a two-year study into the controversial practice of captive lion breeding.

It found that the practice risked conservation efforts and harmed wild animals.

South Africa’s government accepted the panel’s recommendations which could anger the hunting industry.

“What the majority report says, with regards to captive breeding of lions: it says we must halt and reverse the domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping,” environment minister Barbara Creecy said.

“We don’t want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive petting, captive use of lions and their derivative.”