Navigating the Pitfalls: The End of South Africa’s Captive Lion Industry

The South African government’s decision on 28 March 2024 to ban the breeding of lions in captivity for commercial purposes represents a huge change. However, amidst the optimism surrounding this decision, there are also challenges and pitfalls that need to be addressed to ensure a smooth transition.

One of the most pressing concerns is the fate of the approximately 10.000 lions currently held in captivity in facilities in South Africa. With the breeding ban in place, questions are being asked about the welfare and future of these animals. They have been bred and raised in captivity and do not have the skills required to survive in the wild. Releasing them into natural habitats is not a viable option and poses a significant risk to both captive-bred lions and wild populations.

Furthermore, the ban on commercial breeding creates a potential crisis for the welfare of these captive-bred lions. It will lead to neglect, abandonment and euthanasia of surplus animals. Ensuring the humane treatment and proper care of these lions is of paramount importance as South Africa moves away from the captive lion industry.
It would be counterproductive for the public image South Africa is so eager to burnish, when even more horrible pictures of neglected and abused lions would pop up on social media.

Another pitfall lies in the economic implications of the breeding ban. The captive lion industry has been a lucrative business, generating significant revenue through activities such as canned hunting, petting farms, and the lion bone trade. Breeders and hunting lobbies will need to be compensated and the South African government does not have that money at hand. If breeders are not being compensated, this will result in a lengthy legal battle with the government, which will only exacerbate the plight of lions in captivity.

In addition, strict enforcement of the breeding ban and regulations for captive wildlife facilities is essential to prevent the continuation of illegal activities and ensure ethical standards are met. This may require increased oversight, monitoring and penalisation of those who break the law.

In terms of the impact on conservation, the end of the lion industry presents both opportunities and challenges. While ending the exploitation of captive-bred lions is an important step towards ethical conservation practices, the welfare and future of the wild population must be carefully monitored to avoid unintended consequences such as an increase in trophy hunting of wild lions.

The adoption of the ban comes hot on the heels of the South African government’s discussion of a new proposal on the consumptive utilisation of wildlife. There are significant ethical, environmental and economic risks associated with the utilisation of wildlife for consumption. There are concerns about the welfare of individual species, the integrity of ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of wildlife populations. Critics also question the assumption that hunting and forms of community utilisation are necessary for conservation and point to alternative approaches that prioritise non-consumptive use, such as ecotourism and habitat protection.
There are also fears that the legalisation of consumptive use could lead to increased poaching, illegal wildlife trade and corruption. The threat to endangered species, whose populations are already in decline due to habitat loss, poaching and other human activities, could be exacerbated.

Faye Peeters, Campaign against Canned Hunting, March 2024

Some background information:

Decline of the lion population

In 1950 there were over 400.000 lions roaming the plains of Africa. Today, probably less than 20.000 lions are classified as “wild” and considered as living in their natural habitat. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) states that the lion population has decreased 43% in the last 21 years.

The survival of wild lions is threatened by:

• Humans encroaching on wildlife territory

• Human/wildlife conflict resulting in e.g. poisoning

• Diseases such as TBC, distemper, FIV, sarcoptic mange etc.

• Snaring of wild lions for bushmeat (especially in Western and Central Africa)

• Hunting and poaching

At the same time, we have seen an increase in captive held lions to the extent that there are now more captive than wild lions. Lions are used for entertainment in circuses and increasingly as a “status”-pet. The country with the most captive held lions is South Africa, legally supporting a massive breeding industry. Cub petting and lion walks have become an integral part of tourism in South Africa.

The captive lion breeding industry in South Africa

Although the South African captive lion breeding industry has recently gathered lots of media attention, it has actually been around for over 20 years. It was first highlighted in a BBC investigative documentary called the Cook Report in 1997. In 1998, Gareth Patterson (wildlife expert, author and public speaker who is known internationally for his work protecting lions and elephants) published his book called „Dying to be free“. He exposed the myths of South Africa’s conservation image and how, even at present, these myths are largely believed and unquestioned. At the turn of the millenium, animal activists and wildlife warriors Chris Mercer and Beverley Pervan started campaigning and ultimately founded CACH (Campaign Against Canned Hunting) in 2007. In recent years, campaigns by Four Paws, Born Free and Blood Lions have gained wide media attention.

Captive lion breeding is a huge income stream in South Africa. Over 10.000 lions are currently held captive in 200+ farms. Each lion is exploited from the day he is born, until the day he dies. Lion farmers have reduced “the King of Beasts” to a commodity, not very different from intensive livestock farming.

It should also be noted that interactions with lions are not limited to South Africa, these activities have become increasingly popular in other African countries and indeed across the world.

Continue to Cub petting and volunteers

Award-winning documentary "Blood Lions" 

Main image courtesy of Chelui4lions