About us

LionPetting.com is a joint project from NGO’s Stichting SPOTS and Campaign against Canned Hunting (CACH) with the support of Chelui4lions.

The purpose of this website is to provide information in different languages on the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa and its associated activities such as cub petting, lion walks, canned hunting and the lion bone trade. Although Stichting SPOTS, Campaign against Canned Hunting (CACH) and Chelui4lions may take different approaches, they have the same aim: creating awareness among the general public with respect to the lion breeding industry in South Africa.

This website has been translated by knowledgeable volunteers and native speakers.

Stichting SPOTS was founded in 2004 in the Netherlands and focused originally on the plight of the cheetah but has since included leopards, tigers, lions and other wild felines in their campaigns. Stichting SPOTS funds big cat conservation projects in Africa and Iran and creates awareness through lectures, playful activities and social media.

Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) is a South African NGO, founded by Chris Mercer and Bev Pervan. They started campaigning at the turn of the millenium and received the Marchig Trust Award in 2007. CACH has since been at the forefront of efforts to expose the lion-breeding industry. With volunteers in many countries, CACH campaigns to secure a ban on captive breeding of lions for the canned hunting industry.

Chelui4lions was founded in Spain in 2014 with the purpose of raising awareness about the decline of the African lion population with special focus on the situation in South Africa due to captive breeding, canned hunting and lion bone trade. It has been pivotal in the rescue of several lion cubs from entertainment venues in Spain. Chelui4lions also engages on a regular basis with MEPs and the European Commission regarding lion hunting and trade in Africa.

Main image courtesy of Chelui4lions