FOSTERING PRIDE, REJECTING CRUELTY
Help us to ensure a future without the commercial captive lion trade.
END THE COMMERCIAL CAPTIVE LION INDUSTRY
Understand the facts.
10 000 LIONS IN CAPTIVITY.
In South Africa, there are an estimated 8,000 - 10,000 lions suffering in captivity on commercial lion breeding farms and only about 3,500 living in the wild.
The symbol of South African pride is exploited at every stage of their lives for financial gain.
EXPLOITED AT EVERY LIFESTAGE.
Captive lions live in small enclosures and cages, a far cry from the expanses of savannah they roam in the wild. Cubs are taken from lionesses within days or weeks of birth, bottle-fed, handled, and used in many tourism and voluntourism activities like petting, playing with lion cubs, walking with lions until they grow too big.
When a cub is removed from its mother only a few weeks after birth, the lioness can have her next litter much quicker. This means that a lioness in captivity can have 4-5 litters every two years, whereas her wild counterpart will only have 1-2 litters in that same time. This speed breeding takes a heavy toll on the mother's physical and mental wellbeing.
Many end their lives in ‘legal’ "‘canned” or captive hunts and can be sold for parts into the illegal international bone trade.
THE COMMERCIAL CAPTIVE LION INDUSTRY.
This industry is cruel and controversial. It poses real risks to people and animals and smears the country’s tourism and conservation reputation.
The commercial captive lion industry represents a tiny fraction of income generated compared to the entire tourism sector in South Africa - but we stand to lose so much more.
Allowing the commercial captive lion industry to continue could damage Brand South Africa and negatively affect our tourism, our economy, and our people.
Photo Credit: Byrdyak (Getty Images)
LET’S MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD!
Every voice counts. Your voice matters.
Sign up as a citizen advocate to help us end the captive lion industry. Learn more about our #PrideNotCruelty campaign and help us end the suffering of between 8000 - 10 000 lions.
World Animal Protection have new evidence of cruel and illegal activity at “secret” lion farms.
Learn the truth about South Africa’s captive lion industry
Learn the truth
Watch the award-winning documentary, Blood Lions, read the 2019 World Animal Protection 'Trading Cruelty' report, and other relevant content to learn more about the plight of captive lions in South Africa.
“If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa's animals, and the places in which they live, will be lost to our world, and her children, forever. Before it is too late, we need your help to lay the foundation that will preserve this precious legacy long after we are gone.”
— Nelson Mandela
Understand the campaign.
The campaign to end the commercialisation of captive lions has spanned many years. In May 2021, Minister Creecy — the current Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment — declared that South Africa would no longer support the captive breeding, keeping and trade of lions.
We were then, and are still now, in full support of Minister Creecy to put an end to the commercial captive lions breeding industry.
We encourage all South Africans to support Minister Creecy and the rest of the South African government to take the next necessary step on this journey. We ask for the Minister to transition from a voluntary exit to mandatory phase out of the commercial captive lion industry.
This is what our lions deserve. It’s time for #PrideNotCruelty.