Government called to honour commitment to end SA’s captive lion industry

Animal welfare and conservation groups have urged the South African government to fulfil its 2024 pledge to phase out the commercial captive lion industry. Representatives from Four Paws South Africa, Humane World for Animals South Africa, Voice4Lions and Blood Lions gathered at a World Lion Day conference to outline the necessary steps for ending the captive lion industry in South Africa.

Louise de Waal of Blood Lions explained that the industry gained attention in 2018 when the portfolio committee for environmental affairs recommended its closure, leading former Environment Minister Barbara Creecy to establish a panel to review captive lion management. The panel released a six-page report in 2020, which was approved by Cabinet and the National Assembly, recommending the cessation of captive lion breeding and sales.

However, despite the policy position on lion conservation being gazetted in April 2024 and sitting on the current minister's desk, the industry remains largely operational. Fiona Miles of Four Paws pointed out the significant gap between policy and practice, stating that until policy commitments are translated into action, lions will continue to be born into an industry that the government recognizes does not align with South Africa's future wildlife vision.

Voice4Lions' Linda Park emphasized that, despite Creecy's announcement of phasing out the industry, the captive lion breeding remains legal, and no progress has been made towards implementing necessary policy changes since November. Stephanie Klarmann of Blood Lions called for decisive government action to demonstrate global leadership in animal welfare and biodiversity governance, while Matthew Schurch of Humane World for Animals urged Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier to prohibit the establishment of new captive lion breeding facilities and the breeding of captive lions.