South Africa to Phase Out Commercial Captive Lion Breeding

AFTER pressure from environmental groups, South Africa has announced it will phase out commercial captive lion breeding.

Between 8,000 and 12,000 lions are currently in 350 facilities throughout South Africa.

Frequently, the lions are used for cub petting operations when they’re young. As they get older, they are used for breeding or in ‘canned hunts,’ and their bones are traded and sold.

A 25-person panel recommended stopping these practices, beginning with denying new permits and revoking old permits for these businesses.

The panel also recommended that current lion bone stockpiles be destroyed, and lions in captivity should be humanely euthanized (as they would be unlikely to survive in the wild). While some business owners oppose the decision, animal rights groups are celebrating.

Organizations such as World Animal Protection and Blood Lions submitted information for the panel’s review in 2020, citing reasons like the risk of zoonosis, animal welfare, and lack