ROARING TO A HALT NEW PLAN FOR SOUTH AFRICA’S CAPTIVE LION INDUSTRY
Credit: Kh Ali Li, Pexels
F or many years, South Africa has been at the forefront of the captive lion breeding industry, with many of these lions’ fate ending in small, fenced areas with no means of escaping, killed by hunters. Yet in April, the South African government finally unveiled an ambitious plan to shut down the country’s long-controversial captive lion economy. The news was expected. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy already made these intentions known in 2021. She finally released a task team report outlining a voluntary, phased approach for winding down the sector over the coming years. While this might affect many role players in the industry, it brings new hope for animal welfare.
“The panel recommended the closure of the captive breeding sector, including the keeping of lions in captivity, or the use of captive lions or their derivatives commercially,” Environment Minister Barabara Creecy said at a press conference in Cape Town. The appointed Ministerial Task Team (MTT) conducted extensive stakeholder consultations and research since December 2022 to develop their recommendations. Chaired by Kamalasen Chetty, the panel included experts in wildlife issues, law, and the biodiversity economy. Their key areas included engaging industry players, conducting facility audits, and designing a withdrawal plan with viable pathways for those wishing to leave the business.
A core concern addressed was more than 7 800 lions currently held at 342 facilities, the majority in the Free State, Limpopo, and North-West Provinces. The MTT calls for conducting immediate inventories to confirm population numbers and stockpiles of lion bones, a controversial commodity. A temporary permitting moratorium would prevent further captive breeding during the rollout process. Furthermore, the implementation of the strategy would take place in multiple phases over the coming years. Minister Creecy embraced the report, thanking all those involved for tackling the sensitive concerns. A particular concern the panel advised resolving was the estimated 40 tons of lion bone stockpiled on farms, which some fear fuels the poaching of wild populations. The MTT proposes a state buy-back and destruction program once facilities sign exit agreements and sterilise animals. Finding funding mechanisms to support voluntary relinquishment of licenses and permit holders as they transition to new livelihoods would be crucial. This includes developing alternative land use options for farming properties within South Africa’s valuable biodiversity economy. Supporting workers who could lose jobs through skills training programmes to equip them for new opportunities is another priority. The industry employs between 1 568 and 2 069 people.
The plan is not law yet, but the decision comes amid the West supporting the ban on importing hunting trophies. According to Chetty, the industry is large and complex, with a long history not aligning with current international trends and domestic policy changes on conservation. By fully implementing the developed withdrawal plan and associated guidelines, hopes are that the South African government can transition the nation out of holding lions in canned environments for entertainment or body part sales. This has the potential to improve animal protection while curbing demand known to affect threatened wild populations. The bold captive lion recommendations come just a week after the cabinet signed off a policy banning commercial use of certain at-risk species, including elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinos. The policy aims to stop harmful practices, improve the management of these animals, and set rules for international trade.
Credit: Syed Ahmad, Unsplash
this wild earth @thiswildearth_ this.wild.earth_ thiswildearth
READ IT ONLINE
17
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting