In major move, South Africa to end captive lion industry
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) South Africa says it will end its captive lion industry in a major move for conservation that would outlaw the heavily criticized “canned hunting” of the big cats and sale of their bones, as well as popular tourist experiences like petting cubs.
The policy, which still needs to be made into law, would effectively end the world’s legal lion bone trade. South Africa is the only country given a special dispensation by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to sell and export lion bones, claws and teeth, and they have to be from captive lions. None of those parts from wild lions can be sold or traded anywhere.
The new policy will prohibit the keeping and breeding of lions in captivity and the use of any captive lion parts for commercial purposes.
South Africa has anywhere between 8,000 and 12,000 lions in captivity, according to various figures from the government and wildlife organizations. It’s the only country doing intense breeding of lions,” said Neil Greenwood of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
South Africa s policy change was announced by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy on Sunday after a yearlong study by a panel of experts. They recommended the industry be ended as it had a “negative impact on conservation and on the country s ecotourism image.
The new policy will prohibit the keeping and breeding of lions in captivity and the use of any captive lion parts for commercial purposes.
South Africa has anywhere between 8,000 and 12,000 lions in captivity, according to various figures from the government and wildlife organizations. It’s the only country doing intense breeding of lions,” said Neil Greenwood of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
South Africa s policy change was announced by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy on Sunday after a yearlong study by a panel of experts. They recommended the industry be ended as it had a “negative impact on conservation and on the country s ecotourism image.
How Tearing Elephant Calves From Their Mothers for Captivity Impacts the Wild Herd
Sign up for daily news from OneGreenPlanet
Support Us
Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please support us!
Support OneGreenPlanet
X Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high quality content. Please support us!
Support Us
Please select
SubscribePayment details
SubscribePayment details
Subscribe $ billed upfront for one time.
By proceeding, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. To find out what personal data we collect and how we use it, please visit our Privacy Policy.
RAREST of marine mammals, an Arctic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) has been spotted in Wales a week after being seen in Ireland.
In home Arctic waters they usually live in open water, and in large groups near to shore or on ice floes.
They mainly eat shellfish and other invertebrate marine animals. They sometimes catch fish and even small seals and other smaller marine mammals.
Our Arctic walrus has been seen on rocks near Broad Haven South beach, Pembrokeshire, before moving further south to Tenby where it is currently hanging out. It is thought to be the same one also seen previously off the coast of Co Kerry.