South Africa has announced plans to end the breeding of captive lions for hunting, which has been heavily criticized by animal rights advocates and conservationists. The government has given breeders a twoyear grace period to switch their business approach and exit from the sector voluntarily. This move follows global backlash against trophy hunting and marks a shift towards aligning with international conservation trends and domestic policy changes.
The Ministerial Task Team (MTT) has called for captive lion owners who are interested in voluntarily exiting the captive lion industry to register their interest. This move is part of a broader effort to end the commercial use of captive lions and their derivatives.
A recently released promotional video has caused outrage by showcasing the brutal and inhumane nature of “canned” lion hunting in South Africa. The video reveals a male captivebred lion being attacked by a crossbow and shot multiple times by professional hunters. The video arrives just before the anticipated phasing out of the captive lion hunting industry and highlights the need for change to protect animal welfare.
