The African lion faces a world of stark contrasts in South Africa. While some roam freely in the wild, others are bred in captivity, mostly for commercial purposes. With over 10,000 captive lions in South Africa alone, compared to the country's estimated 3,490 wild lions, the debate over their welfare and future has never been more pressing. How does a lion’s life differ between the wild and in captivity? And what does this mean for their future?

In their natural habitat, lions thrive as part of a complex, highly social society. They form prides  which are matriarchal groups that can grow up to 40 members, but the average size in places like Kruger National Park is around 13. Cubs stay with their mothers for up to 30 months, learning essential survival skills like hunting and defending territory.

Wild lions are carnivores, meaning over 70% of their diet consists of meat. They hunt large prey like zebras, buffaloes, and wildebeests, using cooperative strategies to increase success, something unique to lions. The females of the pride are the primary hunters and caregivers. However, the wild is unforgiving - territorial battles, food scarcity, droughts, and human conflicts pose constant threats.¹

Protection efforts play a critical role in safeguarding wild lions. Areas like the Kruger National Park in South Africa help maintain populations, but even within these safe zones, dangers such as poaching or targeted poisonings are causing wild lion populations to decline there.²

Captive-bred lions live vastly different lives from their wild counterparts. In commercial breeding facilities, lions are often grouped unnaturally, sometimes even caged with other species. Many are forced to intensively breed and face life with no opportunity to engage in natural behaviors, leading to a life far removed from what they would experience in the wild. In some of these facilities, lions are also used for cub-petting, walk-with experiences and other unnatural interactions with humans.

The diet of captive lions in such facilities varies significantly, often leading to serious nutritional issues and deficiencies. The NSPCA in South Africa, an organisation responsible for addressing animal cruelty, regularly inspects commercial captive lion breeding facilities and notes numerous diet-related concerns.³ These include feeding adult lions inappropriate food such as rotting meat or chicken, giving cubs dairy rather than specialised milk formulas. Additionally, many facilities do not adjust diets to account for over or underweight animals, further compromising their health.

Other captivity-related challenges these animals face include behavioral disorders, the lack of survival skills needed to live in the wild, restricted access to appropriate shelter and water or lack of necessary space. True sanctuaries such as FOUR PAWS' rescue captive lions from inappropriate keeping and strive to provide them with a safe, species appropriate environment for the rest of their lives.

A common misconception is that captive breeding supports wild lion conservation through reintroduction. However, research indicates that captive-bred lions have no role in species restoration.¹ Focus should instead go towards preserving wild populations, their genetics, and their habitats, rather than relying on captive breeding as a solution.

The impact of captivity on animal behaviour can fundamentally alter instincts critical for survival. One study shows that animals kept in captivity for multiple generations may lose essential survival traits, such as responding to dangers or efficiently hunting for food. Without the pressures of natural selection, captive-born lions may develop behaviours that make them more vulnerable, reducing their chances of surviving if released.⁴

Despite being a national icon and a symbol of strength, captive lions in South Africa are commodified, intensively bred and commercially traded in large numbers.¹

In 2021, the South African government announced its intention to end the keeping of lions in captivity for commercial purposes and to shut down such facilities. However, progress has been slow, and the captive lion industry continues with daily business.

Adding to this issue is the lion bone trade driven by the high demand for tiger bone in Asia. There is mounting evidence of lion bones being relabeled and used in products designed to mimic tiger bone wine.² Lion bones appear to be the main substitute species for tiger bones, and South Africa provides an extensive supply.³ By allowing such an industry to continue to flourish, each big cat has a price on its head. With South Africa being the biggest exporter of big cats in the world and a large supplier of lion bones (mainly from captive breeding facilities), the commercial trade of lions puts pressure on wild populations and contributes to illegal trade.

South Africa now stands at a pivotal moment. The decision to phase out the breeding and keeping of captive lions for commercial purposes marks a promising step forward — one that could finally bring an end to the lifetime of suffering endured by thousands of lions. Now, it has the opportunity to change how the story ends

Our work at FOUR PAWS fights to end the commercial trade of all captive big cats in South Africa. We provide recommendations and solutions to authorities to phase out the industry and step by step plans to implement them.

The road ahead remains uncertain. Can the damage be undone? Only time will tell.

_{Sources
¹Walking with lions: why there is no role for captive origin lions Panthera leo in species restoration. Cambridge University Press. [accessed 2025 March 17]. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605312000695
²https://www.four-paws.org.za/campaigns-topics/campaigns/breaktheviciouscycle/south-africas-out-of-control-big-cat-industry-and-how-to-tackle-it
³The Legal and Illegal Trade in Big Cats: A Study in Support of Decision. CITES. [accessed 2025 March 17]. https://cites.org/sites/default/files/documents/E-SC75-13.pdf
⁴Generations in captivity increases behavioral variance: considerations for captive breeding and reintroduction programs. [accessed 2025 March 17]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320703000958}