FOUR PAWS is deeply concerned by the recent findings of animal neglect at a notorious predator breeding facility in Klerksdorp, where serious animal welfare violations were uncovered, including the tragic story of a tiger that had suffered from untreated injuries and had to be euthanized. These distressing findings highlights the ongoing issues within South Africa's big cat industry, where captive-bred lions and tigers are kept in conditions that often compromise their well-being, and the urgent need to shut it down for good.

South Africa’s captive big cat industry involves intensive breeding for commercial purposes, which often results in overcrowding, increased aggression among animals and compromised animal welfare. The recent NSPCA inspection documented such conditions, with animals left untreated for severe injuries, leading to self-harm and unnecessary suffering.

The facility owner’s comment – referring to a deceased tiger as “money”- reflects the financial motives driving this industry, where animals are commodified from birth to death. This not only raises welfare concerns but also sustains legal and illegal markets that threaten wild populations and undermine genuine conservation efforts.

“This horrific case is yet another example of the cruelty inherent in predator breeding,” says Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS in South Africa. “South Africa must take immediate steps to end this industry, which fuels international wildlife exploitation and poses serious welfare concerns. FOUR PAWS urges the government to enforce stricter regulations and implement a full ban on commercial big cat breeding. The suffering must end - #BreakTheViciousCycle

 /END