Cape Town, 08August – “You’re killing them softly” ― a powerful message released for World Lion Day on 10 August by South African NGOs campaigning to bring an expedient end to the commercial captive lion industry in South Africa, a significant move pledged by the local government in 2021.

The “You’re killing them softly” campaign brings awareness to the fact that any visitor or volunteer paying to play, bottle feed, and/or hand-raise captive-bred predator cubs, use them as photo props, or merely visit predator parks, is fuelling South Africa’s cruel commercial captive predator breeding—and killing—industry. National and international animal welfare and conservation organisations - Blood Lions, FOUR PAWS South Africa, Humane Society International/Africa, and Voice4Lions - have come together as one unified voice this World Lion Day.

“However well-intentioned people’s actions are, these cubs are not orphans, they have no conservation value, they are purely bred to feed an unethical and insidious industry that commodifies these predators,” the group states. Lions and many other predators are bred solely for commercial purposes, such as cub petting, walking with predators, voluntourism, “canned” or captive trophy hunting, the live trade, and trade in their bones, parts and derivatives.

The dignity of our iconic species has been replaced by the commodification of captive lions and other animals at every stage of their lives. Currently, at least 8,000 lions and thousands of other predators, including many tigers and cheetahs, are bred and kept at approximately 350 lion farms in South Africa. World Lion Day 2024 comes at a significant time for South Africans as we have entered a new Government of National Unity. Across the world, the public and NGOs are appealing to governments to consider the importance of environmental issues in their policies and legislation.

The commercial captive lion industry is one such pressing issue that has garnered substantial attention, leading to a Parliamentary Colloquium in 2018, the formation of the High-Level Panel and subsequent Ministerial Task Team under ex-Minister Barbara Creecy’s leadership. This process led to the commitment of the government to take steps to ultimately close South Africa’s commercial captive lion industry.

“We acknowledge the significant progress achieved and marked by the recently approved report of the Ministerial Task Team on voluntary exit options and the policy position on the conservation of elephants, lions, leopards, and rhinoceroses in South Africa. However, we urge the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) to publish a detailed implementation plan with time-bound goals,” the coalition of NGOs say.

“There is hope to end this cruel and rampant industry and we commend the Cabinet for their commitment. This move will ensure that these majestic animals are no longer bred to suffer for profit. However, we urge the government to ensure the well-being of other predators by extending the ban to all captive big cats and prohibit their ownership as pets and playthings.”

Together, Blood Lions, FOUR PAWS South Africa, Humane Society International/Africa, and Voice4Lions continue to raise vital awareness amongst the public that we are all capable of pushing for meaningful change and ending the exploitation of one of South Africa’s most iconic species. The public can make their voices heard by signing the Break The Vicious Cycle campaign to help urge the DFFE to introduce legislation that prohibits keeping tigers, lions, other big cat species and predators as pets. This legislation should include banning public contact with all big cat species and predators, not just lions, including keeping such species for promotional, educational or entertainment purposes, and interactive experiences like cub petting and walking with big cats. Sign here: Ban the commercial trade of big cats in South Africa

Remember, our actions and choices have far-reaching consequences. Let us all work together on World Lion Day to end harmful captive breeding industries and to stop killing them softly.

World Lion Day 2024 video: view here

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