South Africa is under fire from breeders to ban its controversial canned hunting of captive lions. The barbaric “sport” of canned hunting means an animal is hunted in a small space, with no chance of escape. Lions are bred for the sole purpose of being shot.
The new measure stipulating lions must be able to freely roam for two years before they can be targeted, is welcomed by many. But breeders argue the captive lions can be shot and killed within a few days of being released from their breeding cages.
According to the ruling handed down by Bloemfortein High Court Judge Ian van der Merwe, the lions bred in captivity must be self-sustaining for two years before they can be hunted. He ruled that the breeders are concerned about the economic impact they will suffer. He went on to say the practice does not aid in the lions’ protection.
Breeders, claiming the measure will drive them out of business, have now asked the Supreme Court to intervene. After a court action and appeal was denied by a lower court, the breeders have asked the higher court to determine whether or not the measure violates their “constitutional protections of private property.”
Disappointed in the ruling, the South African Predator Breeders’ Association issued a press release in October that stated, ”thousands of employees will lose their jobs and more or less 4,000 lions will suffer a cruel death as a result of the implementation of the regulations.” According to reports, members of Association own about 4,300 lions. Due to the banning of the lucrative business, the breeders will be unable to feed the lions, resulting in a mass slaughter of thousands of lions.
The Cruel Practice of Canned Hunting
Clients reportedly pay big bucks to hunt the lions, up to $22,000 to kill a lion. Over 1,000 lion permits are issued by the South African government each year.
According to Chris Mercer, founder of the Kalahari Raptor and Predator Center, the practice of canned hunting unfairly prevents the lion from “escaping the hunter, because of either physical constraints (fenced in)” or because the lion is tame. Canned hunting involves removing these magnificent creatures from their natural habitat in order to “mass produce living targets for wealthy foreigners.”
Dying to be Free – The Canned Lion Scandal
Gareth Patterson tells a heart wrenching story of a mother lioness separated from her three cubs by an electric fence. After not being allowed to eat for two days, the lion was lured away from the fence and her cubs with an impala carcass. As she looked at her cubs, men approached a nearby vehicle. As she stepped towards them, she was shot and thrown into the electric fence. Her cubs, witnessing the horrific event, fled.
The trophy hunter walked up to the dead lion, opened her mouth, and smiled for the cameras. Her body was taken to the skinning shed where her beautiful coat was removed. “As they worked, the mother’s milk spilt from her teats and mingled with her blood.” Disturbing photos of the incident are available on the Father of Lions website.
Lion cub and mother photo by David Dennis
Lion photo Giraud Patrick
I would like to know the name of the “big game hunter” who killed the mother of these cubs. If he’s so freakin proud of his hunting skills, he shouldn’t have a problem with having his name associated with his trophy lion skin. This practice is certainly one of with the sickest thing I’ve ever heard. Shame, shame, shame on everyone involved in this egregious, brutal, exploitation of one of earth’s most magnificent animals. Shame, shame, shame.
Name the pathetic ‘excuses for men’ who have killed a lioness in the most cowardly way and allowed her cubs to starve to death. If they’re so brave, put them in an enclosure from which they cannot escape, with lions that aren’t bred in captivity, and let them see who wins the ‘hunt’.
They are as disgusting as the woman who shot the elephant at very close range, with a ‘special’ bow, having ‘trained’ for 18 months. She, too, is a very sick individual.
As for saying the captive lions will die if this barbaric practice is banned, as the breeders couldn’t afford to feed them, I’m sure homes could be found for all of them.
The world looks to the South African government to do the decent and right thing and BAN this despicable practice.
Stop hunting and stop breeding. Let the lions and other animals be free to live naturally.
“Man: The most dangerous animal on the planet”
This is disgusting!!!! GET it stopped NOW!!!! Our lions needs us to rotect them not kill them for a blood “sport” …lets do all we can to protect! sometimes im embarressed to call myself a human being :O(
This whole canned lion hunt – - thing, is abominable and atrocious It is sick! They are on the endangered species list, are they not, if I am not mistaken. These lions have nothing in their future but death at the hands of some of the most selfish and greedy people on the face of this Earth!!! The whole concept of raising one of GOD’S creatures strictly for cruel and certain death for money is one of the truest evils I have ever experienced in my life!! The African governments should feel very embarrassed about this situation. This must be stopped, and never be allowed to happen ever again!! This is not being done by people who are starving for food. This was started by people whose greed helped them to acquire animals they should not have had, so they could breed cats strictly for other wealthy and bored senseless individuals to whom life means nothing, who want nothing less than terrible, slow, cruel death for these poor creatures!! It is evil, and those involved in it are a scourge on this planet!!
SEND THE LIONS TO THE PAWS SANCTUARY IN CALIFORNIA, IF THEY HAVE NEVER LIVED IN THE WILD!! THEY WOULD BE WELL CARED FOR THERE!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP KILLING LIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP THIS TERRIBLE, GREEDY, EVIL THING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of countries boycotted SA when apartheid was ruling it. The misery of all those lions – and other animal abuse – should be sufficient to start boycotting again!
It’s disgusting!
WHO on Earth can killing such a helpless and abused cat enhance someone’s self-esteem?
Killing a fellow human most probably is not a big step to those nutcases.