RFI
03 May 2021, 17:46 GMT+10
South Africa has revealed plans to ban the breeding of lions in captivity for hunting or for tourists to pet. The move is aimed at promoting a more "authentic" experience but is expected to be met with objection from the powerful lion captive breeding industry.
The decision was reached following recommendations contained in a study by a special government-appointed panel into the controversial practice.
The panel was studying the management and rules governing the hunting, trade and keeping in captivity of lions, elephants, rhino and leopards.
Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a news conference that the report said "we must halt and reverse the domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping."
"We don't want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive (cubs) petting, captive use of lions," the minister said.
Lions roar when the weather's right, new study in Zimbabwe shows
The decision, which is yet to be formulated into policy, is likely to set the government on a collision course with the powerful multi-million-dollar lion captive breeding industry.
The minister cautioned that the recommendations were not aimed at stifling the hunting industry.
"Legal regulated hunting of the iconic species under the regulatory environment will continue to be permitted, we are not banning legal regulated permitted hunting," she said.
Creecy added that the report was advising that action be "taken immediately to stop tourists' interaction with captive lions, including cub petting".
Lion cub found inside luxury car in Paris
The practice of hunting lions raised in captivity has long been controversial in South Africa, where a large number of animals are confined to pens ringed with electric fences.
Campaigns to ban the importation of captive-bred lion trophies have in recent years gathered steam in the United States, Australia and several countries in Europe.
The minister said that the tourism industry was susceptible to negative perceptions that influence where tourists choose to visit.
"The intention here is to ensure that those who are interested in... authentic wildlife hunting" will have such an experience and "will not be hunting animals that have been taken out of the cage," she said.
(with AFP)
Get a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has ordered a stop to construction of Equinor's Empire Wind project off New York's...
SINGAPORE: Amid rising trade tensions, several Asian nations are stepping up energy purchases from the U.S. in hopes of easing tariff...
WASHINGTON DC - In a bid to combat illegal border crossings, the Trump Administration has enacted an emergency transfer of some 110,000...
More than 200 journalists and news photographers, together with family members, have been killed in Gaza in the last 16 months. Despite...
DALLAS, Texas--- The Texas health department has reported a slight rise in the number of measles cases statewide, rising to 561 from...
WASHINGTON, DC - A Trump administration early retirement plan at the Internal Revenue Service has been accepted by more than 22,000...
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are appealing to the public for assistance in locating Michael Connors, a 25-year-old Irish national...
(250421) -- JEDDAH, April 21, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands competes during the race of the...
(Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images) McLaren's Oscar Piastri cruised to the victory in the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand...
Karachi [Pakistan], April 20 (ANI): Islamabad United and Australian all-rounder Matthew Short has been ruled out for the remainder...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 20 (ANI): Cricketer KL Rahul recently turned 33, and this birthday was extra special for him, as...
Needle and syringe programs are a proven public health intervention that provide free, sterile injecting equipment to people who use...