Month: February 2017

Cape Town – In a move clearly supporting the canned lion hunting industry, the South African Government plans to permit the annual export of 800 lion skeletons to manufacturers of fake tiger wine. This lifeline to an increasingly discredited hunting practice follows a US ban on the import of hunting trophies from the country.

The move has come under fire from a wide array of local and international environmental organisations and follows an ongoing controversy about South Africa’s lion breeding industry that promotes cub petting, lion walks, canned lion hunting and the supply of lion body parts.

‘The decision is misguided and shameful,’ said Audrey Delsink, Africa’s director of the Humaine Society International. ‘Breeding captive lions is not only cruel and contrary to the global shift against captive wildlife, but is a potential threat to wild lions.’

According to Pippa Hankinson, the producer of the film Blood Lions, the quota appears to lack the requisite scientific basis and was arrived at without consideration of proper welfare or conservation protocols. There was no formal document to support how the quota of 800 skeletons was arrived at or how it would be enforced.

‘South Africa [is showing] complete disregard for the overwhelming response by key global conservation leaders calling for the termination of captive lion breeding. In addition, this shocking industry is already adversely affecting Brand South Africa.’

‘Two-week window for public comment, ending on February 2’

In 2015 the Professional Hunters’ Association of South African (PHASA) passed a motion dissociating itself from the captive-bred lion industry ‘until such a time that the industry can convince PHASA and the IUCN [International Union for the Conservation of Nature] that the practice is beneficial to lion conservation.’
Last year the IUCN adopted a motion to terminate the hunting of captive-bred lions and other predators and captive breeding for commercial, non-conservation purpose.

The Department of Environmental Affairs made the 800-skeletion decision without public consultation but was forced to hold a stakeholder meeting this week as a result of CITES quota conditions. This was clearly planned as a once-off meeting, but delegates managed to get the department to open a two-week window for public comment, ending on February 2.

The DEA also agreed to appoint a research group to monitor the exports.

There are between 6 000 and 8 000 captive-bred lions in South Africa, more than twice the number of wild lions. An estimated 1 200 lion skeletons a year are presently being exported, so 800 would mean a reduction, but represents tacit support for captive lion breeding.

Legislative black hole

Captive-bred lions are something of a legislative black hole. The government’s 2015 Biodiversity Management Plan mentions captive-bred only in passing, saying ‘there is intense controversy over the merits and ethics of the captive breeding and subsequent release for hunting of captive bred lions, although it remains legal to do so.’ A CITES report notes that trade is fine ‘if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.’

In dealing merely with the impact of captive-bred lions on wild breeding stock, these reports ignore ethical issues and relegate lions to domestic farming stock.

There are also questions about whether the quota could be policed. According to Michelle Pickover of the EMS Foundation, there should be a moratorium on issuing any wildlife export permits because of the country’s extremely poor legislative and enforcement issues.

‘At the meeting it was clear that DEA does not know how the industry operates, who the breeders, bone traders etc are, how many lions are in the industry and how many “facilities” there are.

‘No transparency, worsened by massive corruption’

‘They leave this totally up to the industry itself. So it’s in essence secret and self-policed. There is also no transparency and this situation is worsened by massive corruption.

‘They are wanting to do research as part of the quota decision. This is nonsensical – research needs to be done in order to establish the landscape and to ascertain if a quota is actually viable or not.

‘Their position is clearly that because there is already a trade it should continue. This is illogical. If they themselves are motivating for the need for research, then this suggests they do not have enough information.’

According Pickover, because the US no longer allows the importation of captive trophies, there has been a shift to bone trade. ‘They are reporting a decrease of 320 lion hunts and a loss of 660 jobs and are supporting an offtake of 1600 animals a year.

‘DEA’s support for the lion bone trade is obvious. They do not seem to be concerned that they will grow demand. In fact they said that demand was based on thousands of years of [Asian] culture and there was nothing we could do about it. This position is astonishing, particularly given all the international and inter-governmental efforts to reduce demand.

‘This does lead one to question whose agenda it is in our government to grow and support this unscrupulous and corrupt industry. And who is benefitting?’

Cape Town – Despite a global move to end the trade in lion bones and parts – for both captive and wild lions – South Africa remains thick-skinned to outlawing the inhumane captive lion industry and these animals’ exploitation and suffering.

Now, a decision to allow export of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons from South Africa is coming under fire from Humane Society International (HSI) and the producer of the film Blood Lions.

On Thursday, 19 January, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, which is the Scientific Authority to the Department of Environmental Affairs, announced its recommendation to institute an annual export quota of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons, traded in large part for use in traditional medicine to southeast Asian countries like Lao PDR, Vietnam and Thailand.

In response to this, the HSI and Blood Lions slammed the DEA saying, “The decision to make this recommendation was made prior to public consultation and without the appropriate scientific basis required under South Africa’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora”.

According to the most recent CITES CoP17 declaration, bones and parts from wild lions are not allowed to be traded for commercial purposes. For captive lions, it remains a free-for-all.

The distinguishing between wild and captive lions in the CITES CoP17 declaration leaves a loophole, as it is impossible to tell the difference between wild or captive bred lion bones, and lions.

SEE: Trophy hunting: SA’s captive-bred lions and the burden of conservation proof

Nonetheless, the DEA has now opened a two-week comment period – ending on 2 February 2017 – to collect input on the recommended quota for exportation of the 800 skeletons.

It’s a contrasting move considering that only one day before, the DEA embarked on a biodiversity compliance awareness drive with muti traders and traditional healers, in a bid to curb the trade in endangered animal parts.

SEE: DEA set to take action as SA muthi market complaints spike

Still, lions, and many other species, are being traded legally and illegally in SA.

The Humane Society International and Blood Lions therefore pleaded with the DEA to establish a zero export quota for the lions, “thereby suspending trade in captive-bred lion parts given the absence of scientific evidence that such trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild lions, as required for export under CITES,” they say.

“The captive breeding of lions for the purpose of killing them to supply the bone trade is ethically unacceptable and seriously harms South Africa’s global image”.

At the recent CITES CoP17 held in Johannesburg in October last year, it was said that African lions are critically endangered, with an estimated 20 000 lions left in the wild.

Nine African nations, namely Niger, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria and Togo wanted to raise protection for lions by uplisting them to Appendix I, the maximum level of protection.

The move was intended to end the lion bone trade.

SEE: #ShockWildlifeTruths: Lions fail to get uplisted at CITES CoP17

South Africa, unfortunately, did not add their weight to this decision but opted rather stick to the current Appendix II listed which distinguishes between captive and wild lions – even though it is impossible to tell the difference between captive or wild lion bones and parts.

No good end to SA’s notorious captive lion industry

The DEA’s recommendation to export the 800 lion skeletons comes at a time when South Africa’s notorious lion breeding industry – that includes cub petting, lion walks, canned lion hunting – is under spotlight.

According to Blood Lions, the South African government will permit lion skeletons to be sourced from the natural deaths of captive-bred lions, from lions which have been euthanised, as well as remains of lions trophy hunted by South African and international hunters.

It’s has been a dilemma for lion breeders for some time. While the controversy over whether lion hunting and breeding continue, lion farmers are struggling to feed and/or sell the animals and the animals are the sole victims of a botched, inhumane practice to start with.

Considering this, euthanasia of the remaining lions in captivity may seem like a viable option… But the fact remains: When the bones are sold, and there is financial value in keeping captive lions, killing them and exporting their remains, the practice will continue.

SEE: #ShockWildlifeTruths: Captive bred lions will forever be victims of the hunting industry

Audrey Delsink, executive director of the Africa office for Humane Society International, sums up the DEA’s feeble attempt at ending lion trade when he says, “The Department of Environmental Affair’s decision to support the trade in lion parts is misguided and shameful. Breeding captive lions is not only cruel and goes against the global shift against captive wildlife, but South Africa’s captive-bred lion bone trade is a potential threat to wild lions.

“Conservation efforts must focus on protecting lions in the wild, and not prop up facilities where they are bred for slaughter and canned hunting.

READ: Con or conservation: 6 Critical questions to ask about wildlife sanctuaries

“Unless research proves otherwise, caution must prevail and trade in these parts must be completely suspended given South Africa’s commitments under international law.”

Pippa Hankinson, producer of Blood Lions, agrees. She says, “Blood Lions is deeply concerned by this announcement from the South African government. The quota appears to lack the requisite scientific basis, and there has been no apparent consideration of proper welfare or conservation protocols. South Africa has shown complete disregard for the overwhelming response by key global conservation leaders calling for the ‘termination of captive lion breeding for commercial, non-conservation purposes and the hunting of captive-bred lions (Panthera leo) and other predators’ at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September last year.

“In addition, this shocking industry is already adversely affecting Brand South Africa. We urge the public to call for a suspension of trade in captive lions and their bones, and to bring an end to the captive lion breeding and canned hunting industry.”

The South African government estimates are that there are approximately 6 000 captive African lions in South Africa, bred for various economic purposes. However, other experts reveal the number is likely closer to 8 000.

The 2015 film Blood Lions exposed the true nature of the lion breeding industry in South Africa, revealing poor living conditions, false pretences under which breeders contract volunteers to care for the animals, misleading information provided to tourists about the conservation benefit of lion breeding, and lack of appropriate regulation.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (19 January 2017)—A decision to allow export of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons from South Africa is coming under fire from Humane Society International and the producer of the film Blood Lions.

Yesterday the South African National Biodiversity Institute, which is the scientific authority to the Department of Environmental Affairs, announced its recommendation to institute an annual export quota of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons, traded in large part for use in traditional medicine to southeast Asian countries like Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. The decision to make this recommendation was made prior to public consultation and without the appropriate scientific basis required under South Africa’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The DEA has now opened a two week comment period – ending on 2 February, 2017 – to collect input on the recommended quota.

Humane Society International and Blood Lions strongly urge the DEA to establish a zero export quota, thereby suspending trade in captive-bred lion parts given the absence of scientific evidence that such trade is not detrimental to the survival of wild lions, as required for export under CITES. The captive breeding of lions for the purpose of killing them to supply the bone trade is ethically unacceptable and seriously harms South Africa’s global image.

The decision follows an ongoing controversy about South Africa’s lion breeding industry that promotes cub petting, lion walks, canned lion hunting, while practicing euthanasia to supply lion bone and other parts.

The South African government will permit lion skeletons to be sourced from the natural deaths of captive-bred lions and also from lions euthanized, as well as remains of lions trophy-hunted by South African and international hunters.

Audrey Delsink, executive director of the Africa office for Humane Society International, said “The Department of Environmental Affair’s decision to support the trade in lion parts is misguided and shameful. Breeding captive lions is not only cruel and goes against the global shift against captive wildlife, but South Africa’s captive-bred lion bone trade is a potential threat to wild lions. Conservation efforts must focus on protecting lions in the wild, and not prop up facilities where they are bred for slaughter and canned hunting. Unless research proves otherwise, caution must prevail and trade in these parts must be completely suspended given South Africa’s commitments under international law.”

Pippa Hankinson, producer of Blood Lions, said “Blood Lions is deeply concerned by this announcement from the South African government. The quota appears to lack the requisite scientific basis, and there has been no apparent consideration of proper welfare or conservation protocols. South Africa has shown complete disregard for the overwhelming response by key global conservation leaders calling for the ‘termination of captive lion breeding for commercial, non-conservation purposes and the hunting of captive-bred lions and other predators’ at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in September last year. In addition, this shocking industry is already adversely affecting brand South Africa. We urge the public to call for a suspension of trade in captive lions and their bones, and to bring an end to the captive lion breeding and canned hunting industry.”

FACTS:

· The South African government estimates are that there are approximately 6,000 captive African lions in South Africa, bred for various economic purposes. However, other experts reveal the number is likely closer to 8,000.

· The recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Mr Sisa Ntshona, has spoken out against the petting of lion cubs and similar exploitative activities.

· A 2015 film titled Blood Lions exposed the true nature of the lion breeding industry in South Africa, revealing poor living conditions, false pretenses under which breeders contract volunteers to care for the animals, misleading information provided to tourists about the conservation benefit of lion breeding, and lack of appropriate regulation.

· The African Lion Working Group has stated that “sport hunting of lions that occur in fenced enclosures and are not self-sustaining does not provide any demonstrated positive benefit to wild lion conservation efforts and therefore cannot be claimed to be conservation.”

· At the September 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress, the world’s top scientists, government representatives, non-profit organizations, and experts adopted motion 009 on terminating the hunting of captive-bred lions and other predators and captive breeding for commercial, non-conservation purposes.

· In November of 2015, the majority of the members of the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa passed a motion that “disassociates PHASA with the captive-bred lion industry until such a time that the industry can convince PHASA and the IUCN that the practice is beneficial to lion conservation.”