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Different.org is a crowdfunding philanthropy platform that helps leverage funding for worthy causes across South Africa.

Blood Lions® and WILDLANDS are extremely excited to announce that they now have a campaign on this powerful platform, to raise funding that can support the amplification of their message and spread awareness about cub petting, predator breeding and canned hunting. The Blood Lions® film and campaign has been incredibly powerful in spreading awareness across the globe, with millions of people reached using their digital platforms.

“Through these online channels we have been able to highlight and expose all the issues around the predator breeding and canned hunting industries in a manner that has been vital for decision-makers in the public and government arenas worldwide,” said Nicola Gerrard, Blood Lions® Digital Media Manager. “One challenge that we continue to face is on the awareness front around animal interactions. Volunteers and tourists continue to feel that their personal interactions at these cub petting and breeding facilities is somehow different and not, in fact, exploitative and commercial in nature. To have Different.org join the campaign is another major boost to ensure these messages are driven hard. The public, our networks and partners continue to play a key role in exposing the truth behind cub petting, predator breeding and canned hunting.”

“Blood Lions® is a vital awareness campaign and film for lion, and more broadly, predator conservation in South Africa – ultimately giving them a voice. The cub petting, predator breeding and canned hunting industry needs as much exposure as possible and Different.org is proud to be able to assist with funding and awareness,” concluded Ryan Sobey, Head of Operations for Different.org.

To contribute to this campaign and see how you can make a difference, please follow this link: https://different.org/projects/wildlands-conservation-trust/blood-lions/.

INTERACTIVE TOURISM AND VOLUNTOURISM: DOES THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY?

It seems to be becoming more and more apparent that the international tourism industry is moving away from all forms of exploitative wildlife interactive tourism and voluntourism. Following on from the recent SATSA conference where the issue of wild animal interactions was vigorously debated,

South African leading tourism organizations are now engaged in discussions around what is deemed to be “responsible and ethical tourism”. It is estimated that there are approximately 8000 captive bred predators being held in small enclosures on 200 breeding farms across the country, very often in cramped conditions with few welfare protocols in place. Most of these facilities offer cub petting, bottle feeding and/or lion walking tourism activities, as well as volunteer opportunities whereby young volunteers may pay up to US$4,000 per month to look after these young animals until such time as they can be killed (for their trophies and/or their bones to be exported to Asia for the bone trade) or shipped off to zoos around the world.

Scientists have repeatedly stated that most of these predator breeding programs have nothing to do with conservation and that they are purely commercial operations making no contribution to the conservation of free roaming lion populations, and that they also do not contribute to education as they do not offer scientifically accepted practices of teaching conservation and animal ecology.

Simply put, these lions are not “orphans” as they have been removed from their mothers within days of birth to induce rapid breeding cycles.

Furthermore, ecologists say it is not practical to rehabilitate captive-bred lions which have not only been hand-raised and bottle fed, but have also lost their fear of humans. Research also shows us that captive bred predators are unlikely to be able to survive in the wild, and that even if this were possible, it would not be considered a viable conservation option as most are genetically compromised due to inbreeding.

So what are some of the questions now being asked by the international tourism industry? What is the reason that South Africa has so many of these facilities… so many sanctuaries… so many rehabilitation and wildlife centers? Are international tourists and volunteers being misled by claims that the animals are “orphans and will be re-wilded” once adults? Where do all the cubs come from, and where do all the adult lions go? Do the breeding facilities meet conservation, scientific and welfare mandates…

or are they purely commercial operations? Are critical conservation funds and volunteer efforts being diverted from wild conservation and scientific research projects? Are the volunteer recruitment agencies being secretive about divulging full details of these projects? How do tourists and volunteers find recognized, authentic projects to support?”

It is true that bona fide sanctuaries around the world offer their animals a “home for life”, with no breeding, trading or any kind of interactive tourism activities.

At the end of the day, no international tourist or volunteer would voluntarily support any cycle of exploitation such as that faced by these predators… and other species. It is crucial that proper research
is conducted by before visiting any of these facilities, and that appropriate answers are provided.

The feature documentary Blood Lions™ and subsequent Blood Lions Campaign (www.localhost/blog-post-data) have played an important role in highlighting these issues and stimulating the debate. And this can be measured by the fact that many key travel organizations from around the world have now distanced themselves from these types of activities. Over 100 leading tourism operators have already signed the Blood Lions “Born to Live Wild” Pledge committing to: endorse responsible and authentic tourism activities; promote South Africa as a wild, rewarding and authentic destination; and to support the conservation of wild lions in their natural habitat.

Earlier this year the Blood Lions “Born to Live Wild” Campaign won Joint “Overall Winner” at the African Responsible Tourism Awards (ARTA17) at WTM Cape Town, as well as the Gold Award for “Best Responsible Tourism Campaign”

#ShockWildlifeTruths: Pressure mounts to ban wild animal interactions in SA

Cape Town – The walls are closing in on animal interaction operators in South Africa as international tourism role-players distance themselves from unethical wildlife experiences.

International travellers are looking for ethical, responsible experiences and circuses and petting zoos where animals are kept solely for human entertainment are no longer generally accepted.

Responding to the changing sentiments of tourists, tourism authorities and operators have taken an active stand against animal interactions, scrapping them from their itineraries.

Following international movements, SA’s major tourism representatives are catching up with international trends in order to protect South Africa’s status as a responsible and ethical tourism destination – and it’s no easy feat.

No place for mere compliance 

One of the main topics at the annual Southern African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) conference, on 17 and 18 August, was a panel discussion titled ‘Animal interactions – how to craft a compliance process’.

But dealing with compliance only is not enough says Ian Michler, Consultant and Campaign Co-leader to Blood Lions. “This will allow many to continue with cruel and irresponsible practices under the veil of conservation or education,” Michler says.

He commends SATSA’s boldness, saying “it’s admirable that SATSA has decided to address an issue as intricate and multi-facetted as that of animal interactions, but they should go further and support the lobby to end all exploitative practices using wild animals.”

To this end, Humane Society International (HSI) Africa, along with Blood Lions and Wildlands have issued an open letter to SATSA and the Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa, urging them “to take a strong stance against animal interactions, such as the use of captive-bred predators in cub petting, lion walks and the voluntourism sector.”

The letter also states that by ending the breeding of wild animals to live – and be killed – in captivity, “there will be no need to deal with the compliance issues” surrounding the industry and marring SA’s natural heritage. These ‘compliance issues’ are essentially only symptoms of the main concern – the breeding of wild animals while claiming conservation credentials.

In the SATSA discussion, South African Tourism CEO Sisa Ntshona says his ultimate aim was to protect Brand South Africa. He reiterated that he would work with sustainable tourism authorities to eradicate the animal interaction industry in SA.

“As South African Tourism,” Ntshona claims, “we are fully cognisant of the global anti-petting lobby and back it unreservedly.” He stated in December 2016 that “South African Tourism does not promote or endorse any interaction with wild animals such as the petting of wild cats, interacting with elephants and walking with lions”.

What will it take to end animal interaction?

Without a total ban on all animal interactions, the practice will continue due to its financial rewards. An “ethical, legal approach” is the only answer as the panel moderator, Colin Bell pointed out.

Should SA Tourism and SATSA respond to the global call to stop interactions with wild animals , they will join ninety-eight leading tour operators and safari companies from across Africa and the world, who have signed  the “Born to Live Wild” pledge which works to end exploitative tourism practices and promote Africa as an authentic, wild and ethical tourism destination.

“Blood Lions and the coalition of responsible ethical operators will continue to lobby SA’s tourism bodies to live up to their marketing claims. Brand South Africa may well continue to be at risk should the international opprobrium over wild animals be ignored,” Michler warns.

#ShockWildlifeTruths: SA tourism industry urged to commit to help curb ‘exploitative wildlife practices’

Cape Town – South Africa is going to be celebrating Heritage month in September – with our wildlife being an integral part of SA’s natural heritage,  it stands to reason that our tourism practices should advocate ethical, wildlife protection.

This has seen Blood Lions and Humane Society International  asking the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) to join its international petition, with over 110 000 signatures and directed at the South African tourism industry,  with the aim of curbing exploitative wildlife practices.

Blood Lions together with Humane Society International presented the formal request and call to action at the SATSA conference taking place in Stellenbosch on Thursday 17 August, asking its members to” help end exploitative wildlife practices and calling then to join the global Born to Live Wild Pledge”.

‘Urge the tourism industry to end lion exploitation!’

Speaking on the animal interaction panel discussion at SATSA. Blood Lions documentary filmmaker and environmental journalist, Ian Michler says “it is clear that a lot of work needs to be done in order to define ecological education and highlight the difference between it and the use of wildlife for entertainment”, especially when it comes to responsible tourism.

“Blood Lions wishes to congratulate SATSA on tackling what is clearly a thorny issue around wildlife interactions in South Africa. A special thanks must also go to the SATSA members of which a majority have signed the ‘Born to Live Wild’ pledge,” says Michler.

He has called on SATSA to “distinguish between legitimate wildlife facilities versus those that are businesses looking to justify the use of animals for financial gain.”

In the pledge HSI reiterates that unknown to tourists and volunteers, “captive-bred lion cubs they are led to believe are orphaned, pay to feed, pet and walk with are raised to be a trophy hunter’s next victim.”

“The documentary film Blood Lions reveals that between 6 000 and 8000 captive-bred lions are confined to cruel conditions on farms throughout South Africa, raised purely for profit and exploitation.

It also states that SA’s move to approve the sale and export of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons for 2017, ignoring widespread public opposition – will potentially fuel the demand in Asia where lion bones are used in tonics.”

The DEA says the export will only be from captive-bred lions as per the specific parameters approved by Convention in the Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).

Lions in South Africa are listed under Appendix II which means their products can be traded internationally but only “if the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.” The numbers of African free-range lions have declined alarmingly over the last few decades with only 20 000 remaining today, down from 30 000 just two decades ago.

#WorldLionDay: Awareness needed to double endangered lion numbers by 2050

Cape Town – August 10 is World Lion Day, and as the years pass, the celebration of this day becomes bittersweet as the magnificent cat species faces greater threat.

From South Africa’s proposed legalised export of 800 lion skeletons, to Cecil the Lion’s cub being killed by a trophy hunter in Zimbabwe, conservationists remain concerned about the devastating impact of humans on lions.

However, many conservation groups and organisations, such as Blood Lions, continue to work hard to raise awareness on trophy hunting, petting zoos and other factors that pose risks to lions – and these groups deserve recognition for their efforts in trying to save the species.

World Lion day says that the annual campaign aims “to raise much needed conservation awareness for the vulnerable African lion and endangered Asiatic lion”.

“The lion is an enduring symbol across the nations and has fascinated man throughout the millennia. To lose such a species would be to lose a significant part of our global heritage.”

“Join us in saving this magnificent species and unite those across the world in recognising their importance to us,” it adds.

Only 20 000 lions remain today

Lions in South Africa are listed under Appendix II which means their products can be traded internationally but only “if the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.”

The numbers of African free-range lions have declined alarmingly over the last few decades with only 20 000 remaining today, down from 30 000 just two decades ago.

Panthera, a conservation group dedicated to wild cats and their landscapes, warns that a “staggering number” of lions are being killed in captivity in South Africa for “lion bone wine” and calls on government commitment to protect lions.

However, it is not only lion conservation groups who are dedicated to raising awareness on World Lion Day, as other animal protection groups – including rhinosinafrica- have joined forces to remind the public of the plight of lions

Despite the decline in lion numbers, World Lion Day on Facebook is confident that with awareness and action now, the number of lions can be doubled by 2050.

In celebration of this day in which we pay tribute to the “King of the jungle”, YouthForLions and Blood Lions launched a #WatchToWin campaign to raise awareness around the plight of one of the world’s most iconic species.

“This visionary community have partnered with Wildlands to return the reserve back to its historical status as a Big Five reserve,” says Blood Lions.

“Somkhanda forms part of a KZN Wildlife and WWF initiative, the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, which released a number of black rhino onto the reserve in order to promote their breeding and expand their range. In addition, the reserve hosts important populations of white rhino and critically endangered African wild dog,” says Blood Lions. Click here for more details

In addition to the campaign, Blood Lions – the full-length film – will be aired on television for the first time on World Lion Day, 10 August. Previously the edited 40-minute version of the film was aired on television.

“We have managed to curb the canned hunting industry quite heavily, yet the cub petting industry is proving to be very hard. We need more people to watch the film,” says Blood Lions.

ESCAPE NATURE As you read this, three lions are exploring their new home in KZN. Here’s why this is great news These cats got the creamSomkhanda Game Reserve is situated in the far northern wilds of KZN, between Pongola and Mkuze. ___4711111 Youth For Lions is the latest global awareness initiative. Find out why it’s not cool to pet cubs, and how kids can spread the word, on localhost/blog-post-data infrastructure and train local people in hospitality and reserve management. ‘There is no way captivebred lions could ever have been used in an exercise like this as they have no conservation value,’ says Ian Michler, who was also involved in Blood Lions. ‘This is about expanding habitat using wild lions, and the project being managed by the recognised conservation community.’ Somkhanda’s credentials are golden it has also been involved in the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, so doing the same for lions is just part of a day’s work. The reserve’s ecotourism approach is also laudable here visitors are encouraged to learn and contribute. Guests are involved in gathering data on game drives and bush walks, they Howard Clelland, Teaga n Cunniffe, supplied

In May this year, a male and two female lions were transferred asleep, on the back of vet Dr Mike Toft’s special trailer from Phinda to Somkhanda Game Reserve in northern KZN, which is owned and run by the local Gumbi community. The trio have spent the past two months acclimatising in a boma, and are ready to stretch their legs.

‘We feel privileged that the reserve is going to be a Big Five reserve our dream is now a reality,’ says Nathi Gumbi, a key player in this community that, after successful process of land claims in 1998, turned what were cattle and game farms into a conservation success.

The lions are the first in the area in 100 years. This means that biodiversity and ecological balance in the reserve is now restored. But the transfer is also part of a lion conservation strategy that aims to expand their range and genetic pool.

Lions were reintroduced at Phinda in 1992, and they’ve thrived to the extent that the numbers often exceed the capacity of the reserve. Finding a place to translocate them to is the tricky part, as habitat loss is one of the greatest perils facing our planet’s wildlife. It’s no surprise that one of the people behind this initiative was also a producer on Blood Lions, the recent documentary that exposed the canned-hunting and captive-breeding industry. Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands, has been involved with Somkhanda since 2013, helping to upgrade infrastructure and train local people in hospitality and reserve management. ‘There is no way captive-bred lions could ever have been used in an exercise like this as they have no conservation value; says Ian Michler who was also involved in Blood Lions. ” This is about expanding habitat using wild lions, and the project being managed by the recognised conservation community. Somkhanda’s  credentials are golden –  it has been involved in the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, so doing the same for lions is just part of a day’s work.

The reserve’s ecotourism approach is also laudable – here visitors are encouraged to learn and contribute. Guests are involved in gathering data on game drives and bush walks, they can help with cattle dipping in neighbouring villages, or sign up for a wildlife conservation experience that includes helping to dehorn rhinos and replace their tracking collars. Back to the lions: ‘They’re bonding nicely and have been feeding well,’ David Gilroy, Wildlands Strategic Manager, told us at the end of June. ‘We anticipate a smooth release into the reserve at the end of July.