Tourism and conservation authorities have for the first time come together in a united call to stop South Africa’s thriving captive-bred lion and big cat industry.
There is also significant evidence to prove that there is a direct link between South Africa’s captive-bred lions and lion bone exports destined for Asia.The sector does not benefit farm workers either, with an estimated 80% of income generated from captive-bred facilities going straight to lion breeders and farm owners.
She appealed to the sector to stop breeding lions in captivity, for us to better work with existing populations, and preventing a mass euthanasia of captive-bred lions once the industry was canned.The world has lost 43% of its wild lions between 1995 and 2015, a figure that has increased sharply over the past five years. Lions face mass poaching, even in protected areas.
Southern African Tourism Services Association responsible tourism committee chair, Keira Powers, said South Africa, like any other enviable tourism destination, was competing for visitors. A lack of transparency meant it was not known exactly how many people were employed in the sector, but indications did not point to this number being over 1000.There are better ways to upskill workers and get tourism numbers up, however.The slowing down of the sector could affect car manufacturing and even wine production.
Delsink said the issue of captive-bred lions was raised as early as 2005, but that an audit on actual captive lion populations must be done.