Free State ‘slaughter’ lions await their fate

CAPTIVE-bred lions at a recently exposed “lion-abattoir” in the Free State are waiting for their fate to be decided as two government departments are dodging responsibility for the recent mass slaughter of captive-bred animals for the lion bone export trade.

Although the killing caused an outcry‚ an official response from the government is yet to be made.

Both the Department of Environmental Affairs and that of Agriculture have declined comment on the matter.

According to Albi Modise, of Environmental Affairs, the department could not comment on mass killing of lions as the welfare of captive-bred lions fell under the mandate of the Department of Agriculture

But the agriculture department said the lions were not its responsibility either‚ but that of the Free State Department of Economic Development.

Dirk Hagen, of that department, said it was responsible for the issuing of permits for captive-bred lions to be killed in the Free State.

However the responsibility of the lions’ welfare was that of the SPCA and animal owners.

The export quota‚ which allows the annual export of 800 lion skeletons from captivebred animals a year‚ was approved by Environmental Affairs last year.

Permits to fill this quota are determined provincially‚ and approved by Environmental Affairs.

The blame game comes after 73 lions were shot for their bones to be exported to Asia last month.

Permits were later revoked.