Change of heart on lion hunting

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A GROUP of animal protection groups has welcomed the denouncement of captive-bred or “canned” lion hunts by one of America’s largest trophy hunting clubs.

The Humane Society International and Blood Lions welcomed the announcement by Safari Club International (SCI) that it would no longer allow the promotion or auctioning of hunts involving African lions bred and shot in captivity.

The club said it would no longer “accept advertising from any operator for any such hunts, or allow operators to sell hunts for lions bred in captivity at the SCI Annual Hunters’ Convention”, or include any entries of captive bred lions into its record book.

According to the South African government, private operators hold between 6 000 and 8 000 African lions in approximately 200 facilities where canned hunts sell for around $45 000 (about R545 328) each, though price tags rise depending on the size and colour of the male lion’s mane.

Of the 1 052 trophies from captive lions traded internationally in 2015, American hunters killed 686 animals and imported their body parts into the US – about 65% of the total.

Pippa Hankinson, producer of the film Blood Lions, said: “South Africa’s lion breeding industry is truly shameful.

“Lion cubs are ripped from their mothers as early as a few days old and hand-reared to habituate them to people. Paying volunteers then raise these lions under the false belief that they are orphans, the same cubs are also exploited for tourist cub petting and, once older, for the ‘ walking with lions’ activity,” said Hankinson.

“The adult lions are then sold off to trophy hunters for canned hunts or killed for the lion bone trade.”

Audrey Delsink, executive director of HSI/Africa, said: “Humane Society International and Blood Lions have firmly opposed the shocking practice of canned lion hunting, and we welcome SCI’s adopted policy.”

“We are proud partners with Blood Lions and the campaign to end the exploitation of captive bred lions and the industry it perpetuates,” said Delsink.

“In South Africa, captive breeding of lions is fraught with welfare and ethical concerns. We therefore urge the South African government to shut the lid on canned-lion hunting for good.” – African News Agency/ANA