canned! South Africa to end captive breeding and canned hunting of lions

(Cape Town, South Africa – 2 May, 2021) – South Africa announced today it will stop captive breeding and canned hunting of lions.

“This is a time to celebrate,” said Neil Greenwood, Regional Director of IFAW Southern Africa. “Captive breeding and canned hunting of lions is one of the worst animal welfare abuses of modern times. It’s taken more than 20 years of campaigning, and the cruel deaths of thousands of lions purely due to commercial greed for the South African Government to finally call it a day”.

South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy, today released a report by a high-level panel into the hunting, trade, captive breeding, management and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

The Panel recommended that South Africa does not captive breed lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions and their derivatives commercially.

A process to action the decision has yet to be announced.

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About the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) - The International Fund for Animal Welfare is a global non-profit helping animal and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. See how at ifaw.org

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