pcea-captive-lion-breeding-colloquium-report-20181108-2e58dc6e30781a36.pdf

This draft report details a two-day parliamentary colloquium held on 21 and 22 August 2018 by the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs of the Republic of South Africa. The event examined the ethical, conservation, and reputational impacts of captive lion breeding (CLB) for hunting and the lion bone trade, featuring testimony from government departments, industry bodies, and conservation NGOs.

• The captive lion breeding industry is described as having zero conservation value, with evidence suggesting that breeding predators in cages does not contribute to species conservation in South Africa and that captive-bred lions are unsuitable for reintroduction into the wild.
• The practice of 'canned hunting' involves confining animals in small enclosures or using habituated, hand-reared lions to guarantee a kill for hunters, who may pay up to R495,000 for a trophy. Some animals are allegedly tranquilized or sedated to ensure the hunter's success.
• South Africa's captive lion breeding industry has faced severe international condemnation, leading to trophy import bans or restrictions in the United States, Australia, France, and the Netherlands, and cargo embargoes by 42 to 45 airlines.
• Major international hunting and conservation bodies have distanced themselves from the industry. Safari Club International (SCI) and the Dallas Safari Club rejected the practice, and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) expelled the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) and the Confederation of Hunters Associations of South Africa (CHASA) in May 2018.
• The South African government increased the export quota for lion skeletons from 800 in 2017 to 1,500 in 2018. Critics argue this decision lacked public consultation and was based on an unrepresentative research sample, while the government maintains it was based on science and the need to manage stockpiles.
• South Africa is the largest legal exporter of lion bones, with 5,363 skeletons exported between 2008 and 2015, 98% of which were sent to Laos and Vietnam, which are identified as hubs for illegal wildlife trafficking.
• The captive lion breeding industry may cause significant economic damage to South Africa's tourism brand. A report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) suggests a potential loss of over R54 billion in tourism revenue over the next 10 years.
• There are significant animal welfare concerns, including the separation of cubs from mothers shortly after birth for use in petting facilities and the potential for zoonotic diseases, such as tuberculosis, to be transmitted to abattoir workers or exported via bones.
• The Portfolio Committee resolved that the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) must urgently review policies and legislation regarding captive lion breeding and the bone trade to end the practice, and conduct a national audit of breeding facilities.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (n.d.). pcea-captive-lion-breeding-colloquium-report-20181108-2e58dc6e30781a36.pdf. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PCEA-Captive-Lion-Breeding-Colloquium-Report-20181108.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. pcea-captive-lion-breeding-colloquium-report-20181108-2e58dc6e30781a36.pdf. n.d. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PCEA-Captive-Lion-Breeding-Colloquium-Report-20181108.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=pcea-captive-lion-breeding-colloquium-report-20181108-2e58dc6e30781a36.pdf |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PCEA-Captive-Lion-Breeding-Colloquium-Report-20181108.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrightsndpceacaptivelionbreedingcolloquiumreport201811082e58dc6e30781a36pdf, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{pcea-captive-lion-breeding-colloquium-report-20181108-2e58dc6e30781a36.pdf}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/PCEA-Captive-Lion-Breeding-Colloquium-Report-20181108.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }