Picking a Bone with Captive Predator Breeding in South Africa

This report evaluates the captive predator breeding industry in South Africa, challenging claims regarding its economic significance and conservation value while highlighting risks related to the illicit wildlife trade and local labor displacement.

• The report disputes claims that the predator breeding industry provides positive conservation value, describing such assertions as 'dubitable' and 'disingenuous'. It further suggests that the industry's continuation is difficult to justify given genetic impairment and welfare issues, even when framed as part of a 'wildlife economy'.
• Current attempts to quantify the economic benefits of the industry are deemed inadequate and misleading. Specifically, the report finds that volunteer tourists occupy roles that displace local workers, estimating that up to 84 full-time jobs for local job-seekers are instead filled by volunteers.
• The report questions whether predator breeding can legitimately meet the demand for lion and tiger parts in East-Southeast Asia, suggesting that legal bone exports may serve as a 'laundering channel' for the illicit wildlife trade. Consequently, it recommends that South African authorities consider setting the export quota to zero.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2018). Picking a Bone with Captive Predator Breeding in South Africa. https://saiia.org.za/research/picking-a-bone-with-captive-predator-breeding-in-south-africa/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Picking a Bone with Captive Predator Breeding in South Africa. 2018. https://saiia.org.za/research/picking-a-bone-with-captive-predator-breeding-in-south-africa/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Picking a Bone with Captive Predator Breeding in South Africa |date=19 August 2018 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/picking-a-bone-with-captive-predator-breeding-in-south-africa/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2018picking, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Picking a Bone with Captive Predator Breeding in South Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/picking-a-bone-with-captive-predator-breeding-in-south-africa/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }