Ban on new captive lion facilities draws criticism and praise

The Citizen

2 days ago

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George recently confirmed that a prohibition notice outlawing the establishment of new captive lion facilities for commercial purposes was moving towards formal promulgation under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004), known as Nemba.
'We are committed to enforcing clear, effective and legally robust measures that protect South Africa's natural heritage and address concerns raised by the public, conservation experts and stakeholders,' George said in a press statement.
He added that his department intended to implement these reforms without delay. Steps to ensure this will happen included engaging with provincial members of the Executive Council under Section 87A(3) of Nemba.
Criticism from sustainable use sector
Speaking to Farmer's Weekly, Pieter Swart, chairperson of the executive committee of the Sustainable Use Coalition Southern Africa (SUCo-SA), said a blanket prohibition, particularly on new facilities without performance-based criteria, undermined the sustainable use model by shutting down legally compliant and potentially high-welfare operations.
'SUCo-SA views the prohibition as fundamentally at odds with the principles of sustainable use as articulated under both the [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora] framework and the SADC Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement. These frameworks emphasise the regulated, science-based and equitable use of wildlife resources for the benefit of conservation and local livelihoods,' he explained.
Swart added that the ban could cause significant disruption to the broader wildlife economy and integrated wildlife value chains.
These included live animal trade, particularly for tourism and zoological purposes; consumptive uses, such as trophy hunting and the bone trade, non-consumptive uses like photographic tourism and breeding-for-display; and support services like logistics, feed, security and veterinary care.
According to him, investor confidence in the broader wildlife economy may weaken if other sectors feared being targeted without due process.
'SUCo-SA's position is that this decision was not adequately grounded in science or socio-economic impact assessment, nor was it preceded by genuine, inclusive stakeholder consultation.
'We urge government to conduct public socio-economic impact assessments, commission peer-reviewed ecological risk-benefit analyses, and adopt transparent stakeholder forums where industry, rural communities and scientists co-develop policy.
'Sound biodiversity policy must integrate evidence, ethics, and economics, not ideology,' he said.
Swart added that SUCo-SA believed captive lion facilities still had a legitimate role to play.
'This is particularly [so] in conservation education and outreach, research under ethical frameworks, and a regulated trade, where welfare standards and biosecurity are enforced. The focus should be on improving standards and enforcement, not eliminating legal activities altogether.'
Cautious optimism from conservationists
Dr Louise de Waal, director and campaign manager of the documentary Blood Lions, said George's announcement on the progress of the prohibition notice for new captive lion facilities was a step in the right direction and showed his commitment to ultimately phasing out the industry.
'We applaud the minister for his commitment to seeing former minister [Barbara] Creecy's vision, to stop the domestication of our iconic lion, through to its conclusion. However, we would like to see more urgency in setting a moratorium on breeding lions, in addition to this prohibition notice, to have a greater impact on curbing the growth of the captive lion population. Currently, thousands of lions and other predators are kept in substandard captive conditions and used for financial gain,' she said.
De Waal said the delay in implementing the prohibition notice was frustrating: 'There appears to be a misunderstanding that the industry will be banned in its entirety, but the prohibition notice, while a step in the right direction, will not be a blanket ban.
'Once the prohibition notice is in place, it will only curb the growth of the industry. The breeding, keeping, and trading of captive-bred lions will remain legal for now, which means the industry continues to exist.'
Asked how long it would take to root out the captive lion industry entirely, De Waal responded: 'How long is a piece of string? For the industry to be made illegal, the minister will need to change existing legislation, which will most likely take about two years due to the procedural process that needs to be adhered to. This will then be followed by a phase-out process of the industry, which could take another five years or so.'
She explained that phasing out an industry that had been allowed to grow for decades couldn't happen overnight and that it needed to be done responsibly for both the animals and people involved.
'In addition, we are hopeful that the minister will extend the closure of the industry to other big cats, so we will not be facing a similar problem in the near future with just a different species, like tigers.
'Unfortunately, the past has proven that this industry indeed includes actors who are willing to take the illegal route and those people will most likely not be deterred by the closure of the industry. Illegal wildlife trade is a global issue that requires specialist enforcement agencies to work together. Under our current law enforcement system, this will be extremely challenging to be rooted out altogether,' De Waal concluded.
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