Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach
African lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) are commercially farmed across South Africa for sport hunting, tourism, and the international bone trade, primarily in Southeast Asia. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020 a high-level p...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1717 |
| _version_ | 1797530844921856000 |
|---|---|
| author | Jennah Green Catherine Jakins Louise de Waal Neil D’Cruze |
| author_facet | Jennah Green Catherine Jakins Louise de Waal Neil D’Cruze |
| author_sort | Jennah Green |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | African lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) are commercially farmed across South Africa for sport hunting, tourism, and the international bone trade, primarily in Southeast Asia. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020 a high-level panel was initiated to review the policies, legislation, and management regarding the breeding, hunting, trade, and handling of four wildlife species, including lions. In May 2021, it was announced that the government intends to amend existing permit conditions to prohibit lion breeding and tourism interactions with captive lions, as well as to stop issuing permits to new entrants into the industry, effectively ending lion farming. In order to follow this line of action, a comprehensive, well-managed plan will be necessary to execute a responsible exit from the industry as it currently stands. Using a “gap analysis” management tool, we aim to: (1) outline some of the key considerations regarding the current state of the lion farming industry in South Africa; and (2) propose specific action steps that could be taken within five key areas (regulation, animal welfare, health and safety, equitability, and conservation) to help inform a responsible transition away from this type of wildlife farming in the biodiversity economy. For our gap analysis, we conducted a semi-systematic literature search to compile key background information about the current state of the industry. This information was then used to identify corresponding desired management states, and steps that could facilitate a successful phase out of lion farming in South Africa. We hope our approach helps identify key considerations for a responsible transition and can help aid decisions during the management of this process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:35:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10b04f17c7ac4b34bd1a1816e2c0063b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:35:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-10b04f17c7ac4b34bd1a1816e2c0063b2023-11-21T23:17:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-06-01116171710.3390/ani11061717Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis ApproachJennah Green0Catherine Jakins1Louise de Waal2Neil D’Cruze3World Animal Protection 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UKBlood Lion NPC, P.O. Box 1554, Hermanus 7200, South AfricaBlood Lion NPC, P.O. Box 1554, Hermanus 7200, South AfricaWorld Animal Protection 222 Gray’s Inn Rd., London WC1X 8HB, UKAfrican lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) are commercially farmed across South Africa for sport hunting, tourism, and the international bone trade, primarily in Southeast Asia. Despite its legal status, South Africa’s growing lion farming industry is a contentious issue. In 2020 a high-level panel was initiated to review the policies, legislation, and management regarding the breeding, hunting, trade, and handling of four wildlife species, including lions. In May 2021, it was announced that the government intends to amend existing permit conditions to prohibit lion breeding and tourism interactions with captive lions, as well as to stop issuing permits to new entrants into the industry, effectively ending lion farming. In order to follow this line of action, a comprehensive, well-managed plan will be necessary to execute a responsible exit from the industry as it currently stands. Using a “gap analysis” management tool, we aim to: (1) outline some of the key considerations regarding the current state of the lion farming industry in South Africa; and (2) propose specific action steps that could be taken within five key areas (regulation, animal welfare, health and safety, equitability, and conservation) to help inform a responsible transition away from this type of wildlife farming in the biodiversity economy. For our gap analysis, we conducted a semi-systematic literature search to compile key background information about the current state of the industry. This information was then used to identify corresponding desired management states, and steps that could facilitate a successful phase out of lion farming in South Africa. We hope our approach helps identify key considerations for a responsible transition and can help aid decisions during the management of this process.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1717African lion<i>Panthera leo</i>commercial breedingwildlife farmingmanagementgap analysis |
| spellingShingle | Jennah Green Catherine Jakins Louise de Waal Neil D’Cruze Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach Animals African lion <i>Panthera leo</i> commercial breeding wildlife farming management gap analysis |
| title | Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach |
| title_full | Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach |
| title_fullStr | Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach |
| title_short | Ending Commercial Lion Farming in South Africa: A Gap Analysis Approach |
| title_sort | ending commercial lion farming in south africa a gap analysis approach |
| topic | African lion <i>Panthera leo</i> commercial breeding wildlife farming management gap analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/6/1717 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jennahgreen endingcommerciallionfarminginsouthafricaagapanalysisapproach AT catherinejakins endingcommerciallionfarminginsouthafricaagapanalysisapproach AT louisedewaal endingcommerciallionfarminginsouthafricaagapanalysisapproach AT neildcruze endingcommerciallionfarminginsouthafricaagapanalysisapproach |