In South Africa, lions will no longer be raised for hunting purposes . A good news? Only half, given that the hunting activity of big cats in the wild is not and has never been questioned.

At the basis of the decision, communicated by the Minister of the Environment Barbara Creecy during a recent press conference , there is a study that highlights how the breeding of captive lions, to be used as prey for hunters , jeopardizes conservation efforts. habitat , as well as the reputation of tourism in the African state.

I study

The authors of the study, commissioned by the South African Ministry of Environment itself in 2019 to a panel of experts, called for an urgent political and legislative review to be launched in order to put an end to farming. 

According to what has been declared, the implementation of the recommendations contained in the analysis intends to revolutionize the entire wildlife sector , improving the conservation of species and habitats, reinvigorating rural economies and strengthening traditional techniques of coexistence with nature. 

Minister Creecy underlined how this strategy should be considered in line with the Department’s 2024 Strategic Plan  , which aims to “a prosperous and equitable society, which lives in harmony with natural resources “. 

” We must stop and abolish the domestication of lions through breeding ,” the Minister said to the assembled press. ” We do not want captive breeding, hunting in captivity, selling puppies as pets .”

The report recommends, on the contrary, ” protected and restored natural landscapes with populations of elephants , lions, rhinos and leopards as indicators a vibrant, responsible, inclusive, transformed and sustainable wildlife sector ”. 

Not just lions: other breeding farms are under examination

In the near future, the commission of experts will have the additional task of formulating an opinion on the custom – widespread in South Africa – of breeding other large wild animals at risk: from elephants (under the lens due to the ivory trade) , to rhinos ( under siege due to increasing poaching) , leopards (used for hunting, fur export and the pet market).

African lions in dangerous decline

For decades, human action has put the survival of African big cats at risk . It is recent history the umpteenth alarm of the WWF , which has returned to turn the spotlight on the state of health of the Panthera leo in Africa: in just 100 years, the lion population on the great continent has collapsed by 90%, passing from 200,000 specimens. less than 20,000 . 

Among the reasons that put their future at risk are, in particular, the degradation of natural habitats, poaching and illegal trade . Furthermore, the causes of the collapse have recently been added “the pandemic, an unprecedented threat that has had significant consequences on all activities carried out in protected areas, aggravated by the chronic lack of personnel “.

Hunting in South Africa is not in question

According to Barbara Creecy , among the engines driving the decision to abolish breeding for hunting reasons there is the need to restore South Africa’s international reputation, which aims to reposition itself worldwide as an increasingly competitive destination in about responsible hunting and ecotourism . 

As she hastened to communicate, in fact, the provision never intended to question hunting itself, an activity capable of bringing enormous revenues to the state coffers. The hope is rather that – following the decision – it will turn into a “ more authentic experience”, Capable of attracting an increasing number of tourists, interested in transforming animals in the wild into trophies.

” Legal and regulated hunting of iconic species, according to specific environmental rules, will continue to be permitted ,” said the Pretoria Environment Minister.

In the face of this and of the data that see big cats in dangerous and dizzying decline, it is legitimate to wonder at what point, in the scale of priority, the real will to preserve local ecosystems and how much land ethics must continue to yield to the profit when human interests are at stake.