South Africa Ending Captive Lion Industry

​worldanimalnews.com/breaking-south-africa-announces-plans-to-end-the-horrific-captive-lion-industry-including-banning-canned-lion-hunting-the-lion-bone-trade/

THIS. IS. BIG. EFFING. NEWS. Y'ALL!

Ok y'all, I can't think of better news to be sharing with you all on this super typical Monday and I hope it perks you up much the same as it did me. South Africa has announced that they are taking immediate steps to end the captive lion industry. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries & The Environment Barbara Creecy, shared the news stating that the country will  “no longer breed captive lions, keep lions in captivity, or use captive lions or their derivatives commercially.”

What Does This Mean?

South Africa will no longer breed captive lions, and this means that there will be no more breeding of lions for the despicable trophy hunting industry, and no more lion bone trading. How many lions could there possibly be in captivity in South Africa you ask? There are an estimated 8 - 12 thousand captive lions, all of which are being exploited and will likely die in captivity. This multi-million dollar industry is rooted in animal exploitation, cruelty, and a complete disregard for a species that is facing a possible extinction within 50 years.

Lions bred in captivity are denied everything that is natural to them and are exploited from the minute they're born. Young cubs end up in lion petting and cub petting facilities. These facilities pass around baby lions like products when in fact, this is extremely degrading and exploitative to a species that is so important to our planet. Once the lions begin to grow too large, they are destined to either be slaughtered for bones or subjected to canned hunts. Canned hunts are beyond despicable, and anyone who would pay thousands of dollars to shoot and kill an endangered animal that has literally led such a miserable existence to that point is a complete loser. I could rant on and on about canned hunting but that's another topic for another time. :P

At the end of the day, if South Africa is willing to cut ties with an industry that generates millions of dollars every year, it's indicative of change. It tells me that there is hope for Africa's most imperiled species. That there's hope for elephants, leopards, cheetahs, pangolins, rhinos...the list goes on, but there's hope. For every endangered animal someone pays to shoot and kill, that's one step closer to never seeing one of these beautiful animals ever again. Humanity must wake up to the nonsense and stop turning a blind eye to the fact that we are wiping everything off of this planet. 

Head to the link at the top of the page for the original story from WORLD ANIMAL NEWS.

HAPPY VEG