South Africa on Sunday revealed plans to ban the breeding of lions in captivity for trophy hunting or for tourists to pet, in a bid to promote a more “authentic” experience.
The decision was reached following recommendations contained in a study by a special government-appointed panel into the controversial practice.
The panel was studying the management and rules governing the hunting, trade and keeping in captivity of lions, elephants, rhino and leopards.
Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a news conference that the report said “we must halt and reverse the domestication of lions through captive breeding and keeping.”
“We don’t want captive breeding, captive hunting, captive (cubs) petting, captive use of lions,” the minister said.
The decision, which is yet to be formulated into policy, is likely to set the government on a collision course with the powerful multi-million-dollar lion captive breeding industry.