Press Statement - Lion Prohibition Notice
FOUR PAWS welcomes Minister George’s clear stance and progress toward ending South Africa’s captive lion breeding industry
“FOUR PAWS welcomes Minister George’s clear stance and progress toward ending South Africa’s captive lion breeding industry. The move to prohibit new captive lion facilities is a critical and overdue step in addressing one of the country’s most harmful wildlife practices.
With around 8,000 lions and an unknown number of tigers suffering in captivity at any given time, there’s no time to waste. We strongly support the publishing of the Lion Prohibition Notice as a starting point for real, enforceable change.
However, the Lion Prohibition Notice is still a far cry from enacting a full prohibition on the commercial breeding and keeping of captive lions, as has been undertaken by the Department. We stand ready to assist with our global expertise in animal welfare, sanctuary care, and the responsible rehoming of rescued big cats, to facilitate the closure of the captive lion sector. The phase-out must be comprehensive, and we’ll continue to advocate for the welfare of all big cats caught in this cruel industry.”
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer+27 (0)21 702 4277
+27 (0)78 675 8220
9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za