Cape Town, 02 June – The number of captive lions in Thailand has more than tripled in just six years, sparking urgent calls from global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS for decisive international action to end the commercial exploitation of big cats.

A peer-reviewed study published this month in Discover Conservation reveals that Thailand’s captive lion population has grown from just over 131 lions in 2018 to more than 444 in 2024 – despite the country’s inclusion of lions as a protected non-native species under domestic legislation in 2022.

"This is not a conservation success story – it’s a brutal warning sign," says Fiona Miles, Director of FOUR PAWS South Africa. "This rise is driven by commercial breeding for entertainment, the exotic pet trade, and social media spectacle – all at the expense of the lions’ welfare, safety, and dignity."

The study’s key findings paint a grim picture:

• Over 90% of lions are held in private zoos and breeding farms, with some facilities housing more than 50 lions each.
• The number of lions increased from 131+ to 444+.
• The number of lion breeding facilities increased from 31 to 82 between 2018 and 2024.
• Hybrid lions, including white lions bred for visual appeal, have increased significantly – from 1 to 32 - despite well-documented health issues.
• On average, 101 cubs are born annually, with nearly half being white lions, sold for up to $7,500 each, fuelling a cub sale industry valued at nearly $1 million per year.
• Lions are frequently moved across borders for unclear purposes, raising concerns over the illegal wildlife trade.

"Intentional hybridisation, poor living conditions, and lions reduced to photo props for tourists and influencers – these are the dark realities hidden behind the Instagram filters," adds Miles. "The same patterns we’ve fought against in South Africa’s captive lion breeding industry are now repeating elsewhere. This is a global crisis that demands global resolve." FOUR PAWS continues to campaign for an end to the commercial trade, breeding, and keeping of big cats and their parts. In South Africa, the government’s 2021 decision to phase out captive lion breeding marked a milestone, but with big cat trade shifting across borders, sustained pressure and international cooperation are vital.

“We are calling for Thailand to implement and enforce stronger legislation that prohibits the commercial breeding and exploitation of lions, and for all countries, including South Africa, to work together to dismantle the global trade in big cats,” says Miles. “Without action, we are complicit in a system that commodifies cruelty. South Africa is still grappling with the complex, painful task of closing down a captive lion industry that spiralled out of control, an industry that left behind thousands of lions and decades of damage. We do not want Thailand to face the same fate. The time to act is now, before the situation becomes as entrenched and difficult to undo as it has been in South Africa.”

FOUR PAWS urges the public to #BreakTheViciousCycle and support efforts to end big cat exploitation worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.four-paws.org.za

/ENDS