Cape Town, 30 July 2025 – In the lead-up to World Lion Day on 10 August, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS welcomes the firm position of the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Minister Dion George, against the commercial exploitation of lions, including the lion bone trade. It supports his commitment to ending the captive lion breeding industry.

With an estimated 8,000 lions held in captivity across over 300 breeding facilities and an unknown number of non-native big cats, such as tigers, South Africa remains home to one of the largest commercial big cat industries in the world. Despite a 2021 commitment to phase it out, implementation has been slow, leaving thousands of big cats in limbo while they continue to suffer behind fences.

FOUR PAWS Welcomes Progress - but Demands Timelines and Accountability

In April 2024, the DFFE published a Policy Position, committing to end the captive keeping of lions for commercial purposes, and close captive lion facilities, put a halt to the intensive breeding of lion in controlled environments, and end the commercial exploitation of captive and captive-bred lions.  

Yet, over a year later, implementation is lagging, and public patience is running thin. Parliamentarians and the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) have also voiced strong support, citing shocking evidence of squalid conditions, starvation, disease, and neglect in captive facilities.

While the DFFE is in the process of enacting legislation to prohibit the establishment of new captive facilities, it's still unclear how and when they intend on implementing a complete closure of the captive breeding, keeping, and trade sector.

 To ensure meaningful change, FOUR PAWS is calling on the South African government to:

• Ban commercial trade: End all commercial breeding, keeping, and trade of big cats and their parts, with a complete phase-out of captive facilities by 2030.
• Prohibit the private keeping of big cats, as well as the use of big cats in circuses.
• Strengthen regulations: Establish a centralised database for monitoring all captive big cats and facilities that keep big cats.
• Close loopholes: Harmonise provincial regulations to eliminate inconsistencies that allow illegal trade to flourish.
• Global cooperation: South Africa to implement all relevant CITES Decisions and Resolutions relating to big cats and lead global advocacy for stricter protections.

“This cannot be a symbolic gesture. South Africa’s reputation as a conservation leader is at stake,” said Miles. “FOUR PAWS is ready to assist with practical tools, including our Roadmap to Close Down Tiger Facilities of Concern and proven sanctuary models like LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.”

How the Public Can Help this World Lion Day

• Avoid cub petting, lion walks, or any captive big cat interactions.
• Support ethical sanctuaries such as LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.
• Help your friends and family understand the difference between true sanctuaries and those operating for profit.
• Speak up: Urge decision-makers to fully implement the Policy Position to end captive lion keeping, breeding, and trade.
• Sign our petition at www.four-paws.org.za

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

/ENDS