Canned lion hunting is legal in South Africa, as is the exporting of lion carcasses. Lion populations across Africa have been reduced by 90% over the past 50 years, but lion breeders say their operations have nothing to do with the continent’s wild populations.
Mail and Guardian
July 5 2012
According to the environmental affairs minister, in 2010, 153 live lions were exported as well as 46 lion skins, 235 carcasses, 592 trophies, 43 bodies and 41 skulls. It was noted that these figures were incomplete as the provinces had not yet captured all their data. Yet there was a 150% growth in exports of lion products from 2009 and 2010.
Amplifying an illegal industry
Chris Mercer, director of the Campaign Against Canned Hunting, said hunting captive-bred lions was “hideously damaging” to conservation. “It’s farming with alternative livestock. They’re only doing it because they make more money farming lions than they do sheep or cattle. But they don’t realise they’re harming the wild populations by creating and amplifying an illegal industry and allowing it to prosper,” he said.
BarkUpToday.Dog.com
I feel beyond ill on so many levels with this issue. How, how, how…
That is disgusting. Even more disgusting is the people who engage in this sort of “sport.”
Sick, sick, and sick!!! People who participate in this sick injustice of cruelty must be so ignorant or plain stupid (perhaps both).
AND WHAT Is the WWF and other so called wildlife organisations doing!!!
nothing!