Network For Animals Logo
Network For Animals Logo
  • Home
  • Where we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • Where we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Donate now
  • Where we take action
    • Campaigns
      • Ukraine Crisis
      • Cats In Crisis
      • Disaster Relief
      • Dogs In Distress
      • Equine Care & Rescue
      • Seals
      • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
    • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • Where we take action
    • Campaigns
      • Ukraine Crisis
      • Cats In Crisis
      • Disaster Relief
      • Dogs In Distress
      • Equine Care & Rescue
      • Seals
      • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
    • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

SA ignores outcry and gives go ahead to sell 800 lion skeletons to Asia

  • June 30, 2017
  • South Africa

Cape Town – The South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has blatantly ignored public opinion by formally approving the export of 800 lion skeletons to Asia this year. This in spite of international condemnation from conservationists and local stakeholders.

The numbers of African free-range lions have declined alarmingly over the last few decades with only 20 000 remaining today, down from 30 000 just two decades ago.

“It is irresponsible to establish policy that could further imperil wild lions,” says Dr. Paul Funston, Senior Director of Panthera’s Lion Programme earlier this year when the DEA first proposed its plans.

However, the DEA says the export will only be from captive-bred lions which is legal under the Convention in the Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). Lions in South Africa are listed under Appendix II which means their products can be traded internationally but only “if the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild.”

The DEA believes that the sale from captive-bred lions will reduce the Asian appetite for wild lion parts from a growing market for exotic products such as tiger-bone wine. Lion bones have lately been sold off as tiger bones since the latter have become extremely rare due to the scarcity of tiger bones.

But Funston says that South Africa’s lion breeding industry makes absolutely no positive contribution to conserving lions and, indeed, further imperils them.

In 2016, according to Panthera, 90% of lion carcasses found in the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique all had their skulls, teeth, and claws removed while rates of poisoning lions specifically for bones increased dramatically in Niassa National Reserve in northern Mozambique. In Namibia, 42% of lions killed in the Caprivi had their skeletons removed.

South Africa has been selling lion bones to Asia for the past few years. According to wildlife investigator, Karl Amann, the trade is fueling the demand in Asia. The south-east Asian country now dominates the lion-bone market. Amann According to the CITES trade data base, between 2009 and 2015 Laos has bought over 2000 complete lion skeletons from South Africa. This excludes the 2300 bones and 40 skulls sold separately as incomplete skeletons”

Lion bones arrive in Laos but are then illegally exported to Vietnam without the requisite CITES export permits. Here they are boiled down, compacted into a cake bar and sold at a price of around US$1000 (currently R12 830 – R12.83/$) to consumers who add it to rice wine.

Lion bone trade promotes canned lion hunting

The DEA’s move is widely regarded as open support for the controversial practice of canned lion hunting. A captive lion breeder – one of 300 in South Africa – can be paid anywhere from US$5000 (R64 150) to US$25 000 (R320 750) for each lion permitted to be shot. Now they can add an additional $1500 (R19 245) per skeleton permitted to be sold to Laotian buyers.

In January, the DEA was accused of not giving the public time to object. Michele Pickover, Director of the EMS Foundation, says the DEA has not been transparent in the manner in which it has set the proposed quota.

The DEA initially made the decision without public consultation in January but were forced to hold a stakeholder meeting to comply with CITES quota conditions. The meeting, publicly announced on 25 January and held just one week later, left virtually no time for popular comment, submissions or intervention.

“One has to ask what the DEA’s internal processes are for properly, carefully and accountably assessing the merits of the submissions they receive. It looks like they have totally ignored the input by a number of NGOs against the quota,” says Pickover.

Pickover has accused the DEA of commodifying wild animals “to such an extent now that they are blatantly ignoring their mandate in relation to biodiversity and conservation.”

Source: Adam Cruise | Traveller24

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

WATCH: Eva’s Happily-ever-after! From A Terrifying Township To A Fabulous Fur-ever Home

Little Eva was just 7 weeks old when she was rescued from the South African township of Philippi by our partner TEARS. We didn’t know

16 May 2022

Good News Update: The Animals Of APA El Refugio Get New Kennels – And A New Home!

Back in February, we told you about our partner, the APA El Refugio shelter in Uruguay, which had been destroyed by a terrible fire soon

9 May 2022

Celebrate World Donkey Day With Network for Animals

World Donkey Day honors the resilience of this humble animal. Gentle donkeys often face unspeakable brutality and it is imperative that we raise the awareness

8 May 2022

Your Donations In ACTION: April 2022

It has been more than two months since conflict broke out in Ukraine and in all this time, we have been working without rest to

1 May 2022

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organization crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Privacy policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Equine Care & Rescue Seals Ukraine Crisis Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Sign up to our newsletter

Contact us

UK: +44 (0)20 8471 7666
USA: +1 727 599 8148
South Africa: + 27 21 794 9149
+ 264 81 653186

info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin
Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter

This website uses cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo