NSPCA welcomes long-awaited reform for lion captivity breeding ban

CAPE TOWN - The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has  welcomed the announcement by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, on the imminent publication of the Lion Prohibition Notice banning new captive lion breeding facilities.

 

This long-awaited reform marks a pivotal milestone in dismantling an industry built on systemic cruelty, reflecting years of legal action, public advocacy, and inspections by the NSPCA.

The prohibition confirms what the NSPCA has long exposed: the captive lion industry has operated largely unabated for decades, inflicting severe animal welfare violations, damaging South Africa’s conservation reputation, and flouting constitutional obligations to protect sentient beings. While limited to new facilities, this ban sends a clear signal that the commodification of lions for tourism, hunting, and the bone trade is no longer defensible.

The NSPCA’s decade-long investigations have laid bare the industry’s brutality. Our inspectors have documented emaciated lions in squalid enclosures, cubs removed from mothers for tourist photo ops, and lions barely kept alive for their bones alone.

In 2021, the NSPCA revealed accelerated breeding cycles, rampant inbreeding leading to deformities and neurological disorders, and a blatant disregard for basic welfare standards. The report, supported by expert testimony, called for the industry’s urgent termination – not only for the lions’ sake but to uphold South Africa’s biodiversity laws.

The NSPCA has driven this fight through the courts, parliamentary submissions, and policy engagements. We successfully challenged the lion bone quota in the High Court, prosecuted perpetrators, and demanded an enforceable exit strategy for the industry. The Minister’s prohibition is a critical step forward, and we commend his decisive action.

While the ban halts new facilities, thousands of lions remain trapped in deplorable conditions, often with the NSPCA as the only line of defence to enforce welfare legislation. Similarly, the NSPCA is currently challenging a High Court application by the South African Predator Association, which seeks to reinstate lion bone export quotas.

“As the only animal welfare organisation in the country with a national inspectorate, we’ve fought for years to uncover the cruelty of the captive lion industry. Without ongoing support, we cannot continue coming to the rescue of these suffering sentient beings,” comments Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter, Manager of the NSPCA’s Wildlife Protection Unit.

"We thank Minister George for his decisive leadership and call on provincial authorities to align enforcement with the Constitution and public demand for justice," adds Wolhuter.

This ban must mark the beginning of the end for lion exploitation. The NSPCA will continue fighting until every captive lion is freed from suffering.