The Pride in Lion Breeding

Before you visit a wildlife center or volunteer on an animal project, question the motives of the organization. The following article was sent to us by concerned citizen:

I have always felt uneasy visiting facilities such as zoos, De Wildt Cheetah Project, the Rhino and Lion Park and other such places, but could not express why I felt this way.  Despite watching tv revelations on the canned lion industry and being totally outraged by such a callous practice, I still did not put two and two together for many years. Then when visiting Zebula in the Waterberg some years ago and watching people streaming into the cub enclosures, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.  Suddenly, I needed to know what exactly became of these cubs when they became too big to safely interact with humans? The realization dawned that I had fundamentally known the answer but had not been ready to accept the dire truth of the matter.  Ultimately, most of these cubs would end their lives in the rifle sights of some foreign trophy hunter! This was no more than canned lion hunting, only in another guise…

Since that day of realization, I’ve used any and every opportunity to ask questions, especially at such facilities and in front of other visitors.  The responses have been varied and sometimes the answer has not been forthcoming.  Many facilities use the excuse that their breeding programs are for conservation purposes, which is utter nonsense. As for breeding white lion in the name of conservation is an absolute sham, as there is no conservation benefit to breeding white lions as the colour is from a recessive gene that can only be maintained through close inbreeding.  They are bred for monetary enrichment of man, as a trophy hunter will pay a premium to shoot a rare white lion!

In the last year I happened to learn about a Walking with Lions facility in the Brits area.  I also learnt that there were many many lions in enclosures and so I decided to find out more about the facility.  With the help of a lion expert, I started corresponding with Mr. Jacobs at Ukutula, where the Walking with Lions facility is situated. According to Mr Jacobs, Ukutula and the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at Onderstepoort have embarked on a research project pertaining to the genetics of the white lion. To facilitate this research project, the lab requires genetic material from a large group of related animals that spans several generations (five generations, if my memory does not fail me). Apart from the genetic research, Ukutula has also provided material for TB and LIV research.  Mr. Jacobs also stated Ukutula is involved with the release of lions in conservation areas and the walk with lions has become a very important feature of this program.  On further questioning, Mr Jacobs responded that they have been involved in the release of 4 lions this year (2011), though he will not answer where and how these lions were released.

In response to Mr. Jacob’s answers, my lion expert advised me on the following and I now quote:

• “Whilst there may be some scientific benefit to identifying the genetic markers responsible for white lions this is in no way a reason to either breed lions nor walk them, both activities must be considered separate from this one element of research…”
• “When they say they provided material for TB and I assume they mean FIV, and not LIV, research have they simply had their lions disease tested as part of the standard veterinary practices involved in having captive lions or have these samples been provided to an active study into these diseases…”
• “I have never heard of LIV as a disease in lions. The specific FIV for lions is called FIVple. I wonder if its maybe something to do with leukemia in lions, although to my knowledge this has never been found in wild lions, just very few captive ones…”
• “If what he says is the true reason for the research into white lions then the only possible purpose for it is to be able to breed tawny lions with the recessive gene to create more white lions; this process likely requiring less inbreeding to achieve the result.  Some could argue that this is a reasonable effort and may (unlikely) have an impact on how white lions are bred, mostly in canned hunting operations; the most common place to find these animals.  But that still does not get around the fact that there is no conservation purpose to breeding white lions; they are a naturally occurring phenomenon in one lion population, but they are not a separate sub-species, it is simply a mutation in the gene sequence. Their cultural importance could be another reason to breed white lions. Mainly it is likely to increase tourism revenues as people may pay more to visit a reserve that has white lions…”

After much beating about the bush and not responding to my questions satisfactorily, Mr. Jacobs finally suggested he’d gladly spend some time discussing what they do with me face to face.  I declined his offer…

I then contacted Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) in the hopes they would be able to take the matter further. I was informed that there had been queries from other people and my concern was very well grounded.  There should be no breeding of predators in captivity because when they get bigger there is no market for them other than hunters. Many breeders try to hide their hunting involvement by claiming, mostly spuriously, that they are engaged in scientific research.

It appears there is very little one can do to stop these unscrupulous breeders from continuing this disgusting practice.

I have since approached The Lion and Rhino Park and asked what happens to their cubs once they become too big to be handled and have not had a response.

After seeing Dave from Idols petting a lion cub at Zebula, I tried to contact him via the Idols SA Facebook profile (my comment was deleted) and via his personal Facebook profile to no avail.

I’ve also asked the same questions at Seaview Lion Park and I now quote from their response “We are a privately owned Lion Park…”

“We also have a breeding program for Lions and Siberian Tigers.

The aim with all the animals they breed is to create good looking, healthy animals with a stronger immune system thank to a well planned and controlled breeding program in hopes that one day they- or their offspring’s- can be returned back to the wild…

Each animal that leaves the park gets signed for and an affidavit is signed insuring the animal will not ever find its way into the hunting industry…”

Once again I took this matter up with CACH and was informed that they had been told by a professional hunter that he had bought lions from Seaview…

I recently read Kirsten’s story about her horrendous experience at a lion and tiger breeding facility that she volunteered to work at.  Though she did not name the facility, it is now believed the facility is trying to sue her!  Thankfully, her story has had good coverage overseas and serves as a warning to other volunteers to ensure they volunteer at reputable facilities, if there are any such facilities…

Now note from a preview of an upcoming episode of the TV series The Wild, there are two white lion cubs. Wonder how these cubs’ story is going to be portrayed?

We not only have to stop the exploitation of our lions for the canned lion trophy hunting but now have the added worry of our lions being farmed for their bones. If I’m not mistaken, there is motion in SA to have the farming of lions for their bones legalized. Not too dissimilar to the push to legalize the trade in rhino horn. We cannot, and must not, allow this to happen…

Source: Anonymous

Final point - if you are looking to volunteer with an organization in South Africa and are unsure about their policies and motives then feel free to contact us for advice, and what to look out for. Hunting, if done correctly, is an integral part of conservation in Africa, however in a lot of cases it is done without any conservation benefits. Learning the difference is vital.