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Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH)

60 Minutes - where have all the lions gone? 

12/3/2014

20 Comments

 
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WHERE HAVE ALL THE LIONS GONE – LONG TIME PASSING………… 

We have been overwhelmed with the response to the 60 Minutes expose of the Lion Park near Johannesburg.  Almost all positive, but one email from a former volunteer at Lion Park needs to be addressed.  It is too long and rambling to copy in here, but the gist of it will be clear from my response below:  

Hello (X)  

Thanks for your lengthy email about the Lion Park and your comments on the expose of its links to canned lion hunting by CBS News 60 Minutes.  

As a former volunteer to the Lion Park, it is not surprising that you have strong views on the issue, and that are friendly with Rodney Fuhr, the owner of Lion Park.

You blame the presenter, Clarissa Ward, for an interview, which, you state: “
only lasts 3 minutes, we don't have the whole interview and it's not hard to see that Rodney was nervous, and that the journalist forced him to tell what she wanted.”   

Actually, Fuhr was not at all nervous to start with. On the contrary, he was arrogant and boastful – until she confronted him with the truth, and reeled off a list of canned lion operators to whom he had sold many lions.

Even then, he did not become nervous – he became angry and started to bluster, because he realised that 60 Minutes had done its home work, and that he was caught in the web of his own lies. 
What you are saying is that Fuhr was treated unfairly by 60 Minutes.   

You are being grossly unfair to the 60 Minutes team.  I have worked with the media for fifteen years in my efforts to ban canned lion hunting, and have not come across a more professional and conscientious team than 60 Minutes.  They approached me more than a year ago to get some background for the issue and I have worked closely with producer Randall Joyce for more than a year.

I can assure you that he and his team worked tirelessly to get at the truth.  They even employed a local investigative journalist to make perfectly sure that they got the story right.

They flew me up to Johannesburg not once, but twice, for interviews – again, to make quite sure that our facts were correct.

And it was only because 60 Minutes had done its homework so thoroughly that Clarissa was in possession of the proof that Lion Park had sold many lions to canned hunting operators; which proof she used so effectively when interviewing Fuhr.  

The brevity of the interview with Fulhr was caused by editing constraints, not, as you imply, by mala fides. The whole story had to be squeezed in to 15 minutes.  In fact, the editors were more than generous to Fuhr, leaving out his damning outburst at Clarissa when he realised that the game was up: ‘Well if making money is a crime, then condemn me…”  

Save your sympathy for a more worthy cause than Mr Fuhr.

  You say you were free to look around the office at Lion Park, and imply that this proves Fuhr’s bona fides.  The naivete of most volunteers continues to surprise me; so few of them calculate the cub numbers and then ask themselves “where have all the lions gone?”

You yourself have calculated that something like 400 lions must have passed through Lion Park, yet you cannot bring yourself to answer the obvious question: “Where have all the lions gone?”

To their lion farm called “The Kingdom?”  Yes, and where to from there?  Clearly the “Kingdom” has been used to hold “surplus” lions until they could be sold for canned hunting.  

Finally you complain that it has taken us all so long to expose the Lion Park for what it is, that this delay somehow makes our motives questionable.

Again, the opposite is true.   It has taken us years to expose the Lion Park because we needed to get the proof before we could do so.   60 Minutes have been wanting to come out and shoot the story for a long time, but decided to hold back until they were sure that they had all the facts.  

The truth is that you are in denial; that you were duped in to volunteering at Lion Park believing, wrongly, you were “helping conservation” or “helping lions in need of care at a Sanctuary.”
Instead, your money was feeding one of the cruellest industries in the world, the South African canned lion industry.  

Now logically, you should be angry with Lion Park for deceiving you.  Logically, you should be angry with your volunteer placement firm for sending you to a lion farm when you wanted to go to a sanctuary.

Instead, you twist the facts to suit your pre-conception – making fatuous allegations like poor Rodney was ‘nervous’, that he was ‘forced to say what Clarissa wanted him to say.’  

The truth is that the Lion Park is only one of many lion farms in SA that breed lions for the canned hunting industry, and that cub petting and volunteering are a very profitable spin-off for captive lion breeders. And they all lie to conceal the fate of the cubs. They know that volunteers and tourists would never visit lion breeding facilities if they were told upfront that the cubs that were petted today were destined to be sold for canned hunting.  

                I have answered your complaints at some length, and posted this response to our website and social media, because I hope that volunteers to South Africa, and tourists who visit cub petting facilities, as well as tour operators and travel agents who book clients in to cub petting facilities in SA, will be better educated. 

                Then they can look around at all the adorable cubs, calculate how many hundreds of lions have passed through this facility over the years, and ask themselves the question that cries out for an answer:
“Where have all the lions gone?  Long time passing. When will they ever learn?”  

Now watch and see how Lion Park gets in to a huddle with its lawyers and crafts another slick public relations press release to fool the unwary.

 


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20 Comments
Ulanda
12/3/2014 12:57:10 am

I have not seen the 60 minutes program but will try to find it. I have however had a similar blunt and rude treatment from Boskoppie Lion and Tiger reserve when I questioned them during a visit there. My heart breaks for these noble creatures that are being systematically and brutally extinguished by human- and more specifically hunter greed and am profoundly sad at the possibility that future generations will no longer be able to see them as my generation did.

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CJ and Luis Cachspain
12/3/2014 01:11:46 am

Chris,

Spot on! You nailed it!! Good for you. We just can´t wait to see what direction this all takes. Good for 60 minutes for the excellent job and hard work they have put into this program. Yes, when will they ever learn? When will SA get their act together? People, stand up to the plate and take responsibility. If you don´t, you are as guilty as those committing these crimes and acts of cruelty. You don´t care, you say? Shame on you. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME!

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Dee Roelofsz
12/5/2014 09:22:32 pm

60 Minutes Report :
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-lion-whisper

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Rodney Fuhr
8/25/2015 04:20:38 pm

Great pleasure to read about your success stories.You are my mentor. I was managing one of your companies during 1976 in Vereeniging

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Sam Masilo
11/10/2015 04:47:17 pm

Chris Voets
12/3/2014 01:34:53 am

When will these volunteers ever dare to take the blinkers off and admit that they were lied to? No-one will blame them for volunteering their time and spending their hard-earned money going to places like this - they did so in good faith! We've all learned the hard way what the Lion Park and its compatriots do, and all we can do now is to spread awareness and try to get other people not to make the same mistake. But don't defend people like Rodney Fuhr and keep saying they're the good guys! You KNOW they're not, so please don't be responsible for the death of even more lions.

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Ron Thompson link
7/14/2016 09:21:26 am

They HAVE, they DO and they WILL. Have woken up, doing their best to raise awareness and will continue the work. However, in a case like this, where you want to raise awareness once people see the truth, is it not more important to be accurate than fast? You'll see from the website that the story is more than a few paragraphs long.

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Becca
12/3/2014 01:40:22 am

As a professional writer with some journalism in my background, I can say without any doubt, that Clarissa did what a journalist is supposed to do -- get the story right. The fact that she nailed Fuhr to the wall and he blustered about the reply speaks volumes about her reporting skills and his galling lack of ethics.

This reply to the letter is spot on and I stand fully behind you 100%.

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Terri Valko
12/3/2014 02:36:30 am

I have been trying to get people to listen for years about what happens to these cubs here in U.S. when they can't be held and petted for pictures. There are so called Safari Huntresses in Texas and hunters that think they are so cool because they killed a lion,an elephant,even a few giraffes. These are not hunters they are killers and I would so love to skin each an everyone of these cruel people that cause animals harm,alive so they could be reminded of the suffering they caused as I peel your skin ever so slowly.

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Amanda
12/3/2014 05:14:35 am

My daughter unwittingly volunteered at Seaview. She was a young 18 year old, fresh out of school and wanted to go somewhere with cubs in her Gap Year. As far as I was concerned, they were orphaned or rescued animals. As she was there longer, I did wonder how the Park kept getting hold of these really small cubs, who I didn't think should have been away from their mothers. My daughter is horrified now she knows the truth, but in response to your comment about the volunteers' naiivety and never questioning where the older lions had gone, she just didn't give it any thought. Neither of us knew canned hunting existed so it didn't occur to either of us that they were being sold to be shot. Makes me feel sick to think of it and of the beautiful animals that she spent hours feeding, cuddling, stroking, brushing, playing with .......

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Shelly Ross
12/3/2014 02:25:38 pm

I am one of "those volunteers" who did volunteer at Lion Park, in 2011, thinking I was doing something good for orphaned lions and lions whose mothers wouldn't care for them. I, and several others, quickly realized that there can't be that many bad lion mothers and orphaned lions (and they obviously are not keeping all the lions - they'd be overrun) and started to raise a ruckus. The powers that be at Lion Park pulled us all into a meeting to reassure us that they had NEVER sold a lion into canned hunting. I didn't believe it then and am happy that 60 Minutes was actually able to prove that they have done so, and continue to do so.

I've met people who have volunteered there since I was there and invariably they haven't given any thought to what happens once the lions are too old to be 'pet'. I don't know how you can't wonder about that, other than not wanting to acknowledge what they know deep down to be the truth. I am using my experience to educate people about why they should NOT be involved in any way, shape or form.

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Spencer Hopkins
12/3/2014 08:32:26 pm

hello, I am a previous volunteer for the Lion Park in Sputh Africa.

As far as I'm concerned, you have your sights set on the lion park as a whole. Which I can tell you isn't the right place to point fingers at. I can assure you that all of Guides working for the lion park have absolutely nothing to do with this whole scandal. Each and every one of them show a true love for the animals, and would never support such actions as to selling to canned hunting. Many, if not all of the staff members are heartbroken by the news of Rodney Fuhrs actions he has admitted to in the past. Like the man said, he hasn't sold to canned hunting for well over a year. Yet you continue to pass judgement that the Lion Park as a whole is evil. Again, none of the staff would agree to what Rodney has done, it's sick and twisted to ever sell to canned hunting. The man says he hasn't sold in well over a year, but you still accuse the lion park of doing so.

Pardon my French, but get up off your ass and get some proof. Because like many news reports; they are blown out of proportion. Just because a dog likes to chase a stick, doesn't mean it will play fetch forever. Same thing applies for this situation. Just because it's happened before, doesn't mean this is still occurring.

~Spencer

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jewels
12/9/2014 01:20:50 pm

Yes Spencer, make sure you excuse abhorrent behaviour - whether your own lack of awareness or Fuhrs's. Make sure you dont' feel guilty for never asking the question "where do all the lions go?". And excuse the inexcuseable because 'he hasn't done it in a year'. Why would you believe someone who has clearly lied? If you read the article and understand anything about journalism, you must admit these are facts. keeping your head up your arse isn't going to save your soul. Lack of conscousness is what has destroyed the Earth, so own the truth to help make a better world. Denial never helped any situation.

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Chris Mercer
12/9/2014 03:38:23 pm

Thanks for responding to Spencer's rant, jewels. We would need a paid staff to debate everything on social media.

Spencer Hopkins
12/9/2014 11:57:00 pm

Is that really the only thing you got out of all of that? defending against that one measly sentence I wrote, what about everything else I just said? Each individual here is just someone else behind a computer screen, who have never visited the lion park long enough to know whats going on. Don't argue with a valid point of me saying they have absolutely no proof that he has continued to sell to canned hunting. I for one know where all of the lions are. None of them are sold to canned hunting. Who knows, he agrees to what happened 18 months ago. And 18 months ago I'm not denying that he has sold to canned hunting. No one here has facts behind the accusation that Rodney is still selling to canned hunting, do they? The answer is plain and simple. The answer is "No" you don't have any clear evidence he does. You are going on with your own beliefs, going on with what you want to believe. You really can't pass judgement until you have the proof behind your question of "where do all the lions go?"

I'm not the one in denial. I'm patiently waiting for the answer of whether or not Rodney STILL sells to canned hunting or not. You speak about making the world a better place by not being in denial. Please live up to your words then.

If you live in darkness your whole life and someone tells you the sky is green, only because the sky used to be green, do you believe them? No, go outside and see for yourself. Or in this situation since you can't go and see for yourself, wait for clear evidence that the sky is really blue. See what I'm getting at? No proof Rodney is still doing it.So the world must wait and see, in the real world, faith and belief really gets you nowhere.

Wendy Damerell
12/4/2014 11:26:08 pm

Captive Lion Breeding and Lion Parks must be closed down and banned.

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Edward Bourke link
12/6/2014 05:27:13 pm

I just watched the 60 minutes special online. I thought it was fantastic, the message of canned hunting is definately spreading around the world and now more than ever, people are opening their eyes to the horror of canned hunting.

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Sandra
12/10/2014 01:38:54 am

Thank for this story, for years I have watched wildlife brutally tortured, poisoned and trapped here in the US by so called hunters. Growing up to respect all life my feelings towards hunting has soured because ethical hunting is dying, the new hunters support canned hunts, hunting for fun and stick together as a whole when in fact they should be the ones standing up and speaking up against these acts...sadly it is political and not about needing to eat meat. I am ashamed that they pose with dead animals and think it is right or good. A lot of sad, desperate, and sick people.

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Katie
12/10/2014 11:28:35 am

I am also a previous volunteer of the Lion Park, having been in Spencers volunteer group. I am with Spencer in his defense.

I would like to start this off first by saying that I think you are being "grossly" unfair to the staff at the Lion Park and the volunteers, past and present. Yes, I am angry, devastated, heartbroken and sad after learning that my hard earned money for an experience of a lifetime went towards such a cruel industry. I made sure to do my research before signing up to the Lion Park. Tripadvisor comments made it pretty clear that Seaview in Port Elizabeth was exactly the place I did NOT want to volunteer, simply because people were posting comments and articles about their lions being sent to canned hunting. So, when I found the Lion Park I saw that Kevin Richardson was affiliated with it. Selling his books and movies in the gift shop too. I thought, "great! finally a program worth delving into." I read trip advisor reviews, past volunteer testimonials and even booked through a reputable company, Volunteersa.com. All these places assured people that the program was positive. I had an amazing time, the staff was amazing there and very welcoming. The experience with the wildlife was also the most memorable as was learning about them.
I can assure you that the staff at the park was just as upset as we all were when the news piece was released. People pin the staff responsible as if they were the ones that made the past sales. Customers saying "they told us lies at the park." Well, in reality the staff was told lies too. The tour guides and animal trainers do not work in the sales department, therefore you should not be arrogantly accusing the Lion Park as a whole. This is Rodney's problem and soley his problem from the past decisions he's made. If you watch the 60 minute piece it clearly shows the news crew with the reporter in the cub interaction. Does that mean that your team ALSO spent your money "knowingly" to go in, not only into the park but also the cub interaction and get a close-up of the cubs and touch them? Because that's exactly what it shows. I would suggest to you that when writing your next piece, be careful of your wording for whom it may offend. But who am I to say that, I am just a naïve volunteer.

Let me ask you this, when was the last time you volunteered for a cause that you believed in for more than 2 weeks unpaid?

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CJ
11/15/2015 07:41:52 pm

If you believe none of the staff knew what was going on you might need to have yourself checked out

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