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Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH)

Tragic death at Lion Park

6/3/2015

20 Comments

 
Picture
I write in connection with the tragic incident that occurred at the Lion Park on Monday this week.   

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of Katherine Chappell who was killed by a lioness while driving in Camp 2 of the park.  While blame is being apportioned to her because she had her window down, we should be considering the following facts:- 

1.       She was in the company of a tour guide who should have known better.

2.       The Lion Park promotes petting and walking with wildlife.  The impression is therefore given that these animals are no longer wild, but tame.  There are pictures up of Alex Larenty petting adult lions so an unsuspecting tourist could be forgiven for thinking that the adult lions are also tame.

3.       Lions in captive breeding facilities endure stress and boredom and, as a result, often exhibit behaviour that would not be seen in the wild.  Youngsters in the camps have been damaging vehicles, trying to open doors and generally behaving like delinquents.  Their food is delivered in a vehicle, therefore every vehicle could present an opportunity for a meal.  A few years ago I sent a mail to the then manager at the Lion Park, Earl Smith, raising my concerns that they were sitting on a powder keg and that an accident was going to happen.  The mail was ignored and this is the third incident there in four months.  What else will it take before drastic changes are made? 

The bottom line is that lions do not belong in captivity and they should not be exploited for human pleasure and gain.  By allowing tourists to pet and walk with wildlife, we are sending out the wrong message.  We are in effect saying that our wildlife is not wild anymore.  One only needs to access the internet to see how many incidents there are, many of them fatal.  We are ignoring the signs and putting ourselves in grave danger every time we interact with a wild animal. 

The lions in Camp 2 are locked in their night quarters at the moment.  The lioness in question has been placed in solitary confinement before a supposed move to the Hartebeespoort property.  More stress and more boredom for all of them.  Did they do anything wrong?  No.  They have been subjected to human interaction from a few days of age.  They have been used as a means to make money with no consideration for their wildness.  It is time the Lion Park took full responsibility for the situation.  Please don’t hide behind “we have signs up to keep your windows closed” yet allow visitors to treat lions as if they are tame pets.   

If playing with cubs and driving through camps of bored lions is all we can offer as “Gauteng’s No. 1 Tourist Destination” we have a problem.  The writing is well and truly on the wall.
Linda Park
Director
CACH

20 Comments
Britta link
6/3/2015 12:26:23 am

Thank you for this article! I wish places like this did not exist, for the animal's sake.

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Audrey Lomax
6/5/2015 12:57:07 am

We have visited this park and were upset to see how sad the.animals looked. Where can they go to be safe?

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shana
6/3/2015 12:53:45 am

very well said. this is such a touchy subject, we all want to pet the babies and just cuddle them, but to see them when they are not small and cuddly, just confused teens is so heartsore. This should not be. Lions are the heart of Africa and wildlife, and should not be at the mercy of "so called humans". STOP THIS NOW

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Anne link
6/3/2015 01:09:05 am

Excellent article, really well said and I agreed with everything, it is high time these places are carefully looked at in terms of good alternatives.

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Aimee Wilson
3/26/2022 01:03:48 pm

well said.

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Chris
6/3/2015 01:19:42 am

Unfortunately the cubs in the "animal creches" that are held and played with by tourists become canned lions when they grow older. I am totally against it. I used to visit lion parks and walk with the lions in Zambia - until a TV documentary opened my eyes. Please don't support these parks.

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Sandi
7/4/2021 10:05:58 am

I totally agree. Wild animals are not meant to be in captivity. It saddens my heart to even see these gorgeous wild beasts , contained and not able to live the life they were meant to. Wild and free is what they are and should always be, now I do applaud the sanctuary’s that help the sick injured or abused, keeping them safe. But even there if able to live free. They should ne set free if they boulder survive it.

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Becca
6/3/2015 02:40:06 am

Great article. There was some discussion on the ABC USA website regarding the park's cub petting and lion breeding practices, (which I started). Google News is now displaying news pieces about the park's bad history in this regard. And their website has been down since approx. 7:30 AM eastern US time, when I tried to access it. Needless to say. it is NOT a good time to be Rodney Fuhr.

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Caroline
6/3/2015 06:32:42 am

wow, what an excellent article. I wish people, like those at the lion park would sit up and take note!!

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Helen
6/3/2015 07:03:25 am

Yes, true an excellent article! thank you, I fully agreed.
This must be a sign for us. It 's tragic to find an awakening call in this way - People have to waken up & spread the word - killing those beautiful animals in wildlife for what? money? troff's? How do those people think of the pure conception of life? OM G it hurts to see the disgusting pictures .. what people are doing. I hope a lot awareness will spread I will do it also! From the Netherlands ! Thanks.

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wayne Hutcheon
6/3/2015 10:56:53 am

Very sad and tragic incident! You are absolutrly correct in identifying the park... and ALL other such parks and aquariums as money making institutions! Perhaps, and it is really not easy to say it like this, this is the one incident needed to make all mankind and appropriate authorities come to terms and cease the practice of "animal exploitation" of any kind whatsoever! The birth of a more enlightened society?

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Helen
6/4/2015 01:20:29 am

Thanks Wayne ! Namaste

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Karen VanWyngaard
6/3/2015 03:25:08 pm

Another sterling example of the human race having a comete disregard for the welfare of animals.Ive heard whisperings of Lion Parks selling off lions for canned hunting ,all driven by greed .Wake up human race that doesn't seem to evolve and just leaves a path of destruction.Thankyou for highlighting the situation in those parks

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Roger Spurge
6/3/2015 06:20:03 pm

If the sign says do not cross the road, and you do, and get hit by a truck, is it the tricks fault.
You also miss the point, that these facilities give under privileged, and educational facilities an opportunity to see animals that they would not other have a insight too or see. Stop the caged hunting and trophy seeking tourist would be more appropriate for you to write about.

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Theo link
6/4/2015 04:25:21 am

very sad news, just the other day i was saying that i wont be going there again because i felt it was unsafe. people should not be allowed to drive thru a camp of lions, period

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Jacqui link
6/4/2015 06:05:39 am

After living in South Africa for many years and hearing of this tragic event that happened is horrific. I lived only a few kilometres down the road from the Lion Park and I don't condone caging up aminals or canned hunting, but for some people myself included can't afford to go to the Kruger National Park for the African experience, this for some is the closest we'll get to a lion. Very sad for the family of the young lady, The Lion Park and South Africa.

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Sheila Lothian
6/4/2015 09:58:52 pm

Well said. Tragic circumstances for everyone incl the animals. At least the lioness is not being culled as happens in some cases which is even worse. Wild animals should be respected not treated as pets. 😣

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MJ
6/5/2015 02:00:26 am

When I traved to SA I used a ecological tour company, they research places the do this kind of thing and those that allow hunting on their reserve. I wouldn't take a ride on an Ellie in Zimbabwe nor would I go to a so called Lion Park/Zoo. I can only hope this will make a difference but sadly I don't believe it will because money talks too loudly.

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Liz
6/5/2015 07:13:19 pm

I wish these places would all be closed down. Wild animals belong just there... in the wild. Let them be in the Kruger Park and other nature reserves. Let them live as they are supposed to. Born free. Unfortunatelly our money driven society is just that - hungry for money. We have so many other tourist attractions that the tourists have access to. In all fairness however they all come here wanting to pet a lion or a cheetah or whatever it may be. It's a crazy world we live in.

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ME
10/12/2021 02:55:47 am

This made me cry. When are we going to stop abusing animals for people's pleasure.

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