blasting the myths & misinformation
There is enormous misinformation about lions, lion conservation, and the role of volunteers. Frequently, volunteers find they are working in lion breeding organisations (farms) disguised as conservation organisations.
These are commercial farms. Category: canned lion breeding. Pure and simple.
These are commercial farms. Category: canned lion breeding. Pure and simple.
Myth # 1
"Lion cub petting is good for conservation." Nonsense. Anyone offering lion cub petting is in it for the money. The lion cubs are stressed by (a) lack of essential mother's milk (b) lack of mother's attention (c) lack of a normal, wild lion pride for schooling and life skills (d) constant human touching (e) no freedom (f) overcrowding. Lion cubs = profit. More cubs, more profit.
"Lion cub petting is good for conservation." Nonsense. Anyone offering lion cub petting is in it for the money. The lion cubs are stressed by (a) lack of essential mother's milk (b) lack of mother's attention (c) lack of a normal, wild lion pride for schooling and life skills (d) constant human touching (e) no freedom (f) overcrowding. Lion cubs = profit. More cubs, more profit.
Myth # 2
"Lion walking is good for conservation." No. It isn't. It is completely unnatural for young lions, who need to learn life skills from their real pride, and it's not happening. This activity is fun for you; not for them. When they grow a little older, they are returned to the lion farm, traded in for a younger model. Again, anyone offering lion walking is doing it for tourist dollars only.
"Lion walking is good for conservation." No. It isn't. It is completely unnatural for young lions, who need to learn life skills from their real pride, and it's not happening. This activity is fun for you; not for them. When they grow a little older, they are returned to the lion farm, traded in for a younger model. Again, anyone offering lion walking is doing it for tourist dollars only.
Myth # 3
"Canned lion hunting is a sport." Don't be silly. Call it what it is - it is target practice on exotic, endangered African wildlife. Just think about it: a lion in a fenced enclosure VS high-powered super-high-tech rifle. It's a no-brainer; a child can tell you the lion dies. What about wild lion hunting? Same high-tech rifle, remember, but the hunted animal often dies a slow, painful death if the "hunter" does not achieve a clean kill shot, first time. Does this image (left) look like sport to you? No. Those who offer lion hunts in the 21st Century is doing it for ... ? Correct. The money.
"Canned lion hunting is a sport." Don't be silly. Call it what it is - it is target practice on exotic, endangered African wildlife. Just think about it: a lion in a fenced enclosure VS high-powered super-high-tech rifle. It's a no-brainer; a child can tell you the lion dies. What about wild lion hunting? Same high-tech rifle, remember, but the hunted animal often dies a slow, painful death if the "hunter" does not achieve a clean kill shot, first time. Does this image (left) look like sport to you? No. Those who offer lion hunts in the 21st Century is doing it for ... ? Correct. The money.
Myth # 4
"The African lion gene pool is not affected by hunting nor canned hunting." So wrong. That's pure fantasy. Independent research reveals wild lion numbers are plummeting due to habitat loss, poaching and hunting. "Hunters" want only the biggest wild lions in their prime, and that takes out their genes from the pool. That's wholly unnatural. So then, why hunt at all? Um, the trophy room?
"The African lion gene pool is not affected by hunting nor canned hunting." So wrong. That's pure fantasy. Independent research reveals wild lion numbers are plummeting due to habitat loss, poaching and hunting. "Hunters" want only the biggest wild lions in their prime, and that takes out their genes from the pool. That's wholly unnatural. So then, why hunt at all? Um, the trophy room?
Myth # 5
"Lion poaching is not a problem." This is an outright lie. Chinese shamans regard the bones of wild lions and tigers as being more potent than those of captive-bred animals. The growing affluence in the Far East and the growth of the lion bone trade go hand in glove. This has lead to a surge in wild lion poaching, pushing them closer to regional extinction in Africa. Supply and demand from a foreign market may signal the end of Africa's wild lions. And policing is never deterrent enough.
"Lion poaching is not a problem." This is an outright lie. Chinese shamans regard the bones of wild lions and tigers as being more potent than those of captive-bred animals. The growing affluence in the Far East and the growth of the lion bone trade go hand in glove. This has lead to a surge in wild lion poaching, pushing them closer to regional extinction in Africa. Supply and demand from a foreign market may signal the end of Africa's wild lions. And policing is never deterrent enough.
Myth # 6
"African lions can't go extinct." Wrong. Think again. Consider a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are very busy selling lion bones to the East. How? After boiling, the concoction is added to rice wine for the Chinese market, and compressed into tiger bone cake which is favoured in Vietnam. (Pic: bone cake. Google it.)
"African lions can't go extinct." Wrong. Think again. Consider a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are very busy selling lion bones to the East. How? After boiling, the concoction is added to rice wine for the Chinese market, and compressed into tiger bone cake which is favoured in Vietnam. (Pic: bone cake. Google it.)
Myth # 7
"African lions can be re-wilded; they will get good homes after being petted and walked for money." No, they can't, and no, they won't. Who will teach thousands of lions how to hunt? And where? On whose property? And who will feed them? At age 2 - 3 years, a non-wild lion becomes a liability: it needs to be fed and needs space to live. There are not enough sanctuaries to take them all. Pic: rescued lion Little Leo at Drakenstein Lions, is fed by charity and visitors to the centre.
"African lions can be re-wilded; they will get good homes after being petted and walked for money." No, they can't, and no, they won't. Who will teach thousands of lions how to hunt? And where? On whose property? And who will feed them? At age 2 - 3 years, a non-wild lion becomes a liability: it needs to be fed and needs space to live. There are not enough sanctuaries to take them all. Pic: rescued lion Little Leo at Drakenstein Lions, is fed by charity and visitors to the centre.
Myth # 8
"This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do." Not true. Well, yes, it is a big problem. So ... we let someone else fix this? It won't happen. Every voice that is silent in the face of evil, is a form of support for that evil. It costs nothing to just ... say ... no. No canned hunting. It's the smallest action but it's a seed. Chris Mercer makes it easy - join his campaign. It's free. It takes just a minute to subscribe (see below). Then share this website or FB or X page. Do it now. Let's get this done.
"This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do." Not true. Well, yes, it is a big problem. So ... we let someone else fix this? It won't happen. Every voice that is silent in the face of evil, is a form of support for that evil. It costs nothing to just ... say ... no. No canned hunting. It's the smallest action but it's a seed. Chris Mercer makes it easy - join his campaign. It's free. It takes just a minute to subscribe (see below). Then share this website or FB or X page. Do it now. Let's get this done.
Myth # 9
"Governments will act responsibly and do the right thing for conservation." Um, maybe on another planet. But not here, not now; because we finally understand it's mostly money that drives policy. The hunting lobby is wealthy and it lobbies for law to allow body parts of endangered species (like rhino, lion, giraffe etc) to be shipped across borders. It leans heavily on African leaders for lenient laws. Hunters want to kill, not conserve. Tell your government "no". It works for you, remember?
"Governments will act responsibly and do the right thing for conservation." Um, maybe on another planet. But not here, not now; because we finally understand it's mostly money that drives policy. The hunting lobby is wealthy and it lobbies for law to allow body parts of endangered species (like rhino, lion, giraffe etc) to be shipped across borders. It leans heavily on African leaders for lenient laws. Hunters want to kill, not conserve. Tell your government "no". It works for you, remember?
Myth # 10
"It's all too awful, too tragic and too much for me." No it's not. It's only uncomfortable. The real tragedy refusing to help in a crisis. Don't allow that. We CAN can do something about it, even something small, together. But time short, and it waits for no-one. Can you spare a minute or two? It would matter to our lions. Sign up for Chris Mercer's CACH newsletter below. Join the Pride. Do it now.
"It's all too awful, too tragic and too much for me." No it's not. It's only uncomfortable. The real tragedy refusing to help in a crisis. Don't allow that. We CAN can do something about it, even something small, together. But time short, and it waits for no-one. Can you spare a minute or two? It would matter to our lions. Sign up for Chris Mercer's CACH newsletter below. Join the Pride. Do it now.
Do something. take a stand. Act now.
CONTACT US