blasting the myths
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 canned lion operations, pure and simple.
These are commercial canned lion operations, 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 - and they are not learning life skills. This activity is fun for you; not for them. When they grow a little older, they are traded in, back to the lion farm, for a younger model. Again, anyone offering lion walking is doing it for the money from tourists.
"Lion walking is good for conservation." No. It isn't. It is completely unnatural for young lions - and they are not learning life skills. This activity is fun for you; not for them. When they grow a little older, they are traded in, back to the lion farm, for a younger model. Again, anyone offering lion walking is doing it for the money from tourists.
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. No. Anyone who offers lion hunting in the 21st Century is doing it for ... ? That's 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. No. Anyone who offers lion hunting in the 21st Century is doing it for ... ? That's correct, the money.
Myth # 4
"The African lion gene pool is not affected by hunting nor canned hunting." No; that's pure fantasy. Independent research reveals wild lion numbers are dropping 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. Farmed lions are bred for quantity, not gene quality. Lion farmers know exactly what they're doing, and are in it purely for the money.
"The African lion gene pool is not affected by hunting nor canned hunting." No; that's pure fantasy. Independent research reveals wild lion numbers are dropping 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. Farmed lions are bred for quantity, not gene quality. Lion farmers know exactly what they're doing, and are in it purely for the money.
Myth # 5
"Lion poaching is not a problem." This is a 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 hand. 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.
"Lion poaching is not a problem." This is a 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 hand. 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.
Myth # 6
"African lions can't go extinct." Think again. Think about a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are busy selling lion bones to the East. After boiling, the concoction is added to rice wine for the Chinese market, and compressed into tiger bone cake which is favoured in Vietnam.
"African lions can't go extinct." Think again. Think about a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are busy selling lion bones to the East. After boiling, the concoction is added to rice wine for the Chinese market, and compressed into tiger bone cake which is favoured in Vietnam.
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 will they hunt?? 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. This is Little Leo at Drakenstein Lions, fed by charity.
"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 will they hunt?? 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. This is Little Leo at Drakenstein Lions, fed by charity.
Myth # 8
"This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do." Not true. Well, ok, it is a big problem, but there is something everyone can do. Let someone else fix this? It won't happen. Every voice that is silent, is a form of support for canned hunting. Do you support lion farming? No? Then say it. The very least we can do is support Chris Mercer in his campaign for outlawing lion farms. It takes just a minute to subscribe (below).
"This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do." Not true. Well, ok, it is a big problem, but there is something everyone can do. Let someone else fix this? It won't happen. Every voice that is silent, is a form of support for canned hunting. Do you support lion farming? No? Then say it. The very least we can do is support Chris Mercer in his campaign for outlawing lion farms. It takes just a minute to subscribe (below).
Myth # 9
"Governments will act responsibly and do the right thing for conservation." Um, maybe on another planet, or in another time. But not here, where money drives policy. The hunting lobby is wealthy. It uses ALL its influence to push for laws to ensure body parts of endangered species (like rhino and giraffe) are able to be imported. And it leans heavily on African leaders for lenient laws: hunters want to kill, not conserve.
"Governments will act responsibly and do the right thing for conservation." Um, maybe on another planet, or in another time. But not here, where money drives policy. The hunting lobby is wealthy. It uses ALL its influence to push for laws to ensure body parts of endangered species (like rhino and giraffe) are able to be imported. And it leans heavily on African leaders for lenient laws: hunters want to kill, not conserve.
Myth # 10
"It's all too awful, too tragic and too much for me." No it's not. The real tragedy is our world with no wild creatures in it because we let them die. Don't allow that. So let's do something about it, anything, even something small, together. While we can. Just one minute of your time would be great - sign up for Chris Mercer's CACH newsletter below. Join the Pride.
"It's all too awful, too tragic and too much for me." No it's not. The real tragedy is our world with no wild creatures in it because we let them die. Don't allow that. So let's do something about it, anything, even something small, together. While we can. Just one minute of your time would be great - sign up for Chris Mercer's CACH newsletter below. Join the Pride.
Do something. make your voice heard. Act now.
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