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 disguised as conservation organisations.
These are commercial farms, pure and simple.
These are commercial farms, pure and simple.
Myth # 1
Lion cub petting is good for conservation. Rubbish. 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. Rubbish. 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. Also rubbish. 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. Also rubbish. 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 odds. 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 odds. 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. Nonsense. Wild lions are in decline for reasons of habitat loss, poaching and hunting. "Hunters" want only the best (ie. biggest) so do the math. Canned lions are bred for quantity, not quality - so strong, dominant genes play no role. The lion gene pool is today under very serious threat. Lion farmers know exactly what they're doing, and are in it for the money.
The African lion gene pool is not affected by hunting nor canned hunting. Nonsense. Wild lions are in decline for reasons of habitat loss, poaching and hunting. "Hunters" want only the best (ie. biggest) so do the math. Canned lions are bred for quantity, not quality - so strong, dominant genes play no role. The lion gene pool is today under very serious threat. Lion farmers know exactly what they're doing, and are in it for the money.
Myth # 5
Lion poaching is not a problem. Wrong. Chinese shamans regard the bones of wild lions and tigers as being more potent than those of captive-bred animals. The new wealth in the East and the growth of the lion bone trade go hand in hand; this will lead to a surge in the poaching of wild lions, thereby pushing them closer to regional extinction in Africa. How is that even possible? Well, back to the math: the size of the market in the East? BIG money!
Lion poaching is not a problem. Wrong. Chinese shamans regard the bones of wild lions and tigers as being more potent than those of captive-bred animals. The new wealth in the East and the growth of the lion bone trade go hand in hand; this will lead to a surge in the poaching of wild lions, thereby pushing them closer to regional extinction in Africa. How is that even possible? Well, back to the math: the size of the market in the East? BIG money!
Myth # 6
African lions can't go extinct. Think again. Why? because there's now a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are already 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. Why? because there's now a growing industry that makes lion bones as valuable as rhino horn. South Africa's canned lion farmers are already 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, or, they will get good homes after they have been petted and walked for money. No they can't, and no they won't. Math 101 again: who will teach thousands of lions how to hunt? And where? And 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; he is one of the lucky few, fed by charity.
African lions can be re-wilded, or, they will get good homes after they have been petted and walked for money. No they can't, and no they won't. Math 101 again: who will teach thousands of lions how to hunt? And where? And 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; he is one of the lucky few, fed by charity.
Myth # 8
This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do. Not true. Well, yes, it is a big problem, but the only reason canned lion farming and "hunting" still exists after 27 years of protest, is - mathematics again - the small number of protestors. Every human being has a voice. Every voice that is silent, is a form of support for canned hunting. Do you support lion farming and canned hunting? No? Then say it. No protest = no change = no lions. It's up to us all.
This problem is just too big; there's nothing I can do. Not true. Well, yes, it is a big problem, but the only reason canned lion farming and "hunting" still exists after 27 years of protest, is - mathematics again - the small number of protestors. Every human being has a voice. Every voice that is silent, is a form of support for canned hunting. Do you support lion farming and canned hunting? No? Then say it. No protest = no change = no lions. It's up to us all.
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. It also leans on African leaders for lenient laws: hunters want to kill, not conserve. Your vote is worth more. Make it so.
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. It also leans on African leaders for lenient laws: hunters want to kill, not conserve. Your vote is worth more. Make it so.
Myth # 10
Most people are not good at mathematics. Nonsense. Go back to Myth # 1. Work your way down. Anything that didn't add up? We doubt it. It's what we all do: we do numbers, and we connect dots. All our lives. This crisis is all about numbers, and if we ignore them, we lose. The real tragedy is our world with no wild creatures in it because we let them die. So let's do something about it, anything, even something small, together. While we can.
Most people are not good at mathematics. Nonsense. Go back to Myth # 1. Work your way down. Anything that didn't add up? We doubt it. It's what we all do: we do numbers, and we connect dots. All our lives. This crisis is all about numbers, and if we ignore them, we lose. The real tragedy is our world with no wild creatures in it because we let them die. So let's do something about it, anything, even something small, together. While we can.
Do something. make your voice heard. Act now.
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