JOBURG – Semi-tame lions are being killed for fun
Randburg Sun
Sammi-Jo Botha,
Group Editor
Jhb North West Branch
Rhino poaching has been a major problem in South Africa with hundreds of rhinos being killed for their horns in the past few years.
But recently, there has been another, equally frightening, issue that has become more prevalent in SA. This is canned lion hunting.
For those of you who have not heard of it yet, the Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) explains it as, “A million dollar business in South Africa where tourists pay thousands of US dollars to kill semi-tame lions by rifle or crossbow. Canned hunting is the hunting of animals in an area from which they cannot escape. These animals have lost their natural fear of people as they have often been hand-reared and so approach people, expecting to get fed as usual – instead they receive a bullet or an arrow from a hunting bow. “Bait is often used to get a lion to remain in one place for an easy shot by a “hunter”. This way organisers can guarantee a kill as they know the lion will not move when they bring the hunter. In other words, they stand absolutely no chance of surviving. They can die a horrendous death, first shots do not always kill – and bows and arrows are also used making for a lingering horrific death.” Canned lion hunting is legal in SA and it is happening in our backyard.
I do not have words to explain what I think of this “sport” and the “hunters” who actually pay money to kill defenceless animals. I have never agreed with hunting and I have never understood what kick you could possibly get out of shooting animals for fun. But to put an animal in an enclosed area and then shoot it, that is just barbaric and I don’t know how you could call yourself a hunter. The animal has no chance to begin with.
I would love to put these “hunters” in a cage and shoot at them, and see how they feel while they are bleeding to death.
If you are as disgusted as I am, please join the CACH protest this Saturday, 21 March at 11am to 1pm on the corner of Malibongwe and the R114, Lanseria.
For more details contact Linda Park on
082 812 3870 or visit www.cannedlion.org
Sammi-Jo Botha,
Group Editor
Jhb North West Branch
Rhino poaching has been a major problem in South Africa with hundreds of rhinos being killed for their horns in the past few years.
But recently, there has been another, equally frightening, issue that has become more prevalent in SA. This is canned lion hunting.
For those of you who have not heard of it yet, the Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) explains it as, “A million dollar business in South Africa where tourists pay thousands of US dollars to kill semi-tame lions by rifle or crossbow. Canned hunting is the hunting of animals in an area from which they cannot escape. These animals have lost their natural fear of people as they have often been hand-reared and so approach people, expecting to get fed as usual – instead they receive a bullet or an arrow from a hunting bow. “Bait is often used to get a lion to remain in one place for an easy shot by a “hunter”. This way organisers can guarantee a kill as they know the lion will not move when they bring the hunter. In other words, they stand absolutely no chance of surviving. They can die a horrendous death, first shots do not always kill – and bows and arrows are also used making for a lingering horrific death.” Canned lion hunting is legal in SA and it is happening in our backyard.
I do not have words to explain what I think of this “sport” and the “hunters” who actually pay money to kill defenceless animals. I have never agreed with hunting and I have never understood what kick you could possibly get out of shooting animals for fun. But to put an animal in an enclosed area and then shoot it, that is just barbaric and I don’t know how you could call yourself a hunter. The animal has no chance to begin with.
I would love to put these “hunters” in a cage and shoot at them, and see how they feel while they are bleeding to death.
If you are as disgusted as I am, please join the CACH protest this Saturday, 21 March at 11am to 1pm on the corner of Malibongwe and the R114, Lanseria.
For more details contact Linda Park on
082 812 3870 or visit www.cannedlion.org