canned hunting Archives - Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

South Africa kills captive bred lions to sell their bones

May 9, 2018 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: canned hunting, lion, Nikela Blog Tagged: canned hunting, captive breeding, Conservation Action Trust, Lion bone trade

Visions of wild animals roaming free in Africa are fast becoming fantasy as we hear once again of the horrors happening to captive bred lions. It’s been a bloody time for the South African canned lion industry. Last week, a lion ‘abattoir’ was exposed on a farm in the Free State, where close to 100 lions were reportedly to be killed and their skeletons prepared for export to Asia. Shortly after news of the slaughter broke, a game reserve owner from Limpopo was mauled by one of his captive lions, Shamba. The lion was immediately shot, causing a social media…

Tourists Beware! A must read if you care about wildlife

Feb 21, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Canned hunting, canned hunting, Nikela Blog Tagged: African tourist, animal interaction, canned hunting, cub petting, tourist

I couldn’t believe it! In one breath the poster said, “… you can look them right in the eye…” and then, “… meat available, cheeks, tail…” Tell me, can anyone with a heart invite you to look an animal in the eye, catch a glimpse of its very soul, and then serve it up on a plate for you to eat? Tourists beware! That’s why we can never go back to this particular camp outside of Francistown, Botswana. It was a favorite once, but not anymore. They encourage their guests to pay to see crocodile being raised to eat at…

American trophy hunters condemn canned lion hunting in South Africa

Jan 17, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Canned hunting, canned hunting, lion, Nikela Blog, trophy hunting Tagged: American hunters, canned hunting, Dallas Safari Club, trophy hunting

The Dallas Safari Club, one of the largest trophy hunting organizations has come out strongly against captive-bred lion hunting, otherwise known as ‘canned’ lion hunting as unethical and not contributing to conservation of wild lions. Does this mean American trophy hunters will refrain from canned lion hunting? Captive-bred lion hunting is legal in South Africa despite reservations from many trophy hunters and conservationists. In November last year the Professional Hunting Association of South Africa (PHASA) controversially reversed its previous policy against hunting of captive bred lion and approved the hunting of captive bred lions as a legitimate form of hunting….

Why this obsession with wild animal interaction and exotic pets?

Jul 11, 2017 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Cheetah, conservation, endangered, lion, Nikela Blog, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: canned hunting, cub petting, exotic pets, human wildlife interaction, pet trade, wildlife interaction

There seem to be two driving forces behind wild animal interaction that keep it and the exotic pet trade thriving. “Can I touch her?” “Take my picture.” “I want one of those!” What’s this need that we humans have for wild animal interaction? To touch them? Have our photo taken with them? Even to own them? Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as guilty as the next person. I’ve done my share of touching and petting. However, now I realize that it’s not a good idea. Wild animal interaction is really rather one sided, rather selfish. It only fills a…

South Africa Ignores Public Opinion – Gives the Green Light to Sell 800 Lion Skeletons to Asia

Jul 4, 2017 · by Nikela Volunteer/Guest blogger · In: conservation, lion, News, Sustainability, trophy hunting, Wildlife, wildlife conservation Tagged: canned hunting, Lion bone trade, Lion skeletons, lions, trophy hunting

With the pressure to end canned hunting South Africa is not deterred from selling lion skeletons to Asia. The South African Department of Environmental Affairs’ (DEA) has blatantly ignored public opinion by formally approving the export of 800 lion skeletons to Asia this year. This in spite of international condemnation from conservationists and local stakeholders. The numbers of African free-range lions have declined alarmingly over the last few decades with only 20,000 remaining today, down from 30,000 just two decades ago. “It is irresponsible to establish policy that could further imperil wild lions,” said Dr. Paul Funston, Senior Director of…