A Sneak Peak at the Horrible Practices of Lion Farming in South Africa

Following a one-year investigation, a documentary has been released on what is called the horrific captive-bred lion farming carried out in South Africa. Lord Michael Ashcroft commissioned investigators to look into the practice in which lions are being bred, killed and their bones sold to South East Asia and China. In other instances, they are hunting trophies. Along with the documentary, the UK’s Sunday mail carried an article on the undercover investigation codenamed “Operation Simba,” which revealed the horrible practices involved in lion farming. Lord Ashcroft calls on the South African Government to put an end to the abusive practice and at the same time, he urges the UK Government to bring in new import laws to discourage lion farming. The documentary will be aired tonight on this station immediately following News Five Live. Here is a sneak peak. 

I’ve come to Africa to reveal the full horrors, the sordid practice that shames this vast and beautiful continent. Indeed, it shames us all. It’s the captive lion industry in which Africa’s most iconic wild animal is bred, reared and eventually killed either as a trophy or for its bones. Some of the practices involved in keeping and shooting the captive lions are illegal too as are the methods in which carcasses are smuggled out of the country. This activity which takes place in South Africa is squalled and cruel.

Lord Michael Ashcroft

Lord Michael Ashcroft, Philanthropist

“Behind me here in the African bush is a magnificent lion living as it should in the wild. This animal is utterly majestic, rightfully described as the King of the Jungle. For decade as a tourist, armed only with a camera, I have enjoyed observing lions—the pride of Africa. I find it incomprehensible that people should want to breed, mistreat and kill thousands of captive-bred lions, motivated by nothing more than personal greed. This cruel industry must be stopped.”

In the days spent flying over South Africa’s vast free state province, I saw a handful of the two hundred plus farms where lions are bred and reared. Below me it is clear that huge areas of land are being used to keep lions. Enclosed behind wire fences with minimal space and shelter, the scale of the captive breeding operations is breath-taking. And put bluntly, South Africa is now the centre for what can only be called lion farming.