News

South Africa, renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity and high levels of endemism, shoulders the responsibility of conserving and sustainably managing its wildlife for the benefit of all its citizens and future generations.

I have today, released the report of the Ministerial Task Team on Voluntary Exit Options and Pathways from the Captive Lion Industry. Cabinet has approved the release of the report and its recommendations for implementation.

Early this week news broke in the media about lions roaming around the Fochville area. Some alleged that there were 5 lions on the loose, leaving a trail of destruction and terror in their wake. Predictably, the captive lion industry was slammed and blamed for the presence of these extremely dangerous, supposedly escaped animals.

The South African Predator Association is delighted to take note of recent video footage confirming the birth of wild lion cubs produced by parents born and raised in captivity. Three short videos have been recorded on cell-phone by a ranger of The Reserve where the lions had been released on 14 December 2016

The SOUTH AFRICAN PREDATOR ASSOCIATION fully supports the minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, in her decision to establish a quota for the exporting of captive-bred lion bones to Asia and other regions. The decision followed a thorough, transparent and scientific process and was made in accordance with a CITES resolution made at the COP 17 in 2016. SAPA lauds the minister for unflinchingly following through with the decision to announce the quota

It is with great sadness that SAPA learned of the poaching of two lions in the Emoya sanctuary. This is an abomination that should never have happened.

An animal dying of poison suffers a horrifying death. Arteries and veins rupture, blood becomes slush, organs send distress signals in the form of intense flashes of pain, nausea rises like a tide… it is a death many times worse than being struck by a heavy, hurtling bullet; or a crossbow bolt as was the case with Cecil the Lion.

The South African Predator Association learnt with alarm about the attack by a male lion on an 11-year-old boy in the Lephalale-district over the weekend. The boy, Kristian Prinsloo, is currently still in a critical condition in a hospital in Pretoria. SAPA extends its sympathy and support to Kristian and his family and joins them in fervently hoping for his rapid recovery from injury

According to recent reports the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has temporarily closed down an abattoir which contravened provincial regulations by butchering donkeys in a facility designed to slaughter cattle, sheep and goats in the Tosca district of Northwest Province. This abattoir is reportedly on a "lion farm."

During the recent Conference of the Parties, COP 17, CITES granted South Africa the opportunity to establish an export quota for the bones of captive bred lions. The much-maligned Department of Environmental Affairs immediately set about determining what the extent of this quota should be in a thorough, measured manner. They have yet to furnish a definitive answer. Yet, animal rights activists have responded with a huge measure of hysteria in a number of published articles

The South African Predator Association(SAPA) has taken note of a press release ("HUNTERS ASSOCIATION TO DEFEND ITS DECISION ON CAPTIVE-BRED LIONS- NEWS24") issued by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA). SAPA is of the opinion that some people may find the choice of words in the title of PHASA’s press release somewhat misleading. SAPA wishes to make it clear that it had no participation in any court proceedings.

Another week, another botched media hatchet job on legitimate lion farmers and the South African Predator Association. An internet writer of sorts, one Stephen Wiggins, penned a rambling, disjointed, poorly researched piece and named it 'Canned' Hunting – The 'End Game.' This dreary bit of penmanship he splashed on IWB's website. They are another of those organizations with no understanding of wildlife management goes around begging for money

The South African Predator Association would like to express its utmost dismay and disappointment about the recent killing of 3 of the desert lions featured in the well-known documentary film Vanishing Kings. The burnt remains of these precious lions were discovered near Tomakas in the Kunene region of Namibia. They were allegedly poisoned by semi-nomadic cattle farmers after some stock losses had occurred.

SAPA is grateful to announce that, with the help of Boschnel Safaris we were able to deliver our second load of much needed A-Grade Lucerne to the drought stricken animals of Marloth Park.

The thing about rhinos is, they eat a lot and they eat every day. They don't skip for Christmas, New Year's or for 67 minutes on 18 July. They eat all the time. So, now if you have a local government election to rig, you know, there are just so many hours in every day and feeding the rhinos is all of a sudden not that important. Not to Daniel Ngwenya, the municipal manager of the Nkomazi district.

When there is a crisis with lions in South Africa, there is a huge hue and cry with animal rights activists ostentatiously tearing their clothes and beating their chests, peppering social media platforms with dire threats against farmers and pointing futile fingers.

The South African Predator Association has learnt with great dismay of the appalling predicament of the lions belonging to, as far as our information stretches, Mr Walter Slippers of Ingogo Safaris in Limpopo. Mr Slippers is not, nor has he ever been, a member of our association. We believe that the future of the lion in South Africa can only be assured if committed farmers are allowed to carefully breed and utilize this marvelous species in a sustainable, responsible manner.

Lion breeders are bracing themselves while conservation officials are keeping an uneasy eye on the situation. This is the third of these brutal incidents in less than a week. Once is an event and twice a coincidence; now there is real concern that these are the first occurrences of what could be a rash of lion killings. Is poaching coming to the domain of the lion?

The two white lionesses were "so very tame." They grew up in Taso Christoforou's home. "You could go into their cage, they were that tame. During the night some despicable fiends cut away the wire fence of their cage and lured them out with a chunk of meat. This was to be their final meal, laced as it was with a potent poison. Their deaths were swift but agonizing. Once they'd curled up in the tortured rictus of their death postures, the poachers moved in...

We applaud SANParks decision to reconsider the decision to euthanize Sylvester. The South African Predator Association (SAPA) would like to add their support to alternative actions. We have a number of accredited facilities where Sylvester can be relocated to. Our members are very experienced in the management, capture and translocation of lions and are willing to contribute in any way you deem helpful.