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Illegal wildlife trade expands as organized networks target lion bones, skulls and skins across Africa.
A surge in poaching targeting African lions for their body parts could pose a severe long-term risk to the species unless governments and conservation groups act quickly, according to new peer-reviewed research.

Around the world, wildlife is disappearing at an alarming pace. Yet in parts of southern Africa, some of the continent’s most iconic animals have staged a remarkable comeback.

At the crux of South Africa’s extraordinarily successful wildlife conservation model is value. When the value is high, wildlife thrives. The newly proposed quota brings significant value to three species that are struggling to show their true potential.

There are currently four blatant attacks on Ministers John Steenhuisen and Willie Aucamp on social media posts.

A Rebuttal of “INVESTIGATION Wildlife crime syndicates tighten grip on South Africa’s natural heritage” by Nicola Mawson

On 31st October, 2025, South Africa’s High Court in the Northern Cape ruled in favour of Hendrick Diedericks, owner of a registered rhino Captive Breeding Operation (CBO) in the Northern Cape known as Rockwood Conservation.

Willie Aucamp, die minister van bosbou, visserye en die omgewing, het ʼn klag by die Openbare Beskermer ingedien oor die beweerde misbruik van staatsmiddele deur sy voorganger, dr. Dion George, en voormalige senior personeel in die departement.

20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES COP20)

When l visited South Africa recently with the Zimbabwe Parliament and Wildlife Management Authority delegation, I was taken on a private tour of Boschpoort Predators by Hannes Wessels — President of the South African Predator Association, SUCo-SA member, and one of the industry’s most outspoken defenders.

In accordance with section 91(3)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, I have appointed Mr. Willem Abraham Stephanus Aucamp, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment.

As South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, I am entrusted with safeguarding the beating heart of our nation’s biodiversity, a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of our wild heritage.

The Department of Forestry, Fishery and the Environment will no longer permit the export of lion bones.

Unless effective, broad-scale programmes by local and international NGOs operating in Africa are implemented and supported and augmented by local governments, lions will decline further

It might sound like a paradox: to save a species, we must use it. This concept, known as “sustainable use,” is often misunderstood, sparking emotional debates filled with charged, misrepresentative images of hunters and endangered animals. Yet, in South Africa, this very principle has been the engine behind one of the world’s most remarkable conservation success stories, turning the tide for species once on the brink of extinction.

SA’s trophy hunting quotas spark legal battles and civil society backlash.

Lion that once roamed northern Africa has been extinct in the wild since 1960s

July 2025 marks ten years since the legal and controversial hunting of “Cecil,” a lion from Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park whose death was used to ignite global outrage.

For conservationists against the captive lion industry, this decision is a milestone in the fight to protect Africa’s most iconic predators.

"This is a turning point in the way we think about conserving our wildlife." By limiting the breeding of lions in captivity, we can help ensure a more sustainable and ethical future for these animals. ”

Minister Dion George is advancing efforts to protect South Africa’s wildlife by phasing out harmful captive lion breeding practices and reinforcing animal well-being through updated regulations.