South African captive lion breeding facilities supply lions for trophy hunting and the bone trade in conditions that cause severe welfare problems from birth to death.
The captive lion industry in South Africa causes suffering at every lifecycle stage. Cubs separated immediately from mothers miss essential developmental bonding. They are used as petting attractions then sold for canned hunting when too large. The entire system is predicated on the suffering of animals with no chance of meaningful wildlife outcomes. South Africa has announced but not yet implemented a ban on this practice.