Lion Welfare: Canned Hunting, Bone Trade, and Wild Decline

African lion populations have declined by 43 percent since 1993 and face welfare abuses in captive breeding and hunting facilities.

Key Facts

African lion populations declined from 200,000 in the 1960s to around 20,000 today
South Africa breeds around 12,000 lions in captivity primarily for canned hunting
Cubs from canned hunting facilities are used for tourist petting and walking experiences
Lion bones are increasingly exported to Asia as tiger bone substitute for traditional medicine
Wild lions face habitat loss, prey decline, and human-wildlife conflict across their range

Welfare Considerations

Captive lions in breeding facilities suffer from inadequate space, poor nutrition, and psychological distress. Cubs removed for petting experiences are stressed by constant human handling. Lions raised for canned hunting face a terrifying death in enclosed areas with no escape from hunters. Wild lions face welfare harm from snare injuries, poisoning near livestock, and trophy hunting. The systematic commercial exploitation of captive lions for a range of purposes constitutes large-scale welfare abuse.

What You Can Do

Never volunteer with or pay to pet lion cubs at facilities connected to canned hunting
Support Born Free Foundation campaigns to end the captive lion industry
Avoid purchasing products made from lion bones
Advocate for a South African ban on captive lion breeding for hunting and bone trade
Support wild lion conservation through African Wildlife Foundation and Lion Recovery Fund