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South Africa: "Canned Hunting" May Be Banned
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by Jordan Yerman | March 7, 2007 at 11:23 am
505 views | 10 Recommendations | 1 comment
Canned hunting involves breeding big game (in this case, lions) for slaughter by tourists. The animals are bred and raised in captivity and hunted in a controlled environment. The hunt companies make big money from this practice, but conservationists have been doggedly fighting the practice. After all, no ecological purpose is served by breeding animals for the sole purpose of killing them; they aren't eaten, just shot. In my travels to South Africa, I have been able to find many more exciting (and far less expensive) pastimes that take advantage of SA's breathtaking natural beauty.
The appetite for big-game hunting among foreign tourists sustains around 300 lion-breeding farms across South Africa, employs thousands of workers and brings in significant amounts of foreign currency.But in June, the so-called "canned hunting" industry looks set to become a thing of the past under controversial legislation brought in by the government following concerted pressure from wildlife campaigners.
"We are putting an end, once and for all, to the reprehensible practice of canned hunting," said Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk last month.
"South Africa has a long-standing reputation as a global leader on conservation issues. We cannot allow our achievements to be undermined by rogue practices such as canned lion hunting."
According to Van Heerden, the president of the South African predator breeders association (SAPBA), around 5 000 lions are currently bred in captivity.
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at 18:25 on March 7th, 2007
This is a good story, Jordan, and I think the way you framed it with a personal comment deserves praise. However, I wonder if some of the funding garnered through canned hunting goes to conservation- in other words, are all the animals raised in the can hunted, or only some of them. And what will happen to the resident animals if the farms are closed? You've piqued my curiosity.