Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency has announced sweeping new regulations to phase out captive lion breeding in the province of Mpumalanga, aligning with the national government’s broader policy to end the controversial practice.
According to tourismupdate.com, under the new legislation, authorities will stop issuing permits for new captive lion facilities, prohibit the breeding of lions in captivity, and gradually phase out the importation of lions from other provinces as part of efforts to strengthen wildlife conservation standards.
Simphiwe Shungube, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications for the MTPA, said in a media statement: “The province will maintain rigorous regulatory oversight and strict permitting conditions where wildlife is managed in captive environments while progressively phasing out captive lion facilities in favour of ethical, conservation-led tourism.”
Ian Michler, Director of the documentary Blood Lions, predicts a positive impact on tourism: “The move will certainly improve South Africa’s international reputation. Currently, we are one of the few countries that still sanction the commercial abuse of wild species. In addition, SA Tourism can’t be marketing the country as offering authentic and responsible wildlife experiences with these industries still being sanctioned.”
This is not a policy shift, Michler added. “It’s merely a continuation of a process years back with the high-level panel that voted to close these industries down.” He expects other provinces to follow suit.
