Banner Image: “Rack and stack captive-bred lion bones ready for export.” File photo: African News Agency (ANA)

MEDIA STATEMENT
ISSUED ON 26 SEPTEMBER 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NSPCA LAUNCHES URGENT LEGAL APPEAL FOR LIONS
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has lodged an urgent interdict [Case No. 86515/17 in The High Court of South Africa] against the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to suspend DEA’s authorisation of lion bone exports.
The NSPCA has long been actively involved in addressing the cruelty in the captive lion industry; starting with lion cubs for petting to ‘canned lion’ hunting or slaughter for lion bone, with pending cruelty cases.
The NSPCA has been frustrated in its efforts to prevent this cruelty by the lack of regulation within the industry. Not only are there regulatory loopholes, but there is also generally a lack of cooperation and communication from both national and provincial authorities.