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Welfare concerns associated with captive lions (Panthera leo) and the implications for commercial lion farms in South Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

J Green ,
C Jakins ,
E Asfaw ,
A Parker ,
L de Waal  and
N D'Cruze
J Green
Affiliation:
World Animal Protection, 222 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8HB, UK
C Jakins
Affiliation:
Blood Lions NPC, PO Box 1154, Hermanus 7200, South Africa
E Asfaw
Affiliation:
World Animal Protection, 222 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8HB, UK
A Parker
Affiliation:
World Animal Protection, 222 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8HB, UK
L de Waal
Affiliation:
Blood Lions NPC, PO Box 1154, Hermanus 7200, South Africa
N D'Cruze*
Affiliation:
World Animal Protection, 222 Gray's Inn Rd, London WC1X 8HB, UK Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Breeding and housing wild animals in captive environments can pose challenges for their welfare. In South Africa, thousands of lions (Panthera leo) are bred and raised at commercial captive breeding facilities, so called ‘lion farms’, for use in tourism, trophy hunting and traditional medicine. To gain a better understanding of the potential welfare challenges faced by lions on farms we reviewed 91 peer-reviewed articles relating to lion welfare, identified via a systematic review of the scientific literature. Across these studies, we identified 170 different terms relating to negative behaviours and physical health afflictions. The majority of these terms were associated with disease and injury (124; 73%), followed by negative behaviours (19; 11%), negative mental experiences (15; 9%), nutritional concerns (7; 4%), and environmental challenges or discomfort arising from the animal's surroundings (5; 3%). Of the 91 articles, 32 (35%) focused on data concerning captive lions. Only two studies focused specifically on data obtained from lion farms in South Africa, whilst the remainder reported on data collected from zoos, wildlife parks, sanctuaries, game reserves and private ownership. Our preliminary review of the scientific literature draws attention to some of the challenges associated with caring for lions in captivity, and outlines the potential significance of these welfare challenges for commercial lion farms. Our data highlight the apparent lack of scientific research involving captive lion welfare generally, particularly data collected at commercial breeding facilities in South Africa and the consequences this could have for the welfare of thousands of lions within the industry.

Keywords

animal welfarecaptive wildlifelion farmsPanthera leoSouth Africawildlife farming
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , May 2022 , pp. 209 - 218
Copyright
© 2022 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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