Following the release of the documentary, Blood Lions, Singita is among the African-based tourism leaders who have joined the campaign against predator breeding and a host of other exploitative wildlife activities.
The award-winning film, which follows long-time wildlife campaigner Ian Michler, has placed a much-needed spotlight on the atrocities behind the captive-bred lion industry in South Africa and its links to the business of canned lion hunting. Along with a horde of “cuddle-a-cub” and “walk-with-lions” facilities, these operations have created a lucrative business, that profits from turning one of the world’s most iconic species into nothing more than a factory-farmed commodity. False promises of introducing captive-bred lions into the wild, lure well-meaning travellers and volunteers alike, diverting dollars from real lion conservation work. At the same time, as traders look for alternatives to tigers as a source of ingredients for traditional medicine, the sale of lion bones to the east by breeders and hunters is creating a new market demand, that drives poachers to target wild lions in Africa.
In recent decades, wild lion numbers have fallen catastrophically and continue to decline, primarily as a result of loss of lion habitat to ever-expanding human populations, increasing the need for the protection of this species. At Singita, our purpose is to protect and preserve large tracts of wilderness for future generations. Our responsible tourism operations currently support the conservation of a million acres of lion habitat. Through expanding our footprint and realizing our purpose, we will continue to the survival of these magnificent creatures. It is only fitting that we join our industry partners in lobbying for legislative action against their exploitation.
For more information on the Blood Lions campaign, visit www.bloodlions.org. The documentary can be purchased on Takealot.com (SA), Amazon.com (USA) and iTunes (UK).
