Lions bred to be shot in South Africa's 'canned hunting' industry

|
This hunter will never hunt. He has been bred to be shot for 'fun'.
This video explores the shocking and lucrative industry of canned hunting, which astonishingly remains legal.....
 

There are now more captive lions in South Africa than wild ones, and many of these animals are reared specifically to be shot and owned by wealthy tourists from Europe and North America. Patrick Barkham visits a lion-breeding farm in North Eastern Free State, South Africa, to investigate the relationship between the rearing of lions in captivity and the so-called 'canned hunting' industry.

• Warning: Contains graphic footage

The Ecologist is a member of the Guardian's Environment Network article swap.

Image courtesy of www.shutterstock.com 


Add to StumbleUpon
  READ MORE...
INVESTIGATION
Is there room for wildlife as Africa grapples with development?
How poaching for the illegal wildlife trade, intensive farming, climate change and population growth all threaten Africa's unique wildlife
COMMENT
Tiger farms undermining conservation efforts
Tigers breed well in captivity, so why not just farm them behind bars to satisfy those with a taste for tiger bone wine? Debbie Banks from the Environmental Investigation Agency explains why relaxing the rules would be a disaster
GREEN LIVING
Lions and eco luxury on South Africa’s Eastern Cape
Pristine wilderness and eco-friendly lodges have made the Kwandwe Reserve a key stop on South Africa's Garden Route. Ruth Styles went to visit
GREEN LIVING
PHOTO GALLERY: Species on the Edge of Survival
From the tiger to the bumblebee, the list of endangered birds, animals and insects is a growing one. Now a new book based on the IUCN Red List is providing an insight into the species under threat
SPECIAL CONTENT
The human face of conservation: bringing community and wildlife together
Across Africa, the traditional idea of safari parks is getting an overhaul - and where once locals were excluded, models with community involvement are finding long-term success