Lions at risk of extinction in the wild, experts fear as ‘cruel’ hunters kill thousands to fuel medicine ‘bone trade’
LIONS are at risk of extinction in the wild as experts fear “cruel” hunters kill thousands to fuel a medicine “bone trade”. The demand for traditional medicine is said to be fuelling the sick practice where lions are bred and killed for their bones. Animal welfare experts have called for a ban on the fast-expanding […]
LIONS are at risk of extinction in the wild as experts fear “cruel” hunters kill thousands to fuel a medicine “bone trade”.
The demand for traditional medicine is said to be fuelling the sick practice where lions are bred and killed for their bones.
Animal welfare experts have called for a ban on the fast-expanding industry, which they say is “trading lions into extinction”.
‘CRUEL AND CYNICAL’
Head of policy at the Born Free Foundation, Mark Jones, told Metro.co.uk: “Lions are not designed to be raised in captivity.
“This is all about cash before conservation in what is a really cruel and cynical industry.”
The latest comments come after a year-long investigation into the callous industry headed by former Tory peer Lord Ashcroft.
His probe discovered some of the lions are even being targeted inside fenced enclosures by wealthy trophy hunters.
The “canned hunting” industry is so despicable that even other hunting organisations want to distance themselves from it.
Among the shooters are Brits who are paying thousands for the “privilege” to kill the maginificent beasts, reports the Mail on Sunday.
Those that aren’t shot by the heartless hunters are butchered in slaughterhouses for their bones – used to treat ailments like rheumatism.
Besides the bones, other body parts are in great demand as the animal represents strength and bravery, which are believed to be transferred to the patient.
The Global Nature Fund estimates more than 1,000 lions are killed annually for the burgeoning bone trade, including many in South Africa.
‘STARVED AND EMACIATED’
Dr Jones added: “The international trade in lion bones is a relatively new thing but has grown enormously over the last decade.
“Initially, it was a by-product of canned hunting but more recently it is now an end product in itself.
“People are breeding them for commercial purposes and the South African government is actively encouraging this.
“There have been horrific reports of lions being kept in appalling conditions. They are starved and emaciated.
“If your aim is to extract a skeleton, then these farms do not have to worry about the conditions of the lions while they are alive.”
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Lord Ashcroft’s Operation Simba discovered there are now an estimated 12,000 captive-bred lions in South Africa – outnumbering wild ones in the country by almost four to one.
The cubs born in the more ruthless farms are taken away from their mothers at just a few days old to be hand reared.
As the lions become too dangerous to be allowed near tourists some are supplied to South Africa’s burgeoning ‘trophy hunting’ industry.
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