Durban - The IFP’s chief whip in Parliament, Narend Singh, and President Emeritus of the IFP Mangosuthu Buthelezi have called for the ban of captive breeding of lions.
This follows the screening of the documentary “Lions, Bones and Bullets” at an in-person screening which was co-hosted by Singh and Conservation Action Trust, represented by Francis Garrard, at Parliament in Cape Town last Tuesday.
Singh said that the winning documentary made in South Africa follows the journey of Penguin South Africa author Richard Peirce as he investigates the captive lion breeding industry.
“The film offers a valid appraisal of this ‘industry’ based on an informed, fact-based investigation. In his recorded introduction, Peirce said that he believes South Africa has a special responsibility as a key guardian of many of the world’s iconic species.”
Singh added that the screening was attended by several MPs across portfolios who all share a deep concern for, and belief in the need to protect, South African wildlife.
“After the screening, I summarised the film and explained the IFP policy in this area, and urged honourable members to support Minister Creecy’s current policy position, which calls for the abolition of captive breeding.”
Singh said that the IFP’s official policy towards any form of captive-bred lion farming and/or hunting was that the practice remained an abhorrence and stain on “Brand South Africa” and must be abolished with all due haste by the government.
Singh said that the IFP believes that with concerted uniformity of purpose, South African legislators across party lines would rise to this challenge.
“South Africa must support international conservation, not only by ensuring the survival of iconic species, but also by setting an example for other nations to follow.”
Buthelezi said that the lion was regarded as the king of the animals and that is why, for instance, the Zulu people address their king as “The Lion” and the king’s children as “the cubs of the Lion”.
He said it was beyond his imagination how it could be acceptable to farm lions. He said that such practice was totally unacceptable, concluding that it would endanger the lion species even more.