What is Canned hunting?
The Basics
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Scientific name: Panthera leo
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2 sub species - African Lion – Panthera leo leo
- Asiatic Lion – Panthera leo persica
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In the wild lions live on average around 12 years, but have been know to live upto 16.
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Captive lions can live upto 25 years old.
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Lionesses will eat around 5kg of meat per day, for Lions this is around 7kg.
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Prides (lion groups) are around 10-15 members strong, they usually consist of related females, young males (under 3 years old), and a dominant male.
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Adlosecent males will form coalitions and roam freely looking for prides of their own they can take over.
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In most prides the lionesses will do most of the hunting whilst the lions take responsibility for protection and defence of the pride. Hunting generally occurs over-night, away from the heat of the day.
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The IUCN Red list lists lions as vulnerable, however there are many campaigns to have this updated to endangered. It is hoped that a change in the lions status would lead to tighter control of the movement of lion carcasses between countries, and in turn a reduction in the trophy hunting trade.
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Estimates show that there are roughly 32,000 African lions left in the wild however some estimates have claimed this number could in reality be as low as 16,500 or high as 47,000. These figures are down 80% down on what they were just 20 years ago….within the average gap year student’s lifetime.
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Range is now limited to a handful of national parks, lions outside of national parks are given 24hrs to be returned before a permit is issued for the animal to be shot, this is to do safety concerns for locals and their livestock.
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The Asiatic Lion P. leo persica has been reduced to a single population in the 1,400 km² Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, while the Lions of North Africa went extinct in the 1940’s. Of the remaining African populations those in central and western Africa are the most at risk extinction, these populations also share a greater genetic similarity with their Asian cousins than their relatives in the East and South of Africa.
There is cause for confusion; as there is a stark lack of a legal definition of canned hunting.
However canned hunting is defined by Big Cat Rescue as:
“The shooting of exotic animals on game farms or hunting ranches that are in the business of breeding or buying exotic animals so that “hunters” can pay to be guaranteed a kill. Tamed animals from zoos, backyard breeders and those who mistakenly got them as pets are their favorite targets because they are accustomed to being around people and won’t run when the client walks up to them to take a shot”, (Big Cat Rescue, 2015).
Other organizations provide similar definitions.
The real opposing component of canned hunting is that these animals are tamed using continued human contact from a young age; leading them to be slaughtered, (African Wildlife, 2005).
This taming gives no chance for the animal to fear humans or escape due to the enclosures that surround them. Even large enclosures give little in the way of protection as the animals are unable to change their behaviour patterns and the guide is aware of the animals every hide out. This equates to giving 0% success rate for the hunted and a 100% success rate to the hunter. Many canned hunt organisations provide a no kill-no pay guarantee, (Animallaw.info, 2002).
Surprisingly even pro-trophy hunting organisations such as SCI (Safari Club International) find canned hunting a disturbing reality in which they vocally oppose canned hunts as they do not abide by their “fair chase standards”.
The crux of the matter is that “fair chase” is still undefined; although Boone and Crockett Club and Orion: The Hunters institue - share a similar definition: Both imply by their definitions that there should be a balance between the hunter and the hunted and the animal must be free ranging, (Animallaw.info,2002)
Please check out our what can you do? page to hear Will Fox, founder and CEO of the On Track Foundation discussing this topic.
Green washing is a term used to describe companies who spend far more money and time on appearing to be green and environmentally friendly than actually do when implementing business practise that could minimise environmental impact. Many gap year and adventure travel companies are guilty of this practise, operating tours and packages claiming to be conserving or rehabilitating lion species, while the reality is that the vast majority of these animals are being farmed for use in the hunting and alternative medicine trades.
Ever heard of "Green-washing"?
The Facts.
So, here are the clever bits that our Researchers have looked into- to save us all doing it! Do you want to know the backstories behind these beautiful beasts? Then read up on 'The Basics' and 'What is Canned Hunting' to ensure you know the threats we are dealing with.