Engagement on commercial captive lion breeding and the proposed phase-out of the industry, and elephant culling.

Video The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment met to consider wildlife management issues affecting South Africa’s conservation reputation and tourism sector. The Committee received briefings from Blood Lions on public attitudes towards commercial captive lion breeding and the proposed phase-out of the industry, and from Humane World for Animals (HWA) on public and tourist perceptions of elephant culling. Blood Lions reported strong domestic and international support for phasing out commercial captive lion breeding and argued that continued delays could harm South Africa’s tourism appeal, conservation reputation and animal welfare objectives. It raised concern that the phase-out process appeared to have stalled and called for clarity on the implementation timeline. HWA reported broad opposition to elephant culling and support for non-lethal management measures, including immunocontraception. It warned that large-scale culling could negatively affect tourism and South Africa’s reputation as a conservation destination. Members broadly supported addressing intensive captive lion breeding but questioned the methodology and representativeness of the opinion polls and cautioned against allowing public perceptions alone to determine scientifically complex wildlife-management decisions. They questioned the estimated potential loss of 66 000 tourism jobs, the welfare and management of approximately 8 000 captive lions during a phase-out, transition arrangements for workers, and measures to prevent operators from shifting to other predators or illegal activities. On elephants, Members highlighted population pressures at Madikwe Game Reserve and Pilanesberg National Park and questioned whether non-lethal alternatives had been sufficiently explored before culling was considered. Blood Lions explained that the 66 000-job figure was an extrapolation rather than a prediction and said transition options for affected workers had been considered through the Ministerial Task Team (MTT). It also warned that illegal trade and a shift towards other captive predators remained risks. HWA said non-lethal population-management measures had not been implemented at Madikwe or Pilanesberg despite being available, and defended the statistical methodology and independence of its survey. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) confirmed that government policy on phasing out captive lion breeding had not changed, but said ministerial changes had contributed to delays and that socioeconomic and employment implications required careful consideration. The Committee resolved to prioritise a briefing from the MTT to scrutinise exit strategies and ensure that the transition was environmentally sound, humane and socioeconomically sustainable. The Committee also adopted its report on the DFFE and entities’ third- and fourth-quarter performance and expenditure for 2025/26, as well as several sets of minutes.