“South Africa’s out-of-control big cat industry – and how to tackle it,” Four Paws, December 2024
“South Africa is the world’s largest exporter of live tigers and their parts despite not having any captive-breeding facilities registered in terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is according to the new report by global animal welfare organization Four Paws entitled South Africa’s Out of Control Big Cat Industry” – Adam Cruise, All Africa, 5 December 2024
Tigers are among other big cat species (as well as lions, leopards etc.) exploited within South Africa (“IWB’s HLP Submission,” para 10.1, p 160 -161, para 13.4, p 252 – 253). The presence of commercial tiger breeding facilities is a clear contravention of CITES Resolution Conf. 12.5 (Rev. CoP18), 1.(h) which urges:
“Parties and non-Parties on whose territories tigers and other Asian big cat species are bred in captivity to ensure that adequate management practices and controls are in place to prevent parts and derivatives from entering illegal trade from or through such facilities.”
“Data published by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has identified South Africa as the world’s largest exporter of big cats and their parts. Trade routes exist between South Africa and the world’s hotspot areas for consumer demand in big cat parts, primarily for use in traditional medicines and as so-called luxury items. CITES Trade Database analysis shows that most big cats and big cat parts exported from South Africa are from animals that were captive-born…… Evidence of captive-bred big cats from commercial facilities being sold either for killing and processing for traditional Chinese medicines in South Africa, or for illicit export to Asia has been substantiated in recent years..” – “South Africa’s out-of-control big cat industry – and how to tackle it,” Four Paws
Further Reading
“Debunking the captive lion industry’s myths and deception,” PoliticsWeb, 15 January 2025
“Behind bars — South Africa’s tiger farming crisis and its hidden global implications,” Don Pinnock, Daily Maverick, 5 December 2024
“Roadmap to Closing Captive Tiger Facilities of Concern,” IWB, 20 December 2023