From the heart-warming reunion of ‘Christian The Lion’ and his old handlers to social media influencers videoing their exotic pets, domesticated wild animals have a key to our hearts. While these unlikely bonds between animals and man might seem like wholesome content, these seemingly sweet filmed encounters often have a darker side.
The possibility of rubbing shoulders with fierce and friendly creatures is one of South Africa’s key features for tourists to experience a walk on the wild side. While many institutions aim to provide optimal conditions for animals in enclosures, this is not always the case.
The space and size of the environment these kept animal populations roaming is an important aspect for creatures to live and thrive within man-made boundaries. If the enclosure does not provide predatory animals (such as lions and cheetahs) to hunt, this inevitably disables them from fulfilling their natural instinct – which is to kill their food.
The enclosed environment also needs to have a variety of factors that emulate what nature usually provides these wild animals. This includes hiding places, shelter from various weather conditions, etc. So, in many ways, a small cage with a few cat toys scattered around the premises just won’t cut it.
With a heavy stance against ‘canned hunting’ and captive lion breeding, the non-governmental organisation, Blood Lions, has made it their mission to shine a light on the matter. They state the number of lions in captivity has increased at an alarming rate in recent years, where they are used and kept for a variety of reasons, such as:
Lion cub petting.
Interactive experiences with tourists/visitors.
The lion bone trade.
Etc.
While many registered facilities do have the responsibility to abide by legislation and laws to keep wild animals, these enclosures become tricky to regulate. Whether it’s legal loopholes or a lack of standard captivity procedures between the nine provinces of South Africa, captive predators can become vulnerable to neglect.
Animal Enclosure Experiences – What to look for
As many wildlife sanctuaries and institutes rely on the fees of their visitors to run and finance their facilities, it’s important not to advocate for a complete boycott of these entities. Rather, it’s important to support establishments that value sustainable and ethical practices. Here are a few important questions to ask when doing your research:
Does the captive environment that closely mimics that of nature and is it suitable for the specific species in the enclosure?
Is it a social environment for the creatures in captivity? Animals, such as lions, are considered social predators and often hunt in packs, so interacting with their kind is an important aspect to ensure their well-being.
Does the facility abide to the relevant captivity laws and legislations?
South African National Parks – An Ethical Wildlife Experience
From a herd of elephants playing in the watering whole to lions stalking their prey in a lush field, National parks provide a stellar example of ethical wildlife watching. While human intervention is present, such as safari tours and fenced of locations in the park, this animal-filled space allows creatures to thrive in a natural ecosystem.
These facilities provide a great alternative for the traditional idea of animals in captivity, as these institutes generally don’t force interactions between the animals and visitors. National parks often have game drives to allow a no-contact experience to view and admire the animals within the park.
This instils a feeling of entering the animals’ playground rather than keeping creatures purely for entertainment purposes. Luckily, Africa has a large supply of sublime safari destinations for individuals to encounter wild animals in a respectful and sustainable way.
Animal Captivity in South Africa – Conclusion
While cute exotic pets at home and lion petting experiences might spark a feeling of envy, it’s vital to understand what captivity can do to animals that do not wish to be tamed. From high stress levels to upright neglect, individuals should rather focus their attention on facilities that provide a more natural and ethical way to enjoy a wildlife experience.
Photography by Louise de Waal/Blood Lions© and Stephanie Klarmann/Blood Lions©
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