South Africa is considered the top destination for canned lion hunting and international animal welfare organization, Network for Animals (NFA), has urgently called for South African decision makers to address the legislative gaps around this cruel practice.

Canned lion hunting is illegal in South Africa, but captive-bred lion hunting is allowed. Lions are bred in captivity and held in small enclosures until they are shot and killed. 

NFA’s chief campaigner David Barritt said there was a fine line between the two - and regulations differ by province, creating confusion that canned lion hunters take advantage of.

“The result is that South Africa is now the worst offender in Africa for a practice that has been universally condemned as cruel. Our country is now the world’s largest exporter of trophy lion heads,” he said.

“No government can condone the drugging and shooting of captive animals in a travesty of hunting that frequently leads to a lion dying a slow, lingering death, riddled with bullets. It’s time for the legislative loopholes to be closed because - make no mistake - canned lion hunting brings shame to South Africa.”

Barritt said government had so far been ignoring calls to completely outlaw canned lion hunting. Trophy hunting is big business in South Africa and according to BBC News, it was worth almost a billion rand in 2013 ($70m, £50m).

“But this is generally understood to be for wild animals, not those bred in captivity just to be shot,” the BBC reported, then posing the question: “Are lion hunters in South Africa shooting tame animals?”

“The clear answer to that is yes. When a lioness gives birth, her cubs are forcibly taken from her, and used as a petting tool for tourists, who often pose and take photographs with them. When these tamed lions get bigger and harder to handle, they are moved to an enclosed area and stay there until someone pays to shoot them,” said Barritt.

They can’t run, hide or defend themselves in any way. These animals are frequently drugged to make it easier for hunters, who often shoot the creature while sitting in their nearby vehicles. In most cases, it takes several shots before the animal dies. And canned lion hunting is not the only danger lions face.

 “Lions are being poached for their feet and bones to be exported to Asian countries, where they are marketed as virtual magic potions, a cure for all ills. It’s ridiculous nonsense with no scientific foundation and if left unchecked, it will wipe out the lion population in Africa,” said Barritt.