The Campaign Against Canned Hunting

The Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH)

By Chris Mercer – Guest Writer

The Campaign Against Canned Hunting – (CACH) – most people aren’t even aware that this sport exists. A lion in a cage or a fenced pen is shot. The only reason – the gratification of a heartless, selfish, ego-entitled person who wants bragging rights for “bagging” one of Africa’s most iconic big cats.

NOTE: Some Pictures or Content May be Graphic or Disturbing To Younger or Sensitive Readers

In the world of animals – the elephant is the large gentle giant walking across vast lands – the whale the most incredible being in the sea – but few animals command our admiration, affection and respect like the King himself – the lion. Regal, fiercely protective, strong, loyal, family centred and majestic.

We imagine them roaming their turf – hunting when the need arises – playing with their cubs – lazy in the sunshine – watching – aware – curious and confident in their surroundings.

The reality is that lions in the wild are being hunted and persecuted. Their numbers are dwindling – their survival unclear. But at least they are free. The same cannot be said for the lions who are held captive in the hideous “canned lion” industry.

I am very pleased to have Chris Mercer as a Guest Writer on my Blog – A Beating Heart. Chris and his partner Beverly Pervan are true lion advocates – working tirelessly to educate people about canned hunting – yet another heinous cruelty perpetrated upon animals by humans.

I will let Chris explain – Canned Lion Hunting in a Nutshell.

Chris Mercer is Co-founder and Director of CACH (Campaign Against Canned Hunting) which he started with his partner Beverly Pervan as a not-for-profit Section 21 company, dedicated to getting all trophy hunting banned in South Africa. Previously he and Bev founded and ran a wildlife rehab centre in the Kalahari, and their story is told in the book Kalahari Dream. They also wrote For the Love of Wildlife, and Canned Hunting ~ a National Disgrace. Chris is a retired lawyer who practised law as an Advocate of the High Courts of Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Canned Hunting is the practice of hunting where the target animal is unfairly prevented from escaping the hunter, either by physical constraints, such as fencing, or by mental constraints, such as habituation to humans. All species including exotics like bears, jaguars, tigers etc. are bred for canned hunting in South Africa. The scale is huge – there are at least 5000 lions in captivity awaiting an arrow or a bullet – their fate – to die at the hands of man – for sport.

CANNED 1

With Nowhere To Go – He Just Stands – Waiting to Be Shot

lion waiting to die

1. 50 years ago an estimated 100,000 lions roamed across Africa.

2. Lion habitat has declined by 75% since then and lion numbers have dropped to less than 20,000

3. Only 9 countries in Africa have more than 1000 lions, while Tanzania alone now has 40% of the whole lion population

4. The African lion is heading for extinction.

5. Main driver for lion destruction is the reckless breeding habits of Africa’s human population. For instance, Kenya had a small population of 5 million people at the end of WW2, but that population has exploded to over 30 million.

6. Human over-population in rural areas means lions are killed routinely to protect livestock.

7. Trophy hunting, in the wild, is also a major cause of lion numbers declining, especially since the trophy hunter always wants the magnificent pride male, and once he has been removed, pride cohesion breaks down, with competing males killing all the cubs. It has been estimated that it can take 7 years before that pride can recover fully from the killing of the pride male.

8. Because hunters have wiped out so many wild lions there is a demand for a constant supply of living targets and lion farming to feed the hunting industry has increased dramatically in South Africa.

9. In the last fifteen years the number of captive lions in South Africa has increased from almost zero to over 8000. That is twice as many as there are wild lions (4000).

10. Lion farmers grow out lions for at least three years before they reach “huntable” size. To help pay the cost of rearing lions, lion farmers rent out their cubs to be played with by tourists. And they take in volunteers who pay to be allowed to work at a lion farm (deceitfully – described usually as a ‘wildlife sanctuary’)

What you can do to help the African lion:

a. Cub petting. Do not patronize any tourist resort where cub-petting is allowed. Once grown – these lions – comfortable with humans will be slaughtered.