Lion and Safari Park advert causes outcry

The advert published in Sandton Chronicle titled Why interaction between people and captive lions is beneficial [Week ending 13 March] has been the subject of much controversy over the past week.

The Chronicle has been flooded with complaints concerning the paper’s alleged ‘promotion’ of this content.

The Sandton Chronicle adheres to the regulations as set out by the SA Press Code and clause 2.4 stipulates: ‘Keep editorial material clearly distinct from advertising and sponsored events.’

The advert is clearly marked as such on the page. While we accept that our readers have different views on the subject matter, the advertisement was paid for by the client and does not reflect the sentiments or view of the editorial team. We have noted your concerns and have published a follow-up article sharing the various opinions which were shared with us on various platforms. The Sandton Chronicle has also received comment from the client on the responses.

This newspaper approached a number of animal rights organisations to include their comments in response to this advert from Lion & Safari Park located near Lanseria Airport.

The spokesperson for Ban Animal Trading (Bat), Smaragda Louw said she expected the Lion & Safari Park to justify their “out of date business model”.

Louw added, “The only reason they describe interaction between humans and wild animals as ‘beneficial’ is because the interaction is what their business is based on; it’s how they make their money.”

Bat said the lion park had refused to grow with the times, allegedly perpetuating a lie so that they could continue benefiting financially.

Louw said this flew in the face of the new South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) guidelines that no longer promoted to tourists any wild parks or zoos in South Africa that offered human-animal interaction.

She added that tourists have been killed by lions at this park and that the park had been exposed for canned lion hunting. The allegation of canned lion hunting was refuted by Lion & Safari Park general manager André La Cock. He said only one person had been killed, and this was at their old premises in June 2015.

“Big cats continue to suffer and ignorant humans fund a cruel and unnecessary business that should never be supported,” said Louw.

Wildlife director at Humane Society International Africa, Audrey Delsink said they did not support captive lion breeding or spin-off industries such as lion interactions that these facilitate.

“We have been actively campaigning to put a stop to this industry which sees approximately 12 000 lions living in 300 facilities across South Africa,” said Delsink.

“This industry has no conservation value and is built on a lifetime of exploitation of lions, who ultimately end up as a canned lion or a bag of bones for the legal lion bone trade.”

Activist Paul Tully was angered by the advert. He said, “Lion & Safari Park are about profits ahead of animal welfare and tourist safety.” He claimed that the park blatantly lied and deceived tourists concerning their captive-bred lions and intentions.

“Lion & Safari Park are in my view the leading cause of tourists wishing to play with innocent cubs,” said Tully. “This is animal oppression of the highest form, lions abused from the start of their lives and being forcibly bred in captivity to then being imprisoned like slaves for tourists to manhandle each day. This is no life to live for any animal, let alone a lion who requires far more space and freedom to a natural life than say a domestic cat or dog.”

The Coalition to Stop the Captive Breeding and Keeping of Lions and Other Big Cats for Commercial Purposes wrote to the Chronicle stating that the captive lion breeding industry, which creates opportunities for lion interactions, is currently legal but this does not make it ethically, morally or socially acceptable.

“The captive lion breeding industry is considered by many professionals in the conservation and tourism space, both national and international, as unethical,” said the coalition.

According to a statement on the NSPCA website, many wild animals used for petting at reserves are being compromised.

“The best activities for wildlife lovers are the experiences out in the natural bush. To experience and appreciate wild animals in the environment where they belong is the only way that you can guarantee that no animals are being compromised for your pleasure,” said the statement.

La Cock said the purpose of the advert was “to get the truth out” in general and not just in reference to comments on social media.

“We are 100 per cent transparent in all we do. We are constantly under a microscope because activists are so loud in the media. We want to get the truth out… We are not fighting for money but for the employment of our 229 staff,” added La Cock.

“We said before 2014 under the previous management and owners, we can’t take accountability for what happened then, but I promise you there is no ways any of my lions will be hunted. At the moment I am sitting with 120 lions.”

La Cock said he welcomed proof of any illegal activities at the establishment.

“If only the activists could come and see what we do at this park… My cubs are 100 times better looked after than in the wild. They live like kings. There is always a vet there to treat them, they never have to worry about food.”

He added that while they welcomed visitors they could not guarantee anyone’s safety at the park because they would be interacting with lions. He said the park was no longer a member of SATSA and was aware of their recommendations concerning increased sensitivity around human and lion interactions. “They are not a regulatory body.”

La Cock added that 80 per cent of their lions were vasectomised. He said between 24 000 and 30 000 children visited the park each year for partially-subsidised educational experiences.

Here are some of the reactions from our Facebook readers:

Skye Danziger: What a total disgrace to have adverts on captive lion parks in your newspaper!

Soula Vaso Christos: Hi there. I am so disappointed that you permitted the disingenuous ad from Lion Park, stating that interacting with lions is a good thing. A full-page, it looks like you endorse it.

Ingrid Falck: Hi to the team. Please be aware that your paid ads you take on do affect your brand and credibility. You ran a promotional full-page ad for the Lion Park and it’s a known fact that petting cubs is an unacceptable practice. I know you know the reasons why so not to belabor the point, but please print a retraction/an apology to save your credible Sandton Chronicle. Thanks team!

Sue Goutier: Seriously Sandton Chronicle, why are you encouraging lions in captivity with your latest article on the benefits of interaction between lions and people!

Jackie Polchet: Great that you are willing to do an article about this, I hope it contains the correct facts.

Michele Pickover, director of EMS Foundation: Thank you for responding, Sandton Chronicle. We realise that this is an advert. We appreciate that you are allowing a response to be published. The EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading South Africa have delivered a report about the Captive Bred Lion Industry in South Africa. This report led to a two-day colloquium which was held in Parliament in 2018. Although the parliamentary committee made recommendations to the government nothing further has happened. The lion cub petting and interaction with lions is only one part of this hideous industry which imprisons 15 000 lions in South Africa. This is not conservation.

If there are any queries or concerns, please email the editor Ashtyn Mackenzie at ashtynm@cxaton.co.za