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| Are lion hunters in South Africa shooting tame animals? | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The guide whistles as the large, dark-maned lion walks just a few metres from the car. | The guide whistles as the large, dark-maned lion walks just a few metres from the car. |
| It looks around to face the American hunter and a single shot rings out in the South African bush. | It looks around to face the American hunter and a single shot rings out in the South African bush. |
| The lion cartwheels from the force of the bullet - shocked and confused it roars, turns and quickly limps off into the bush. | The lion cartwheels from the force of the bullet - shocked and confused it roars, turns and quickly limps off into the bush. |
| "Shoot him again, shoot him again, shoot him again," the professional hunter frantically urges, as the hunter reloads, firing into the trees. | "Shoot him again, shoot him again, shoot him again," the professional hunter frantically urges, as the hunter reloads, firing into the trees. |
| The video cuts to see the lion lying dead and the American walking up to him. | The video cuts to see the lion lying dead and the American walking up to him. |
| "Hey you," he says, "I'm sorry, but I wanted you," before leaning down and kissing the lion. | "Hey you," he says, "I'm sorry, but I wanted you," before leaning down and kissing the lion. |
| Viewpoint: Uncomfortable realities of big game hunting | Viewpoint: Uncomfortable realities of big game hunting |
| Why big game hunting is big business in South Africa | Why big game hunting is big business in South Africa |
| The video was shot by Derek Gobbett, a safari cameraman brought in to make a souvenir for the 10 American hunters who had paid thousands of dollars each to shoot a lion. | The video was shot by Derek Gobbett, a safari cameraman brought in to make a souvenir for the 10 American hunters who had paid thousands of dollars each to shoot a lion. |
| But he says the way they went about was neither fair nor legal - that it was something known as "canned lion" hunting - more of a duck shoot than a lion hunt. | But he says the way they went about was neither fair nor legal - that it was something known as "canned lion" hunting - more of a duck shoot than a lion hunt. |
| Hunting is big business for South Africa - it was worth $70m (£50m) in 2013 - but this is generally understood to be for wild animals, not those bred in captivity just to be shot. | Hunting is big business for South Africa - it was worth $70m (£50m) in 2013 - but this is generally understood to be for wild animals, not those bred in captivity just to be shot. |
| 'It's all just a lie' | 'It's all just a lie' |
| Every year hundreds of lions are bred in captivity across South Africa for the purpose of being placed onto private game reserves for hunting. | Every year hundreds of lions are bred in captivity across South Africa for the purpose of being placed onto private game reserves for hunting. |
| "Eight lionesses were released [from captivity] literally the day before the clients arrived - in fact four were released as the plane was landing just down the road," Mr Gobbett told the BBC. | "Eight lionesses were released [from captivity] literally the day before the clients arrived - in fact four were released as the plane was landing just down the road," Mr Gobbett told the BBC. |
| "We shot that first lion probably within half-an-hour," he said. | "We shot that first lion probably within half-an-hour," he said. |
| He explained how the lions appeared to be used to humans - how one was shot while hiding in a hole, another up against a fence. | He explained how the lions appeared to be used to humans - how one was shot while hiding in a hole, another up against a fence. |
| A new report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) says in the decade between 2004 and 2014, 1.7 million animals were killed for their "trophy". | A new report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) says in the decade between 2004 and 2014, 1.7 million animals were killed for their "trophy". |
| At least 200,000 of them were threatened species such as elephants, rhinos or lions. | At least 200,000 of them were threatened species such as elephants, rhinos or lions. |
| IFAW found that the US was the biggest importer of stuffed animal heads, while South Africa was the biggest exporter - and lions were by far the most traded. | IFAW found that the US was the biggest importer of stuffed animal heads, while South Africa was the biggest exporter - and lions were by far the most traded. |
| "Right from the start, the guys are told it's very dangerous - that these are wild animals… and of course they take it all in," Mr Gobbett said. | "Right from the start, the guys are told it's very dangerous - that these are wild animals… and of course they take it all in," Mr Gobbett said. |
| "It's all: 'You got so lucky, that was such an amazing shot.' Slaps on the back: 'You're such a hero, look at what you've done - you have got your king of the jungle.' | "It's all: 'You got so lucky, that was such an amazing shot.' Slaps on the back: 'You're such a hero, look at what you've done - you have got your king of the jungle.' |
| "Meanwhile, it's all just a lie." | "Meanwhile, it's all just a lie." |
| Arguments in support | Arguments in support |
| The IFAW report says there are between 6,000 to 8,000 lions kept in captivity in South Africa, in up to 200 ranches. | The IFAW report says there are between 6,000 to 8,000 lions kept in captivity in South Africa, in up to 200 ranches. |
| "Canned" lion hunting is illegal in South Africa, but captive-bred lion hunting is allowed. Amid a raft of regulations there is a fine line between the two - and something which differs by province. | "Canned" lion hunting is illegal in South Africa, but captive-bred lion hunting is allowed. Amid a raft of regulations there is a fine line between the two - and something which differs by province. |
| "All the lion hunting in South Africa is supposed to be with permits, and those are regulated hunts that have to be done to a certain criteria," said Carla van der Vyver, chief executive of the South African Predator Association (SAPA). | "All the lion hunting in South Africa is supposed to be with permits, and those are regulated hunts that have to be done to a certain criteria," said Carla van der Vyver, chief executive of the South African Predator Association (SAPA). |
| "If such an activity has happened and it was not done to permit regulations it is definitely not a thing that SAPA will support," she said in reference to the video footage. | "If such an activity has happened and it was not done to permit regulations it is definitely not a thing that SAPA will support," she said in reference to the video footage. |
| SAPA does support captive-bred hunting, unlike the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, which voted to ban the practice last year. | SAPA does support captive-bred hunting, unlike the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, which voted to ban the practice last year. |
| Trophy hunting in numbers | Trophy hunting in numbers |
| Source: IFAW's June 2016 report: Killing For Trophies - An Analysis Of Global Trophy Hunting Trade | Source: IFAW's June 2016 report: Killing For Trophies - An Analysis Of Global Trophy Hunting Trade |
| "Mostly the benefits are extending the lion's habitat, because it needs to be released in an ecological area - a large area," said Ms Van der Vyver. | "Mostly the benefits are extending the lion's habitat, because it needs to be released in an ecological area - a large area," said Ms Van der Vyver. |
| "It also requires for other animals to be re-introduced into the land - to be prey species." | "It also requires for other animals to be re-introduced into the land - to be prey species." |
| Other arguments in support of this form of hunting are that it protects the dwindling numbers of wild lions, and also managed breeding can strengthen the gene pool. | Other arguments in support of this form of hunting are that it protects the dwindling numbers of wild lions, and also managed breeding can strengthen the gene pool. |
| A certain number of wild lions can be killed each year - and some of the money raised used for helping with conservation efforts. | A certain number of wild lions can be killed each year - and some of the money raised used for helping with conservation efforts. |
| The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has backed calls to push South Africa to ban the hunting of lions bred in captivity. | The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has backed calls to push South Africa to ban the hunting of lions bred in captivity. |
| It passed a motion by a large majority at the World Conservation Congress, which is meeting this week in Hawaii, and is calling on South Africa to stop the captive breeding of lions for anything other than conservation. | It passed a motion by a large majority at the World Conservation Congress, which is meeting this week in Hawaii, and is calling on South Africa to stop the captive breeding of lions for anything other than conservation. |
| But supporters of captive breeding argue it does contribute to conservation. | But supporters of captive breeding argue it does contribute to conservation. |
| Serious questions | Serious questions |
| We were taken on a drive around a huge area of hunting land owned by Tienie Bamberger - there were five lions in an area between 500 and 1,000 hectares (1,235-2,471 acres), which he said it would take days to track and shoot. | We were taken on a drive around a huge area of hunting land owned by Tienie Bamberger - there were five lions in an area between 500 and 1,000 hectares (1,235-2,471 acres), which he said it would take days to track and shoot. |
| He has expanded his initial plot of 200 hectares to 6,000 with the increased business over the last 13 years. His lions come from breeding farms. | He has expanded his initial plot of 200 hectares to 6,000 with the increased business over the last 13 years. His lions come from breeding farms. |
| He says conservation would be the first thing to suffer if hunting was banned. | He says conservation would be the first thing to suffer if hunting was banned. |
| "The immediate effect would be the loss of habitat. We have more than 16 different antelope species we keep on this land which are also benefitting," he said. | "The immediate effect would be the loss of habitat. We have more than 16 different antelope species we keep on this land which are also benefitting," he said. |
| "There is a lot of controversy when it comes to the so-called canned lion industry, and it's given a bad name to hunting in general, so we totally condemn any illegal hunting." | "There is a lot of controversy when it comes to the so-called canned lion industry, and it's given a bad name to hunting in general, so we totally condemn any illegal hunting." |
| The hunting video dates back to 2012, but has been recently released into the public domain. | The hunting video dates back to 2012, but has been recently released into the public domain. |
| There are many clips of the American hunters posing with the lions they had killed. | There are many clips of the American hunters posing with the lions they had killed. |
| We showed it to environmental campaigner and journalist Ian Michler, who was the face of a film called "Blood Lions" last year - an investigation into the canned lion industry. | We showed it to environmental campaigner and journalist Ian Michler, who was the face of a film called "Blood Lions" last year - an investigation into the canned lion industry. |
| He said little has changed in the industry, criticising the way a lion was shot from a vehicle, from a short distance - and he highlighted the way the lion responded to a human whistle. | He said little has changed in the industry, criticising the way a lion was shot from a vehicle, from a short distance - and he highlighted the way the lion responded to a human whistle. |
| "We're domesticating our lions. We are breeding them now under intense agricultural conditions just so people can kill them under these circumstances," he said. | "We're domesticating our lions. We are breeding them now under intense agricultural conditions just so people can kill them under these circumstances," he said. |
| "There are serious ethical and ecological questions around that type of behaviour." | "There are serious ethical and ecological questions around that type of behaviour." |
| Trophy import ban | Trophy import ban |
| We also visited a lion breeding farm - a three-day-old cub was playing in the metal fence while its mother looked on protectively. | We also visited a lion breeding farm - a three-day-old cub was playing in the metal fence while its mother looked on protectively. |
| There were 35 lions in the various enclosures - lions in most zoos certainly have less room. | There were 35 lions in the various enclosures - lions in most zoos certainly have less room. |
| While many organisations play by the rules, there are continuing reports of illegal hunts. | While many organisations play by the rules, there are continuing reports of illegal hunts. |
| Perhaps the biggest lever for change in South Africa is a US government ban on importing animal trophies which was brought in following the outcry over the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe by an American dentist last year. | Perhaps the biggest lever for change in South Africa is a US government ban on importing animal trophies which was brought in following the outcry over the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe by an American dentist last year. |
| It has dramatically reduced the number of US hunters visiting, but hunters from Russia and the Middle East are on the increase. | It has dramatically reduced the number of US hunters visiting, but hunters from Russia and the Middle East are on the increase. |
| The breeders certainly complain it's been bad for business. | The breeders certainly complain it's been bad for business. |
| But it does nothing to help the thousands of lions, bred in captivity for hunting, that are no longer needed, and are left to grow up in small enclosures. | But it does nothing to help the thousands of lions, bred in captivity for hunting, that are no longer needed, and are left to grow up in small enclosures. |