Lions, Leopards and Cheetahs have all fallen victim to this conflict, whether near villages or farms, local people and farmers must understandably protect their interests. However, we believe working in harmony with wildlife is critical in today’s’ environment when we can ill-afford to lose any more iconic species – with this philosophy, we are able to mitigate and/or arrange interventions in such circumstances where there may be a “problem animal” such as a big cat attacking livestock, or a cat having escaped a reserve boundary fence. Having a broader view to these “problem animals” means we can deal with situations effectively, keeping the animal alive and showing that these species are not necessarily a “problem”.

Managed wildlife reserves are also under huge strain to ethically and responsibly control wildlife numbers. Culling lions in particular, we believe and hope is a thing of the past. However, in order for these reserves to correctly maintain such numbers, an outlet is required to avoid the unnecessary killing of what are generally healthy animals – the Captured In Africa Foundation works hand in hand with these reserves and wildlife management, along with government authorities and seeks to facilitate relocations to other reserves where the animals can continue living in a wild environment – thus avoiding a reserves’ need to cull.

Owning an exotic animal has for far too long been seen as a status symbol, or personal possession to enjoy and often keep as a “pet”. In the USA for example, there are great efforts to bring new laws banning the ownership of exotic animals such as big cats. Middle Eastern counties such as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have long been keen importers and breeders of cheetahs, lions and tigers. With a lack of animal welfare laws in such countries, there is a hastened need for better education and protection for big cats in these countries.

Captured In Africa have also seen a worrying trend of private lodges and nature reserves buying (or loaning from lion breeders) 1 or 2 lions, that they will then use and exploit for tourist activities as cub petting and walking with lions experiences… all of which goes to feed the “farming” industry of these species.

In South Africa there are currently approximately 7,000 lions in captivity, bred on mass for the cub petting industry, walking with lion experiences and canned hunting.

Canned Hunting is a commercial industry to which the Captured In Africa team advocate for a ban. It is this industry which has seen an increase in a need for genuine sanctuary homes for lions. Lion cubs hold a particular fascination for tourists and volunteers, who pay good money to pet, play, walk and care for them under the assumption that it is part of conservation efforts for lions or other big cats.

In fact, what tourists and volunteers are really doing is taming these lions ready for a trophy collector in what is known as a captive lion hunt, aka canned hunting.

Captured In Africa advise against all petting and walking with lion, tiger or cheetah experiences available to tourists and volunteers.

The Captured In Africa Foundation oversees all relocations & rescues from beginning to completion.