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Big Cat Trade in South Africa: Unchecked and Unregulated
Context:
South Africa has become a hub for the big cat trade, with weak regulations allowing a lucrative but dangerous industry to thrive. This industry not only threatens big cat populations but fuels global wildlife crime.
Key Findings from the Report:
- Massive Export of Big Cats and Body Parts
- Over 3,500 live big cats and 34,000 body parts have been exported in the past two decades.
- South Africa is now the largest exporter of big cats and their parts globally, according to Four Paws and CITES data.
- Frequent Illegal Trade Incidents
- Between 2018 and 2024, at least 30 illegal trade incidents were traced back to South Africa.
- The trafficked animals include lions, tigers, leopards, and other big cat species.
- Limited Data and Regulation
- Authorities lack comprehensive data on the number of big cats bred, traded, or killed within the country.
- Many facilities claim self-regulation but operate outside standardised controls.
- Tigers in Illegal Trade
- From 2000-2018, parts from at least 2,359 tigers were seized in over 1,000 incidents across 32 nations.
- This illustrates the international reach and demand for big cat parts, especially in Asia.
Drivers and Consequences of Big Cat Trade:
- Weak Regulatory Frameworks
- South Africa’s lack of policies specifically for non-native big cats (like tigers) enables criminal networks to thrive.
- Breeders often operate with little oversight, making South Africa a prime destination for big cat trafficking.
- Industrial-Scale Breeding and Tourism Exploitation
- Nearly 10,000 big cats are bred in captivity in South Africa, many used in tourism or killed for trade.
- The report highlights unnatural animal handling, including declawing and cross-breeding of lions and tigers.
- Hotspots and Wildlife Trafficking Networks
- Major trade routes lead to Asia, with Vietnam and China identified as demand hotspots.
- Nineteen additional traders were identified, located across multiple countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and the UAE.
Threats to Big Cat Conservation:
- No Conservation Value in Captive Breeding
- Captive breeding contributes nothing to wild population recovery; instead, it’s driven by profit for the hunting and body part industries.
- Declines in wild populations of all big cat species are expected if these practices continue.
- Disregard for International Protections
- South Africa fails to adhere to CITES agreements meant to protect endangered species, with few facilities registered for tiger breeding.
- Tigers and other big cats are bred in unlisted facilities, often under poor welfare standards.
Recommendations and Urgent Call for Action:
- Complete Closure by 2030: Four Paws calls for a full ban on South Africa’s big cat industry by 2030, aiming to halt species decline and protect endangered populations.
- Stronger Regulations and Global Cooperation: The report emphasises the need for enhanced regulations and international collaboration to effectively curb the illegal big cat trade.
