WILDLIFE ANIMAL FORUM SOUTH AFRICA ADDRESSES:
His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, Honourable Minister Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environmet, Honourable Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize, Minister of Health, Honourable Minster Minister of Employment and Labour, Honourable Minister Thokozile Didiza, Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Developement (DALRRD), Honourable Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi- Ngubane Minister of Tourism, CEO, South African Human Rights Commission, Adv. Tseliso Thipanyane, Secretary General, Congress of South African Trade Unions, Bheki Ntshalintshali, Director, Human Rights Watch, Dewa Mavhinga, CITES Secretariat
21ST APRIL 2021
HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS IN THE CAPTIVE BIG CAT INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA
OPEN LETTER
The Wildlife Animal Protection Forum South Africa (WAPFSA) is an alliance of diverse South African based organisations that share certain values, knowledge and objectives and that collectively comprise a body of expertise from scientific, conservation, legal, welfare, rights, social and climate justice, indigenous paradigm and public advocacy sectors.
WAPFSA would like to bring to your attention a Report entitled The Vicious Cycle and published by one of our members, Four Paws.
The Vicious Cycle reveals human rights concerns within South Africa’s captive big cat sector. This industry utilises captive big cats for interactions with humans, trophy hunting and the export lion bone trade to Asia.
The Four Paws report highlights the immense suffering of these big cats, showcasing the poor hygiene protocols that are in place at these breeding facilities. Whilst there have been other reports published about this controversial and exploitative industry, Four Paws has specifically highlighted the conditions that the workers in this largely unregulated industry are subjected too.
In light of this report, the undersigned members of the Wildlife Animal Protection Forum are calling for a Presidential investigation into all aspects of South Africa’s captive big cat industry.
Attached please find a copy of the Report.