Despite overwhelming worldwide opposition, including a parliamentary resolution to close down the captive lion breeding industry, SA’s government is ignoring red flags that the industry is damaging the country’s reputation and deliberating on a 2020 annual trade quota for the export of lion bones.          

The department of environment, forestry & fisheries said in April that the decision for a lion bone quota has been deferred to later this year. It claims that public opposition and a 2019 court case between the minister and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), who say breeding and trade in captive-bred lion parts raise significant welfare issues, have delayed determining last year’s export quota...