Conservationists and lion farmers have their sight set on the upcoming CITES convention in 2022. Host country still to be decided upon after Costa Rica stepped down due to financial and other impacts of COVID-19.

High-Level Panel of experts on the review of policies, legislation and practices on matters of Elephant, Lion, Leopard and Rhinoceros management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling invite various NGOs and stakeholders to do presentations via Zoom and answer questions based on their initial submissions. High-Level Panel to present their final report to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries by the end of the year. Decision of the Minister on the captive breeding industry awaited in 2021.

The Meat Safety Act is amended to include 98 species of wild animals, including lions. This amendment was put out for public comment. The purpose of the Meat Safety Act is to provide measures to promote meat safety and the safety of animal products for human and animal consumption. It is thought that one of the reasons for this amendment is to regulate the slaughter of captive bred lions. Scientists express their concern at the risks of zoonotic disease by allowing the consumption of wild animals as well as the possible increase in the bush meat trade.

Experts continue to warn more than ever that eating lions carries human health risks.

Lions, cheetahs, rhinos and zebras were among 33 wild species which became farm animals as of May that year when the South African Government approved an amendment to the Animal Improvement Act (AIA) which governs livestock breeding. The legislation was slipped through without calls for public comments and causes public condemnation when it was discovered.

Department of Environmental Affairs holds a consultation meeting in Pretoria with affected parties to determine the 2019 lion bone quota.

Both SATSA (South African Tourism Services Association) and ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) issue guidelines for wildlife interaction, declaring such practices as unacceptable

Inkatha Freedom Party Election Manifesto includes environmental issues and the words “Criminalize the practice of ‘canned’ or ‘captive bred’ lion hunting in all manner and form”.

A joint police task force uncovers an illegal Vietnamese lion and tiger syndicate operating in Klerksdorp in the North West Province. Six Vietnamese nationals and three South Africans were arrested. At least 40 lions were reportedly killed.

PHASA membership split in half as Paul Stones leave the hunting organisation to form the Custodians of Professional Hunting and Conservation which is against captive-bred lion hunting and pro wild-lion hunting. PHASA expelled from further international hunting organisations.

Slaughterhouse at Wag n Bietjie lion farm in the Free State Province is exposed by the Bloemfontein SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) where 73 lions were shot over a period of 3 days. Bullets were fired through the ear and into the brain of the lions so as not to damage the skull after they were stunned with tranquiliser darts. Two lions were found in transport crates that were too small for them to stand up in or turn around. They had been in there for 3 days without food or water. Bags of innards were piled up on a truck outside creating an unbelievable stench. Inside the shed the floor ran with blood while a team of 8 workers stripped carcasses. The owner of Wag n Bietjie Farm is a former Council member of the SAPA (South African Predators Association).

IFP (Inkatha Freedom Party) issues a press release where Chief Whip in Parliament, Mr Narend Singh,MP, said “Despite no credible basis in science, or socio-economic benefits to the South African people, our government persists in what can be justifiably argued as the decimation of our wild lion populations through allowing the continued commodification of this iconic African apex predator, the African Lion. These appalling policy initiatives by government, which fly directly in the face of international best conservation practice, beggar all belief and raise serious questions as to the motivations that inform them. A growing body of evidence…suggests not only no legitimate ‘science’ in support of the determination of lion bone quota trade quotas, but also absolutely no conservation value in the practice. The practice is nothing more than a commodification of an apex African predator for the pecuniary benefit of a small handful of people, at great and distressing expense to brand South Africa.”

PHASA (Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) reverses their decision to distance themselves from SAPA (South African Predator Association) and instead adopt a new constitution that accepts the practice of captive lion hunting. In the months to follow PHASA is expelled from international hunting organisations including Safari Club International and the International Council for Game & Wildlife Conservation.

South African Predator Association (SAPA) develops its own norms & standards for the management of captive lions and for hunting of managed ranched lions.

A proposal to uplift African Lion from Appendix ll (Vulnerable) to Appendix l (Endangered) was defeated at CITES (Convention in International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife) COP17 (Conference of Parties No. 17). South Africa agrees instead to set a quota for the export of bones from captive lions only. This quota will not include trophies.

The Dutch government extends the list of banned trophies to include white rhino, elephant, hippo, cheetah, polar bear and lion. Between 2012 and 2015 Between 2012 the Netherlands received 27 requests to bring a trophy into the country, which included lions, bears, elephants, panthers, monkeys, wolves, deer and lynxes.

Many airlines ban the transport of lion trophies and body parts. Among them were Emirates, Virgin, Delta, International Airlines Group (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus), Air Canada and Jet Blue. South African Airlines initially also banned the transport but were censured by the then Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa and rescinded their ban.

It was reported that in the three years prior to the ban Australian hunters imported the bodies or body parts of 91 lions.

Lion breeders and bone representatives make several trips to China, Laos and Vietnam to develop trade and new products. Steep rise in the poaching of wild lions in vulnerable (small and relatively isolated) lion populations across several southern African countries, especially Mozambique’s Limpopo National Park and Niassa National Reserve – deduction is that legal supply from South Africa not meeting the growing demand. The trend in lion poaching of wild lions mirrors the increase in captive-lion exports.

Department of Environmental Affairs of South Africa creates Lion Biodiversity Management Plan.

1.78 million people sign an online petition to President Jacob Zuma urging him to ban the breeding of lions and the sale of bones.

Department of Environmental Affairs publishes Draft Norms & Standards for the Hunting Industry in South Africa.

Asian wildlife traders start showing an interest in lion bone trade as a result of acute decline in tiger populations. In 2008 the first significant legal export of 60 lion carcasses was sent from South Africa to Laos.

South African government declares that captive-bred lions must be released into the wild 2 years before they are hunted. Breeders challenge this through the Courts and win.

While numbers are unknown, South Africa now has well established captive-bred lion farms.

On 6 May 1997 over 10 million viewers watched the ITV undercover documentary by Roger Cook “Making A Killing” (screened in South Africa on Carte Blanche) on the farm where previously a lioness was separated from her cubs and shot against a fence by a German hunter while the terrified cubs looked on. This produced worldwide outrage and a demand that the South African government outlaw this practice.

First reports circulate of old circus lions being sold for a canned hunt.

PHASA (Professional Hunters Association of South Africa) is formed by a group of professional hunters to act as the mouthpiece for the South African professional hunting industry.