Global animal welfare organisation Four Paws warned lions, leopards, cheetahs, and tigers continue to face exploitation through breeding, tourism activities, and the international trade in animal parts despite international protections. Regulations for the captive predator industry must be tightened.

The organisation said South Africa remains a major source and exporter of captive big cats and their derivatives, with weak enforcement and legal loopholes continuing to fuel both legal and illegal wildlife trade.

Endangered Species Day, observed annually on the third Friday of May, raises awareness about threatened plants and animals and encourages conservation efforts.

It highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and celebrating successful recovery efforts, often featuring educational events and community activities.

“South Africa has an opportunity to become a global leader in ethical conservation by ending the commercial breeding and trade of big cats once and for all,” said Four Paws South Africa director Fiona Miles.

“Big cats belong in the wild, not in breeding facilities where they are exploited for tourism, trade, and profit. The continued trade in big cat parts fuels international demand and places additional pressure on already vulnerable wild populations across the world.”

Protecting endangered species requires stronger enforcement, political commitment, and a complete shift away from systems that treat animals as commodities, she said.

Leopards and cheetahs are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) permits Appendix I, meaning international commercial trade is prohibited due to the high risk of extinction enforced under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act.

The African lion is listed under Cites Appendix II, allowing regulated trade despite concerns about captive breeding and trade in bones and body parts. It includes species not currently threatened with extinction.

Tigers, not native to South Africa but widely kept in captivity, are also listed under Appendix I, with international commercial trade also prohibited.

“The commercial exploitation of big cats has no conservation value,” said Miles. “Instead, it damages South Africa’s international reputation, puts pressure on wild populations across the globe, and condemns thousands of animals to a life of suffering.”

Breaking this vicious cycle requires decisive political action and public support, and it cannot wait. 

OFM News/Zenande Mpame dg

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