Protect lions by ending the global wildlife trade

The fate of thousands of lions bred for their body parts in South Africa is truly horrific.

These iconic wild animals are forced to endure a lifetime of suffering in confinement. Typically, lion cubs are:

  • Stolen from their mothers within days of birth
  • Forced to live in tiny, cramped cages
  • Very often inbred, starved and diseased

All until it’s time for them to be killed for their bones, which are shipped abroad for use in traditional medicine in Asia.

Sadly, this isn’t the only way lions are being exploited for profit. They are also bred for tourist interactions such as petting and “walk-with” experiences, and for canned hunting. They live lives of complete misery in unnatural conditions, until they cruelly meet their end. In 2019, there were nearly 8,000 lions in captivity in South Africa.

Lions aren’t the only big cats facing this kind of abuse. Tigers are also being bred and killed for their parts and jaguars are poached from the wild for similar reasons. The only way to ensure their protection is to end the global wildlife trade now.

End the global wildlife trade. Forever.
Act now

Love wildlife. End the wildlife trade.

Lions, other big cats, and millions of wild animals like them are victims of the global wildlife trade, which treats them as commodities rather than sentient beings.

Every day, thousands of wild animals are poached, farmed or sold into the global multi-billion dollar trade – for food, pets, traditional medicine and entertainment.

Horrific conditions cause unimaginable suffering for every single animal involved. They also create a hotbed of zoonotic disease, leading to outbreaks like SARS and now COVID-19.

Right now, the lion bone trade is temporarily on hold because of legal reasons and COVID-19. With your help, we can keep it that way and spare any more lions this terrible fate.

Lion cub in a facility in South Africa
Stolen from their mothers (photo by Blood Lions)
Lion cubs in a cramped cage - image by Blood Lions
Forced to live in cramped cages (photo by Blood Lions)
Emaciated lion in South Africa - image by EMS Foundation
Inbred, starved and diseased (photo by EMS Foundation)

Demand world leaders act to end the suffering of wild animals and protect our health

To protect animals, people and the planet, we need to end the cruel global wildlife trade.

When the G20 meet in November, they will focus on dealing with the pandemic and coordinating a global response. That response must include a commitment to ending the global trade in wild animals forever.

This will help stop future pandemics and protect millions of wild animals, like these lions.

Call on our leaders to protect wild animals, our health, the environment and the economy. Sign our petition today.

Lion hop share image

G20: End the wildlife trade

The global trade of wild animals is cruel, unsustainable and puts our health and the world economy at risk. We demand that the leaders of the G20 commit to a global ban on the wild animal trade, forever. 

Tell the world