"As we’ve seen with tigers and other threatened species, captive lion breeding may stimulate consumer demand and put additional pressure on wild populations across African home ranges."

"I recently co-authored a new peer-reviewed study that has delivered another blow to South Africa’s controversial commercial captive lion industry, finding no solid evidence that breeding lions in captivity benefits wild populations and warning that it may be doing the opposite.

Our study, a collaboration with researchers from Blood Lions and World Animal Protection, paints a troubling picture of an industry that has exploded over the past three decades to around 350 facilities holding nearly 8,000 lions — alongside thousands of other big cats — for exhibition and breeding, tourism experiences, “canned” or captive trophy hunting, and the trade in bones and body parts.

We examined 126 scientific papers and 37 organizational reports published between 2008 and 2023, flagging three major concerns:

- Currently there is no proof that the commercial industry aids conservation.
- Captive breeding may increase demand for lion parts.
- Links between legal and illegal trade could be strengthened."

Stephanie Klarmann reports for The Revelator October 10, 2025. [2]