The Moment 10 Lions Are Rescued From Farm In South Africa

Shocking footage shows the moment 10 lions were rescued after being held in captivity at a farm for 'canned hunting' in South Africa.

So-called canned hunting is the killing of animals bred in captivity and is most commonly associated with trophy-hunting.

Footage and images were shared by [email protected], a German organisation working in Africa on biodiversity, climate, agriculture and wildlife conservation.

The non-governmental organisation carries out anti-poaching, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, law enforcement, education, and direct action on wildlife rescue.

[email protected] said: "During November 2019, our team reached South Africa to rescue lions from one of these farms. The team was overwhelmed seeing 10 lions kept in a totally secluded and closed shed with no light or grass.

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"We had to fight hard for the lives of these lions. But dedication and passion made this work successful."

The team travelled around 5,000km to get to the lions and then spent around 10 hours safely removing them from the enclosure and making sure to get the proper paperwork to ensure they could be rescued.

The lions had to be tranquilized before they could be moved, but are now at a sanctuary where they are in more suitable living conditions and 'will learn to be lions again'.

The [email protected] spokesperson added: "A canned hunt is a trophy hunt which is not 'fair chase'; it has been made too easy for the hunter.

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"Some examples of this include animals who have been kept in a confined area, such as in a fenced-in area, increasing the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill.

"In most cases, the lions are kept in tiny enclosures, are confined to horrible places, with limited or no food and extreme stress and with no hygienic and veterinary care.

"A 'hunter' can then choose the lions he wants to kill and conduct the killings in the easiest of ways, even just by sitting in their vehicle.

"Animals do not stand any chance. Such facilities even put male lions in small enclosures for them to fight each other, so the lions end up with scars on their faces."

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There are now thought to be more lions in captivity - an estimated 5,000- in South Africa than the 2,000 estimated to be in the wild.

Topics: World News, Animals

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19