Did you know that there are more than 300 farms in South Africa where lions are bred in cages for the hunting industry? It's called canned lion hunting because it is hunting in a can. Instant. No chase. No escape. No mercy. Shot in a fenced camp.    Since it was first uncovered in 1997, this industry has been under huge scrutiny both locally and internationally. Canned lion hunting remains legal in South Africa. A canned lion is a lion born in captivity on a lion farm. It is taken from its mother at 2 to 3 weeks old, so she can breed again, and sold to cub petting destinations for tourists. Later, stressed and malnourished, the young lion, now too big for petting, is sold to a lion walking destination, also for tourists. Finally, the lion is sold to a hunter, to be shot and killed as a trophy.  Today there are 3 times more canned lions than wild lions in South Africa. For about 11000 lions, there is not one day of freedom. Farmed lions can never be made wild and will never know the natural sanctity of being free. A hunter or farmers’ bullet awaits them.  Many conservationist groups and individuals have long lobbied with the South African government against canned lion hunting. We learn more from Chris Mercer who is recognised as the leading international expert on the practice of canned lion hunting and has lobbied against it for more than 20 years.  Chris and his late partner Beverley, established a wildlife rehab centre and sanctuary in the Karoo region, of South Africa. When they heard of the unimaginably cruel treatment of lions on South Africa's lion farms, Chris started to campaign against canned hunting. The Campaign Against Canned Hunting was born.    If you would like to learn more about the work being done by Chris and others mentioned in this podcast, please see the links below |  http://www.cannedlion.org/  & https://www.lionsbonesbullets.film/