VIDEO: Uproar at Lion Park
LANSERIA - The Lion Park was in uproar as protesters came out in their masses on 21 March to show support against the canned hunting of lions.
A dusty road served as barrier for protesters, as representatives from the park were also out in full force.
The protest was arranged by Linda Park, the Johannesburg director of the Campaign Against Canned Hunting organisation. A part of the Global March Initiative, the protest was one of the many that will be held around the world, all in honour of protecting lions and the prevention of canning.
According to Park, canned hunting is a fast-growing business in South Africa, where thousands of lions are being bred on farms to be shot by wealthy trophy-hunters.
Watch Linda Park address protesters:
The organisation believes parks like the Lion Park promote the exploitation of lions and wildlife. “Lions are groomed from cubs to be canned eventually. There aren’t enough reserves in the country to keep them; in the end, female lions are let loose to be killed recreationally,” said Park.
“The problem is the public do not know what is going on really, on the surface everything seems great but unfortunately there is more than meets the eye here.”
Watch Linda Park talk about the protest:
However, representatives from the Lion Park denied all allegations regarding being involved in the processes of canned hunting.
A volunteer from the park, who wanted to remain anonymous, gave comment to Fourways Review. “We do not promote or support the canning of lions. We have never groomed a lion to be canned; our aim as a park is to protect and serve these animals,” he said.
The volunteer added that the park creates a platform to educate the community about wildlife and conservation.
Watch a Lion Park volunteer talk about the park’s stance:
With blasting music playing in the background and jeering from opposition camps, the atmosphere was almost electrifying as the protest raged on.
Park and her organisation believe that through protests they can create more of an awareness surrounding the brutality of canning.
What are your thoughts about the canning of lions for recreational purposes? Let Fourways Review know in the comments below.
