JHB airport to remove cub-petting images from its international arrivals corridor
'We accept that conservationists now urge tourists not to participate in the petting of young wild animals.'
Stock image. Picture: Pretoria East Rekord
Blood Lions, a campaign that aims to end canned hunting and exploitative lion breeding in South Africa, has welcomed a move by OR Tambo International Airport to remove cub-petting images in the airport’s international arrivals corridor.
On its Facebook page this week, OR Tambo International Airport posted a statement in which it addressed the removal and replacement of the panel of images, which it said had been up for more than a year. The statement also said that the images were supplied to the airport by South African Tourism.
“We accept that conservationists now urge tourists not to participate in the petting of young wild animals, although we had not been made aware of this at the time that the images were installed,” the statement read.
“OR Tambo International Airport will remove that panel and replace it. We are happy to offer South African Tourism and Blood Lion the opportunity to provide a suitable image that fits with the other images along that corridor and that demonstrates how lions in the wild should be viewed.”
The post had received more than 130 shares and 106 positive reactions on Facebook since it was shared.
The statement also said that the airport would cover the costs of removing and replacing the panel.
Read the full statement here:
Addressing the airport’s decision, Blood Lions took to Facebook on Thursday to say that it welcomed and commended their “swift and responsible action in this regard”.
“A special mention should also go to the South African Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona, for his immensely positive and proactive support. All parties have shown ethical leadership and have been able to base their decisions on the back of sound conservation practices and responsible tourism stands being promoted by the wider community,” read the post on the Blood Lions Facebook page.
“These actions will go some way to ensuring that South Africa starts reclaiming its reputation as a promoter of ethical wildlife tourism. We call on all those operators still offering exploitative tourism products to follow the example set by SA Tourism and OR Tambo International Airport.”
The campaign further gave thanks to its supporters for raising concern and awareness around cub petting.
Read the full statement from Blood Lions here:
In December last year, Traveller24 reported that Ntshona, the newly appointed CEO for SA Tourism, had said he would work with sustainable tourism authorities and that SA Tourism did not promote or endorse interaction with wild animals, making mention of the petting of wild cats and walking with lions.
Read the comments from social media users on the post by O.R Tambo on Facebook:
A screenshot of the comments posted on the O.R Tambo Facebook page. Picture: Facebook
The post on the Blood Lions Facebook page also received much positive feedback.
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