Wildlife selfies with lions and tigers may look harmless, but they often hide cruelty. Many captive predators are removed from their mothers and forced into stressful human interactions. They are not props. Watch and learn more here 🦁📸

🦁 Animals feel too. Science shows wild animals can experience depression-like states under chronic stress. For captive predators, confinement, lack of choice, and unnatural conditions can cause lifelong suffering—even when cruelty isn’t obvious. Read more: bloodlions.org/theyfeeltoo5/

Welcome to our newest ambassador! Gabby Sykora is a SA wildlife photographer, conservation storyteller & founder of Young Wildlife Photographers of Southern Africa. She’ll use her platform to support ethical wildlife practices, responsible tourism & informed dialogue on lion conservation.

Wildlife “pet” videos aren’t as harmless as they look. Big cats have complex needs no home or tourist setting can meet. What’s framed as a “bond” hides stress, deprivation & future exploitation. Let’s question what we’re shown online & refuse to normalise exploitation for views & likes.

What’s really happening inside cub-petting facilities? 🦁🔎 A @dailymaverick.co.za interview with Lady Freethinker exposes how public-facing facilities hide serious welfare violations. Cubs are removed from mothers, forced into interactions & exploited for profit. Read more 👉 tinyurl.com/55sdrfdz

Animal welfare in captivity isn’t always obvious 🦁📱 A NYU & FOUR PAWS study found lion cub petting facilities show clear signs of stress and poor welfare, even when visitors think they’re helping. Cruelty is often hidden in plain sight. Learn how to take action with SMACC 👉 tinyurl.com/3f4fabjd

Animal cruelty online isn’t always obvious 🦁📱 Cute cub videos, predator selfies & tourism posts often hide stress and suffering. Pacing, calling & hissing signal distress, but are easy to miss. Question what you see and take action with SMACC 👉 www.endcrueltyonline.com/issue

Caring about animal welfare isn’t radical. It’s responsible 🦁💚 Speaking up prevents harm, protects wellbeing & reflects science & compassion. Challenging exploitative systems is proactive, not extreme. Read why welfare is not extreme 👉 tinyurl.com/yjnuscfh Kindness isn’t radical. Silence is.

Animal cruelty online isn’t always obvious. Wildlife tourism clips, influencers with predators & “cute” captive content often hide exploitation. Flagging and reporting stops harm being normalised. Learn how to take action with SMACC 👉 www.endcrueltyonline.com/public-advice 🦁📱

Have you seen animal cruelty online? Use SMACC to take action. From cub petting to influencer content, cruelty is often hidden behind likes. Learn how to report & challenge harmful posts showcasing animal cruelty and exploitation👉 www.endcrueltyonline.com/public-advice

Is ‘canned’ hunting illegal in South Africa? No. The term has no legal definition in our national law. It’s a colloquial label, often used for captive-bred lion hunts, which are still legal in 3 provinces. No definition = neither legal nor illegal. Read more 👉 bloodlions.org/canned-hunting

Karl Ammann shows how art can drive change 📸 His investigations into the tiger trade exposed hidden cruelty and sparked global action. A featured artist in Blood Lions’ Held Captive exhibition, he proves photography is powerful advocacy. Bring this inspiration to your school: [email protected]

Is animal well-being really “extremist”? The commercial wildlife industry increasingly labels conservationists & welfare groups like the NSPCA as radical “animal rightists.” As Steph Klarmann notes, this misrepresentation undermines vital professional work. Read more 👉 tinyurl.com/5n7wduh7

There is still hope for SA’s captive lions 🦁 but it must be protected. After Dion George’s removal, concerns over Minister Willem Aucamp’s ties to the commercial wildlife industry raise alarm. We urge transparency, ethical leadership & respect for democratic processes. The world is watching. 🌍🗳️

Hope for 2026 🦁✨ A future where lions and other predators are no longer exploited for tourism. No cub petting, bottle feeding, walking with lions or captive displays. Let’s support ethical tourism that keeps wildlife wild. SA can - and must - do better 🌍

Hope for 2026 🦁✨ A future where lions and other predators are no longer exploited for tourism. No cub petting, bottle feeding, walking with lions or captive displays. Let’s support ethical tourism that keeps wildlife wild. SA can - and must - do better 🌍

Teachers & educators: Youth For Lions has free, age-appropriate resources to help start classroom conversations about captive wildlife & ethical wildlife viewing. Inspire compassion, critical thinking & care for animals. Explore our resources & get started today! youthforlions.org/resources/

2026 New Year’s resolution: be kinder to wildlife 🦁 That means refusing to support commercial captivity, predator parks & cub petting. Our choices matter. Let’s back ethical conservation and keep wildlife wild in 2026. 💚🐾

One of our goals for 2026 starts with YOU. Sign the Youth For Lions Pledge & stand up for lions & other captive predators. It’s a public commitment to ethical conservation & ending exploitation. Add your voice & help shape a better future. youthforlions.org/pledge/

SA has ~8,000 lions in captivity ⛓️🦁 but they’re not the only victims. The commercial predator industry also breeds, keeps & trades tigers, leopards and smaller wild cats like servals and caracals. We need laws that protect all predators - now.

Modern science shows that animals are sentient & capable of experiencing a range of positive & negative feelings, so what does this mean for those kept in captivity for profit? Bottle feeding & cub petting might seem innocent on the surface but severely affect cubs’ physical & mental well-being.

Animal welfare scientist, D. Mellor, describes sentience as animals’ capacity to perceive & experience their worlds subjectively, which has implications for how we treat them. We must think critically how raising animals for profit impacts their quality of life 👉https://tinyurl.com/2s49fm9f

Do animals feel too? Science shows that animals are sentient & feel a range of subjective experiences, just like us. Predator cubs born in captivity for entertainment experience significant distress. Not only is their welfare compromised, but their overall well-being & quality of life suffers too.

Despite SA’s 2021 commitment to end this exploitative industry, thousands of lions still suffer in captivity. ❌ With every visit to a predator park ❌ With every selfie taken ❌ With every hands-on interaction YOU PLAY — THEY PAY. Minister Aucamp, please continue the phase-out.

Predator parks promise up close views of big cats, but is this ethical? In South Africa many parks call themselves sanctuaries but operate as commercial businesses, with almost 400 facilities holding around 8,000 lions, 600 tigers & 1000s of other predators 👉https://tinyurl.com/4t6xy4yf

NSPCA is calling for transparency after Willem Aucamp replaced Dion George as Environment Minister. They want proof he has no undisclosed links to captive wildlife or hunting. The DA refused to explain the appointment, so the NSPCA will file a PAIA request. More: tinyurl.com/ymdntezx

Our ambassador, Marco, recently experienced lions in the Maasai Mara: “The opportunity to witness this wildness made it clear that keeping animals in captivity cruelly prevents them from living the way they ought to be. I was amazed by the delicate balance that nature maintains.” Images: Marco Ma

#KeepItWild this holiday season! We have compiled a guide of activities across South Africa’s provinces so you have no excuses but to enjoy our amazing natural and cultural heritage! 🌿🇿🇦🐾 Download our guide here 👉 tinyurl.com/r87ywfn9

People often say that predator parks are fun & educational, but whose interests are really served - the visitors or the animals? There is no evidence that predator parks have a lasting impact on visitors behaviour, BUT we know animal welfare is highly compromised. More: tinyurl.com/yc5txpkt

Is a predator park unethical? 3️⃣LIVING CONDITIONS 🚩Animals pacing or immobile 🚩They bite, paw or cry at fence 🚩Scarce shelter/space to retreat 🚩No enrichment 🚩Livestock carcasses as food 🚩Signs of mange, injury, visible ribs, or obesity 🚩Small enclosures Use Wild Choices: www.wildchoices.org

How to tell if a predator park is unethical? 2️⃣TRADING 🚩Animals come & go, meaning they buy, sell or exchange animals with other facilities 🚩Stories of the animal’s rescue are vague or proof cannot be provided You can see if a park should be avoided using Wild Choices: www.wildchoices.org

How can you tell if a predator park is unethical? 1️⃣CUBS & BREEDING 🚩They have cubs & breed their lions, tigers, & other cats 🚩Cubs are separated from their mothers 🚩They allow visitors to feed, cuddle & play with the cubs Search facilities to support or avoid: www.wildchoices.org

🆘 WE NEED YOUR HELP 🆘 DA leader John Steenhuisen has asked Pres. Ramaphosa to remove Minister Dion George — a key ally in ending SA’s captive lion industry. His proposed replacement, Willie Aucamp, has deep ties to commercial captive wildlife industry. Take action now & write to President and DA!

📢 BREAKING NEWS 📢 NSPCA has raised urgent concerns with President Ramaphosa over proposed Cabinet change at DFFE. The NSPCA warns this shift could harm animal welfare and risk South Africa’s global reputation amid ongoing concerns about the captive lion industry and its links to illicit trade.

DA leader Steenhuisen asked Pres. Ramaphosa to remove Minister George & replace him with Aucamp - move that could hand environment portfolio to someone aligned with the wildlife breeding & hunting industry and will reverse progress to close SA’s captive lion industry 👉 tinyurl.com/rmc4rxk2

Playing with cubs, walking with lions or taking predator selfies fuels a cruel industry ⛓️🦁⛓️ — not conservation. ‼️ Cubs aren’t orphaned. ‼️ They’re bred for profit. Say no to captivity and help end their suffering. Be the change. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity #KillingThemSoftly

We are excited to announce our next guest on Youth For Lions’ Careers in Conservation Instagram Live! Tayla McCurdy will be joining us on Monday at 3pm SAST to chat about her career as a photographic guide, wildlife presenter, & spreading impactful messages.

📢 YOU’RE KILLING THEM SOFTLY 📢 Paying to pet, walk or watch captive lions fuels cruelty for profit ❌🦁 Their lives are short, their suffering real. You’re not helping them — you’re killing them softly. 🟢 Say no to captivity. 🟢 Say no to exploitation. #TheyFeelToo #CancelCaptivity

Can breeding lions help wild lions? There are many lion breeders who claim commercial industry benefits lion conservation, but where’s the evidence? Our research shows there’s NO evidence to support the idea that breeding helps wild lions, it highlights that it can cause more harm- bit.ly/3X4s7Rz

How can we implement the closure of the captive lion industry? We encourage @Minister Dr Dion George to take the first vital steps by: 🔴implementing a moratorium on breeding more captive lions 🔴extending protection to other exotic & indigenous predators It’s time to #CancelCaptivity

Art has long been used to advocate for change & inspire action. Our coordinator, Steph Klarmann, is presenting workshops to art students to learn all about using ART FOR ADVOCACY. If you’re an art teacher or student, contact us [email protected] to organise a workshop at your school!

Thousands of Africa’s indigenous cats & exotic predators are bred in South Africa for commercial purposes. Like captive lions, they are not bred for conservation, but purely for profit. Throughout their life, they face similar welfare issues in captive tourism, live trade, or trade in body parts

Taylor Wagemaker had fun with the Grade 1-2 eco-club at Steyn City School with a reading of The Tail of Three Lions & got creative with some lion art. Thank you to Steyn City School for hosting Taylor to raise awareness amongst our youth! Email us [email protected] to have YFL visit your school

Predator parks keep rare big cats like dark maned & white lions, black leopards, white tigers & ligers to attract visitors & trophy hunters wanting a rare & expensive trophy. Such rarities are achieved through small founder populations, causing inbreeding & welfare issues. tinyurl.com/7426xs8a

Wildlife photography is a thrilling way to immerse yourself in nature, learn about animal behaviour, & tell compelling stories. Our Photography Hints & Tricks shares the best ways to up your photography game & capture the impact of your wild experiences. tinyurl.com/25wj9kwt

KEEP IT WILD CHALLENGE YOU can contribute to an open letter to Minister Dion George & share your voice! Showcase your photos of experiencing predators in the wild where they belong. Tag us in a photo of any big cat taken in the wild & tell us about your wild experience! Image: Kaya Negus-Bullock

Did you know that South Africa’s captive predator industry is linked with the tiger trade in Southeast Asia? Lion & tiger bones, teeth, claws, meat & skins are harvested for China’s underground pharmaceutical & luxury markets 🐅 Read: bloodlions.org/about-the-br...

Our ambassador team is growing! We are thrilled to announce that Marco Ma is now an ambassador for Youth For Lions 🦁 Marco is 17 years old and the leader of the biology club at his school in China. He plans to study animal science and environmental science at university. Welcome to the team!

📸 🐾KEEP IT WILD CHALLENGE 📸 🐾 Why do you believe big cats should be wild and free? Our #KeepItWild challenge is still on and we want to hear from you. Send your submissions and see more about the challenge by clicking here: bit.ly/3VOed5F Image credit: Light Rifumo

Big cats in predator parks across South Africa are used for entertainment experiences like photo props, cub petting, walking experiences, and circus-style performances. It’s time to say NO, to end the exploitation, to #CancelCaptivity & #KeepItWild More: tinyurl.com/5adccdnf