Wild At Life Project

Canned Hunting Lions Rescue

Activity status: Ongoing

Area of Activity: South Africa

Tagged: canned hunt # lions # rescue # south africa # trophy hunting

What is canned hunting?

A canned hunt is a trophy hunt which is not a fair chase as it is made easy for hunters. Animals are kept in confined areas, such as in a fenced-in area, increasing the likelihood of the hunter obtaining a kill. In most cases, lions are confined to horrible and unsanitary places with limited or no food and veterinarian care. A “hunter” can then choose the lion he wants to kill and conduct the killings in the easiest way, sometimes sitting from his vehicle – animals in canned hunting farms do not stand a chance. Such facilities even put male lions in small enclosures for them to fight each other so that lions can have scars on their faces and the trophy can seem to come from a wild lion.

Mission One

Canned hunting is a fast-growing business in South Africa, where thousands of lions are bred in more than 160 farms to be shot by wealthy foreign trophy hunters. More captive lions (around 7,000) are now in the country than wild ones (about 2,000).

Wild at Life e.V. is dedicated to working to phase out canned hunting, shut down the farms, and rescue these lions from such facilities.

In Mission One, our team reached South Africa and was overwhelmed by the sight of 10 lions kept in a secluded, closed shed with no light or grass.

We had to fight hard for the lives of these lions. But dedication and passion made this mission a success. For this rescue, a total of 5000km was covered on road and 9.5 hours were spent taking the 10 lions out of the shed. The import and export paperwork from the authorities was issued after a lot of pressure from us, and we finally got a day set for the big day.

Entering and darting was a big problem as the building had only one door and no other entrance. We have decided to drive into the shed and dart the animals inside. Wild at Life e.V. was in with a local team.

And darting has begun. It was a lot of work and took a long time to calm the lions after each darting. These lions had neither access to the outside nor any light and grass, so their stress levels were much higher than usual. But we were committed to taking them out, so we did.

We worked nonstop to move the lions to the transport trailer, which we then drove back to the sanctuary, where they will learn to be lions again.

Mission Two

On our way out we met a lonely lion. He was lion number 22 in the registry and was likely to be sold for his bone as part of the Asian bone trade for local medicine. We named him Georges and promised to come back for him.

Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team found ourselves stuck with no way of travelling to Georges to take him to safety. To make things worse, the sanctuary he was going to did not make the necessary plans to rescue him on their end, so we had to search for a new home for him. Whilst preparing Georges’ permits, we became aware of three more lionesses in dire need. Wild at Life e.V. decided to rescue them all, leaving no one behind.

Finally, our team led by Wild at Life e.V. founder, Asli Han Gedik, arrived in South Africa to rescue Georges, Julie, Eva and Elma.

Lonesome and lugubrious Georges lived day in and day out inside a barren enclosure for four long, painful years. The only company he had was a cement ring that would offer some protection against the South African heat whilst he awaited his imminent slaughter.

The lion farmers were waiting for his mane to grow so he would look “handsome enough” for someone to pay up to an estimated sum of 11.000€ to shoot him in an enclosed area from which there was no escape.

But Georges was born with a fault; his tail was crooked and he was therefore discarded as a future trophy, instead, he was to be slaughtered just for his bones.

The lion bone trade is a lucrative and legal stream for farmers in South Africa and has come about as an alternative to tiger bones for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is a burgeoning component of the wildlife trade and in the year 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) awarded a quota of 1500 lion carcasses for export a year.

On the morning of the rescue, Wild at Life e.V. and their veterinarian entered the lion farm, they then successfully sedated Georges, Eva, Elma and Julie inside their stark enclosures.

Once sedated, the lions were all then carefully lifted out one by one by our team of six and placed onto their waiting transport.

After a morning of strenuous work, our expert team and the veterinarian had managed to successfully place all lions into their transport for the journey ahead to freedom.

Our big cat veterinarian proceeded to reverse the sedative and gave an immune booster too.

The team then took two trailers; a 5-hour drive. One trailer held Georges and Julie, the other one driving, lionesses Elma and Eva.

We made frequent stops on the roadside to check up on their well-being.

Finally arriving at the sanctuary, Julie was the first out of the trailer.

Julie was the first to explore —

Julie leaving the trailer –

The first thing she did was to climb a tree – something she had never touched before.

The pride’s new sanctuary has plenty of features that would be found in their natural habitat, tall grass to relax in and an array of Acacia, Jackalberry and Marula trees to offer shade and enrichment. As lions possess interdigital glands, they use the trees to transmit a scent when flexing their toes, which aids in territorial marking and other types of olfactory messaging to one another.

Georges, Julie, Elma, and Eva will now live as a pride for the first time in their lives free from the threat of a bullet.

There are currently around 7.000 captive lions held in horrendous lion farms across South Africa, they will all be constantly bred until the day they will be shot for a trophy.

We do not breed our rescued lions, because we know doing so contributes to the problem that we trying to solve.

The lions that we rescue from these notorious farms, can never live in the wild – they would not survive. It also takes up valuable space that could be occupied by another rescued animal and depletes our already limited resources to rescue others in need.

George, Eva, Elma, and Julie are symbols of hope in our campaign against canned lion farms.

Four more lions were saved, and we will continue until there are no-more lions left in horrible farms.

Update:

Just a few weeks after our second mission, the South African government released revolutionary plans to ban captive lion facilities and halt the commercial use of captive lions and their derivatives. With between 7.000 and 12.000 lions in captivity in South Africa, typically being bred for canned hunting, this decision is sending absolute shock waves through the country. This is exactly what we have campaigned for many years and we now see the positive results! There’s mounting evidence that suggests captive breeding does not contribute to wild lion conservation, negatively impacts ecotourism and the wild hunting industry, and even stimulates demand for lion parts for the illegal wildlife trade. Not to mention the ethics of keeping lions in often terrible conditions and misleading tourists into contributing to this!

Could there be negatives? Yes, potentially. There is reported evidence on the growing demand for lion bones in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. As South Africa’s captive-bred lions provided a supply of lion bone, this demand won’t disappear — so will it affect wild lions? Will we see a dramatic increase in big cat poaching? It is possible, and the price of lion bone could also potentially increase as the trade is pushed further underground. Only time will tell but we will continue to protect these predators.

This is just one of the many canned hunting farms in South Africa

Our work isn’t over yet. Many still wait for help and we can’t do this without you. Please support Wild at Life e.V. so the vital projects can be successfully implemented.

Together we can do this!

Update: August 1, 2025

The Roar is Silenced: Blondie the Lion Killed for a Trophy

A horrible killing has just happened on our doorsteps in Zimbabwe and left 10 cubs orphan. The famous Blondie The Lion has been killed for a trophy, just similar to the killing of Cecil.

Blondie, the 5-year-old male lion, was tragically killed by a trophy hunter, just outside Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. He was lured out of the park with chunks of meat and shot dead, sparking widespread outrage. The hunt was reportedly worth $46,000, with some sources citing £35,000.

Key Facts About Blondie’s Killing:

Age and Status: Blondie was only 5 years old, below the minimum age of 6 years set by Zimbabwe’s hunting regulations for lions.
Research and Conservation: He was part of an Oxford University study and had been fitted with a GPS satellite collar just three months prior to his death to track free-roaming lions and prevent human-wildlife conflict.
Pride and Cubs: Blondie was the dominant male of a pride with 3 adult females and 10 cubs, including 7 one-year-olds and 3 newborns, whose futures are now uncertain.
Trophy Hunting Controversy: The killing has reignited debates about trophy hunting, with many criticizing the industry’s ethics and calling for stricter regulations or a complete ban.

This tragic incident bears eerie similarities to the killing of Cecil the lion in 2015, also in Hwange National Park, which sparked global outrage and promises of tighter regulations on hunting lions in Zimbabwe. Despite these promises, Blondie’s death highlights the ongoing threat trophy hunting poses to lions, particularly iconic males like Blondie who become targets due to their fame.

The bloody trophy hunting industry claims of targeting old, non-breeding males are hollow, given the killing of healthy, prime males like Blondie. We are now calling for more stringent measures to protect lions, including a ban on trophy hunting.

The connection between killing lions who are famous lies in the trophy hunting industry’s tendency to target iconic and well-known animals. These lions often have a high profile due to research, tourism, or media attention, making them more desirable to hunters seeking trophies. This is evident in the cases of:

Blondie the Lion: A 5-year-old male lion killed recently, despite being too young for hunting according to Zimbabwean regulations. Blondie was part of an Oxford University study and wore a GPS collar.

Cecil the Lion: A 13-year-old male lion killed in 2015 by American dentist Walter Palmer, who paid $54,000 for the hunt. Cecil was also part of an Oxford University research project and wore a GPS collar.

Xanda: Cecil’s son, killed in 2017.

Mopane: Another lion from Hwange National Park, killed in 2021.

These incidents highlight the controversy surrounding trophy hunting, particularly near protected areas. We argue that:

Targeting Iconic Animals: Famous lions like Blondie and Cecil are often targeted due to their prominence, undermining conservation efforts.
Ignoring Regulations: Hunters may disregard age limits and other regulations, prioritizing the desire for trophies.
Impact on Lion Populations: The loss of dominant males can disrupt prides, potentially leading to infanticide and destabilization.

We are calling for stricter measures, including:

No-Hunt Buffer Zones: Establishing areas around national parks where hunting is prohibited.
Age Limits: Enforcing minimum age limits for hunted lions to ensure only older, non-breeding males are targeted.
Stricter Regulations: Reviewing and strengthening hunting policies to prevent incidents like Blondie’s killing.

The fate of Blondie’s 10 cubs hangs in the balance after his tragic killing. Here’s what we know:

Immediate Consequences: The cubs, consisting of 7 one-year-olds and 3 newborns, are now without their father. Their mother and other lionesses in the pride will likely play a crucial role in their survival.
Risk of Infanticide: With Blondie’s death, rival male lions may infiltrate the pride, potentially killing the cubs to bring the lionesses into estrus again. This would further destabilize the pride and put the cubs’ lives at risk.
Pride Instability: The loss of a dominant male like Blondie can lead to pride instability, causing lionesses to flee into communal lands where they may face human-wildlife conflict, snares, and other dangers.
Conservation Concerns: Blondie’s killing highlights the need for stricter regulations on trophy hunting, particularly around national parks. Conservationists are calling for a review of lion hunting quotas and clearer ethical guidelines to prevent similar incidents.

Given the circumstances, the future of Blondie’s cubs remains uncertain. Conservation efforts and research initiatives are crucial in ensuring the well-being and survival of these cubs and the stability of the pride. We will continue our work on ground.

Trophy killing didn’t just kill Blondie the Lion, but has fatally damaged the future of his pride, who is now unprotected and open to deadly harm.

We condemn Victoria Falls Safari for conducting this killing “mission”.

How You can Help

Every day, lions in Hwange, Zimbabwe, face the brutal threat of trophy hunting. Without your immediate support, we cannot continue our vital on-the-ground investigations and conservation efforts to protect these innocent animals.

By symbolically adopting one of our lions or making a direct donation, you help us provide the critical resources we need to fight for their survival. Your support fuels our rescue missions, undercover investigations, and advocacy to end this cruel practice.

You can symbolically adopt the follwoing Lions: Nala, Dona, Mala, Eva, Georges, Elma and Julie.

Update: October 4, 2024

Be a Hero for Lions Like Ndulu – Will You Become a Friend?

Join supporters like Leonor O., who generously donates €50 a month to help fund our vital work for lions. Through her ongoing support, she’s helped cover the cost of vital medical treatments for injured lions like Ndulu.

Our monthly donors, play a crucial role in supporting everything from life-saving surgeries to rehabilitation programs. With donations starting at just €10 a month, every contribution makes a huge difference.

By becoming a Friend today, with as little as €5 a month, you can help transform the lives of lions in need.

Ndulu's Story: Overcoming a Painful Injury

Ndulu, one of the majestic lions in our care, suffered from a painful claw injury where two bones fused together and pushed through the pad of his paw, causing severe pain to the point where he could not walk properly. Our dear friend and veterinarian Bouvy tried to correct the issue multiple times, but the problem persisted, impacting Ndulu’s quality of life.

Finally, after careful consideration, our team decided to amputate the damaged claw to end his suffering. The surgery was a success! After the procedure, Ndulu made a remarkable recovery. Now, he is back with his pride in his semi-wild enclosure, walking freely again thanks to the care he received.

The surgeries required to treat Ndulu were particularly complicated due to his semi-wild environment because the logistics of performing these operations are challenging. We also frequently face shortages of medicine in Zambia, making it even more difficult to provide the necessary care.

But if we come together, we can always make it better!

Your Support Can Change Lives

With the help of monthly donors like Leonor, we can continue to provide life-saving surgeries and care to lions and other animals in need. Every contribution allows us to plan ahead and act quickly in emergencies, ensuring that no animal is left without the help they deserve.

Whether you give €10 or €50 a month, your support will make a lasting impact.

Will you become a Friend of Wild at Life e.V. today and help us continue this crucial work?

Your donation will go directly towards helping lions like Ndulu, ensuring they receive the medical treatment, rehabilitation, and ongoing care they need to live healthy, happy lives.

Thank you for your support!

Update: September 7, 2024

Act Now to Save Our Lions

Through our work, we have rescued many lions from some of the worst imaginable circumstances. Many of these majestic creatures were saved from canned hunting farms, where they were bred solely to be killed for sport. This cruel industry turns lions into commodities, exploiting their lives for profit. In addition to these lions, we have rescued others from war zones and conflict areas, where they endured abuse, neglect, and hunger. From Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Syria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Zambia, and beyond, we’ve been able to bring these animals to safety.

However, this work requires significant resources, and we’re struggling to meet the rising costs.

Our team operates on the ground, like rangers in the wild, ensuring that the lions and other wildlife are safe from poaching, exploitation, and further harm. We also engage in proactive protection efforts, including snare sweeps, where our team walks through dangerous areas removing deadly traps that poachers set to capture wildlife. These snares pose a huge threat not only to lions but to many other species as well. We work tirelessly to create sanctuaries where rescued lions can live out their lives in safety and peace, and we advocate for policies that protect lions from future abuse.

Unfortunately, there are other threats that contribute to the plight of lions—one of them being fraudulent influencers who exploit lion cubs for social media fame. They often buy these cubs and parade them as rescues, but the reality is far more tragic. These cubs, once too large to be handled, are often sold off to canned hunting farms where they meet a cruel end. These so-called “rescues” don’t save the lions, but instead, create more problems. The cubs can’t be released into the wild after being raised in captivity, and instead, they become part of a harmful cycle that further endangers the species.

However, this work cannot continue without your support. We currently have an ongoing fundraiser because we urgently need help to continue our mission. The costs of rescuing, caring for, and protecting these lions are immense, and we simply cannot do it alone.

This month, we have our upcoming veterinarian check for the lions and the cost for each lion’s check-up will be around 150€ for each one of them. With so many lions in our care, this is a significant expense, and we would greatly appreciate any support to help cover these costs.

Every donation, no matter the size, will directly support our efforts. Together, we can give these lions the life they deserve and make a lasting impact on the conservation of the species. Your support truly makes a difference.

Update on Canned Hunting Farm Lions

Our rescued lions from the canned hunting farms are doing well and thriving in their safe enclosures. You can see their latest photos below! We’re also pleased to report that all of our other projects across countries like Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Syria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Yemen, and Zambia doing great as well.

Update: May 20, 2023

The Circle of Life: Eva’s New Chapter as a Mother

After being rescued from a South African canned hunting farm, all seemed to be well for the pride of four – Georges, Julie, Elma, and Eva.

They were living together in the same enclosure at Bela Bela sanctuary when the team witnessed Eva being bullied and ostracised. This might have been because Eva is the youngest out of the four.

To prevent the situation from escalating, Eva was moved to live with Christiaan, an older lion who sadly lost his partner to old age.

Eva and Christiaan are getting along well. Maybe a little too well…

In mid-March, Eva gave birth to three beautiful and healthy cubs. No one expected that because Christiaan underwent a vasectomy about 12 years ago. As he is a lot older now, we do not want to risk putting him under the knife and anaesthesia again, therefore, collectively, the team decided to have Eva spayed.

The darting process took about 45 mins. The journey to the vet was definitely a sight for the locals because it’s not every day an unconscious lion gets transported through a South African city. The operation lasted roughly two hours and was free of complications.

We isolated Eva for a day to let her recuperate and the day after, she was already up and running with Christiaan.

Eva’s cubs are called Dingaan, Daisha, and Deeka.

Dingaan is the sole male, his mellow personality balances out the energy of the three siblings.

Daisha is the female with light fur, she is bossy and seems to be the alpha as of now. Deeka, the other female but with dark fur, is feisty and has the biggest appetite.

Because Eva is a young and inexperienced mother, and Christiaan was seen committing infanticide, the team decided to interfere and raise the cubs. The three are bottle-fed every three hours and are growing really fast. For the next six months, the cubs have to be checked by the vet on a monthly basis. A larger enclosure has already been built for them, where the cubs will be transferred once they are weaned.

Update: January 28, 2022

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by BBC

BBC What’s New published a Youtube video on the truth behind the lion breeding industry, where lion cubs are taken at a young age to be used as attractions in petting zoos, and older lions are sold to canned hunting farms. The video also includes an interview with Wild at Life e.V.’s founder Asli Han Gedik, as well as interviews with young South Africans on their thoughts on the government’s proposal of banning captive lion breeding. The video is in English.

Update: June 14, 2021

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by Conservation Conversation

Conservation Conversation shared Georges’ story, the lion that was sparred from the canned hunting industry because of this crooked tail. The article is in English.

Update: June 3, 2021

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by andanews

andanews made an Instagram post on our mission in South Africa where we saved Georges, Elma, Eva, and Julie from a canned hunting farm. The post is in Portugese.

Update: June 2, 2021

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by RTL News

RTL News sheds light on the cruelty behind trophy hunting as well as animal properties for medicinal uses. The article is in German.

Update: May 28, 2021

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by DailyMail

The DailyMail documents the process of tranquillizing and relocating Georges, Eva, Elma and Julie. The article is in English.

Update: May 7, 2021

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by The Dodo

The Dodo made a video and interview Wild at Life e.V.’s founder Asli Han Gedik. The video is in English.

All India Roundup covered Wild at Life e.V.’s lion canned hunting farm mission. The article is in English.

Update: September 15, 2020

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by METRO

METRO wrote an article on Wild at Life e.V.’s lion rescue from the canned hunting farm and laments that the South African government has not banned canned hunting, which campaigners argue is cruel and unethical. The article is in English.

This project is carried out in the following activity areas

End Canned Hunting Farms

Hindering lion canned hunting farm practice

Spread the news!

Every year, on August 10th, we celebrate World Lion Day. For us, the day is important for several reasons: We Raise Awareness: we highlight the decline of lion populations and the threats they face, such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict,

Project update

The Roar is Silenced: Blondie the Lion Killed for a Trophy

August 1, 2025

A horrible killing has just happened on our doorsteps in Zimbabwe and left 10 cubs orphan. The famous Blondie The Lion has been killed for a trophy, just similar to the killing of Cecil. Blondie, the 5-year-old male lion, was

Canned Hunting Lions Rescue

What is canned hunting?

Mission One

Mission Two

Update:

This is just one of the many canned hunting farms in South Africa

The Roar is Silenced: Blondie the Lion Killed for a Trophy

How You can Help

Be a Hero for Lions Like Ndulu – Will You Become a Friend?

Ndulu's Story: Overcoming a Painful Injury

Act Now to Save Our Lions

Update on Canned Hunting Farm Lions

The Circle of Life: Eva’s New Chapter as a Mother

After being rescued from a South African canned hunting farm, all seemed to be well for the pride of four – Georges, Julie, Elma, and Eva.

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by BBC

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by Conservation Conversation

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by andanews

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by RTL News

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by DailyMail

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by The Dodo

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by faktglaublich

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by videotrends

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by wildlifevoiceinc

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by Demotivateur

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by Keblog

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by Milenio

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by The Animal Club

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by DailyMail

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by All India Roundup

Canned Hunting Farm – Published by METRO

Hindering lion canned hunting farm practice

Spread the news!

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