A new international poll warning that seven in ten tourists would reconsider visiting South Africa if the country abandons its commitment to end captive lion breeding has landed as the country’s new environment minister moves to reopen wildlife trophy exports, deepening conservationists’ fears that landmark reforms are being quietly dismantled.
The survey, commissioned by World Animal Protection in collaboration with Blood Lions and conducted by Savanta across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands and Germany, found that 70 percent of respondents would be deterred from visiting South Africa if the government allows lions to continue to be bred and kept in captivity for profit. A further 69 percent said reversal of the phase-out would damage South Africa’s reputation as an ethical destination, and 65 percent said they would choose alternative travel destinations if the industry continues.
The economic stakes are substantial. Tourism contributes nearly 9 percent of South Africa’s gross domestic product and supports an estimated 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs. If 70 percent of tourists from the four key source markets were deterred, South Africa could lose an estimated 860,000 visitors, putting approximately 66,000 tourism jobs at risk. By contrast, the captive lion breeding industry is estimated to support between 1,568 and 2,069 jobs nationwide.
The poll arrives at a politically charged moment. South Africa’s previous environment minister, Dr Dion George, had initiated a phase-out of captive lion breeding and set the lion bone export quota to zero. President Cyril Ramaphosa removed George from office in November 2025, replacing him with Willie Aucamp, whose appointment immediately triggered alarm among conservation organisations over his perceived links to the wildlife breeding and hunting sectors.
Those fears have since been borne out in policy. Just days before this poll was published, Aucamp’s department released new non-detriment findings that effectively reopen international trade in rhino, elephant and lion trophies, reversing a freeze imposed by his predecessor and signalling a clear shift toward the consumptive use model favoured by wildlife ranching and trophy hunting interests.
Aucamp has also said he is awaiting a Ministerial Task Team report on the voluntary closure of lion breeding facilities before taking further steps, a stance critics describe as deliberate delay. The minister has denied allegations of personal ties to the lion breeding industry.
Not all momentum has been lost. A unanimous decision by the National Council of Provinces approved new Threatened or Protected Species regulations prohibiting certain activities involving African lions, and Mpumalanga province formally confirmed in February 2026 that it fully supports the Cabinet-approved closure of the captive lion industry, with no new facilities to be permitted and a sterilisation programme to be implemented. That provincial and parliamentary consensus makes outright reversal institutionally harder, analysts say, though it does not prevent executive-level delay.
Domestic opinion in South Africa mirrors international sentiment. The poll found that 72 percent of South African respondents reject promoting exploitative wildlife industries over wildlife-friendly tourism, 66 percent consider captive lion breeding unethical, and 57 percent believe banning it would make the country a more attractive destination.
“We call on Minister Aucamp to end the delays and uncertainty and urgently deliver the promised phase-out of this industry,” said Dr Louise de Waal, Director of Blood Lions.
