An undercover probe by animal rights group Lady Freethinker has revealed the harsh realities behind South Africa's cub petting industry, where tourists interact with lion and tiger cubs under the guise of conservation. Founder Nina Jackel describes the practice as horrific and unnecessary, highlighting a cycle of exploitation that leads to canned hunting and the bone trade. The investigation visited four facilities, documenting distress and poor conditions for the animals.
South Africa's cub petting industry, which allows tourists to bottle-feed and pose with lion and tiger cubs, has come under scrutiny following an undercover investigation by Lady Freethinker. The nonprofit, founded by Nina Jackel over a decade ago, conducted its first probe in the country, visiting four facilities in the Free State province and near Johannesburg. Jackel, speaking to Daily Maverick, called the industry 'horrific,' stating, 'It’s incredibly cruel, completely needless and driven purely by human entertainment and profit. There is absolutely no justification for the suffering inflicted on these animals. None.'
The investigation, led by photojournalist Aaron Gekoski, uncovered a system where cubs are separated from their mothers just days after birth to make them easier to handle. Tourists, often misled into believing the interactions support conservation or education, pay for brief encounters that mask a broader cycle of exploitation. As cubs grow too large for petting—typically becoming unpredictable—they are shifted to 'walking with lions' experiences or sold to other sites. Many end up in canned hunting operations, where they are shot by paying hunters, and their remains are processed for the international bone trade, used in products like tiger bone wine.
Tigers, not native to South Africa, were prominently featured in the facilities, housed in overcrowded cages with minimal enrichment. Investigators observed signs of distress, including pacing and zoochosis—a repetitive behavior linked to captivity stress. Two team members were attacked: one scratched by a tiger and another bitten by a lion. Conditions included rough handling by workers and environments far removed from the animals' natural needs.
Despite parliamentary efforts to end captive lion breeding, the practice persists openly, marketed to tourists. Jackel emphasized that the scale shocked her team, comparing it to investigations in Thailand and Indonesia but noting South Africa's brazen promotion. Lady Freethinker, now a California-based nonprofit, focuses on systemic cruelty through investigations and grants. With political momentum stalled, Jackel urged for outright bans, saying awareness alone is insufficient as long as tourism sustains the industry.
