November 28, 2024, 8:18 am | Read time: 7 minutes
The animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten has uncovered cruel conditions in South Africa’s tiger farms in a report. Bones and skins are coveted commodities in Asia. Demand is now so high that the animals are bred commercially in their thousands. PETBOOK spoke to the animal welfare organization about the extent of the big cat industry and the role Europe plays in it.
Since the release of documentaries like Tiger King, many have become aware of the extensive trade involving big cats. However, what is less known is that tigers and lions are not only kept as exotic pets; their body parts are also sought after for uses such as traditional medicine. Demand is now so high, especially from Asian countries, that it is a lucrative business to sell the bones, teeth, and fur of the big cats. The world’s largest exporter is South Africa.
But tigers are not at all native to the country. In order to meet demand, the country “produces” thousands of animals in tiger farms under cruel conditions. This has now been revealed in a comprehensive report by the animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten (Four Paws). PETBOOK spoke with Vanessa Amoroso, Head of Wildlife Trade at Vier Pfoten, about the scale of the big cat industry in South Africa and Europe’s involvement.
Most tigers are born on big cat farms
Much of the data presented in the animal welfare organization’s report comes from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES for short). According to the report, South Africa has been identified as the world’s largest exporter of tigers, other big cats, and their parts.
The report also indicates that the CITES trade database analysis revealed most big cats and their parts exported from South Africa originate from animals bred on commercial big cat farms. The animals are born and die in captivity.
As soon as animals are too old and large, they are hunted for trophies
“From birth to death, they face exploitation at every stage,” Vanessa Amoroso tells PETBOOK. “The females are bred intensively. Their young are taken away early so that they can reproduce again.” The young are then used for cuddling, taking selfies, and going for walks. As soon as the animals become too old and too big, some are hunted for trophies. “Their bones and pelts can then be used for traditional medicine or luxury goods.”
Reports and studies by Vier Pfoten suggest that numerous tigers bred on South Africa’s tiger farms are intended for the bone and body part trade. A report from 2024 documented interviews with workers. They worked in two decommissioned facilities for captive lions. According to their statements, lions and tigers were kept there together. When they were killed during hunts, their bones were cleaned and then sold to Asian bone buyers.
Over 100 worrying tiger enclosures
The exact number of tigers living on farms in South Africa is hard to determine, the animal rights activists note in their report. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 big cats living in captivity. A study from 2023 and 2024 by Vier Pfoten mapped over 100 worrying tiger facilities throughout South Africa.
Tigers are said to have been kept in these farms within three years. The most recent analysis of global tiger seizures over a 19-year period between 2000 and 2018 shows that specimens, parts, and products from at least 2359 tigers were seized in 1142 incidents in 32 countries and territories.
1396 kilograms of bones exported in the last 20 years
According to the CITES database, South Africa has issued export permits for 3545 live big cats and 34,246 big cat parts in the last 20 years. In addition, 1396 kilograms of bones, 0.5 kilograms of hair, 450 kilograms of skeletons, and 1753 milliliters of samples were also exported. This makes South Africa the world’s largest exporter of live tigers and their parts. This is despite the fact that there are no CITES-registered breeding facilities for the big cats.
This situation arises despite most big cat species having the highest level of protection under CITES regulations. However, commercial international trade in captive-bred species is generally permitted in South Africa. This is partly due to the “patchwork of provincial regulations regarding tigers and other big cat species,” as the animal rights activists write in their report. For example, there are very few and, in some cases, no regulations for keeping, breeding, selling, hunting, killing, moving, or trading live tigers or parts thereof.
Unique opportunity for criminal networks
Secondly, South Africa has actively chosen to ignore the implementation of the relevant big cat decisions and resolutions adopted at CITES. This is because such decisions and resolutions are not legally binding for the countries.
However, Vier Pfoten criticizes this as creating a unique opportunity for criminal networks. They are now able to kill and process tigers and other big cats within South Africa and smuggle their parts back to Asia.
In contrast to other endangered species, the big cat industry works with a supply of animals that is largely unknown to the authorities and the public, with the exception of the breeders themselves. This situation is exacerbated by industrial breeding. This ensures that hundreds of animals are available at any given time, providing a constant and mostly unregulated source of illegal activity.
Market records record exports
South Africa has seen record exports in recent years, and the country’s market continues to grow. In particular, the high demand for tiger products in Asia, especially in China and Vietnam, is driving the trade. To meet the high demand, South Africa actively permitted the breeding of tigers and other big cats on an industrial scale from September 2024, as well as the existence of the largest tiger farms outside Asia.
The trend of trading in tigers has also spread to many other countries. Other big cats of prey are now also being targeted, the animal rights activists write in the report. In order to meet the demand for bones, teeth, and claws, tiger bones are also sold as lion bones and vice versa. Ultimately, the end consumer does not recognize the difference.
Trade routes also go through Europe
However, the trade in tigers and their parts does not only affect Africa or Asia. “The commercial trade in big cats and their parts continues to take place throughout Europe,” explains Vanessa Amoroso. “Whether they perform in circus shows, are bought as pets or are killed and processed for traditional medicine, the lack of regulation in European countries poses a major risk to species such as tigers.”
No authority knows how many tigers are currently kept in the European Union or what happens to them during their life or after their death. “We are fighting to change this with our #RuthlessTrade campaign,” she says.
Report suspected cases online
In April 2023, the EU Commission published the EU Tiger Guidelines. These should essentially end the commercial trade in tigers within and from the EU. “However, it is not legally binding,” explains Amoroso. It would also require the EU countries to transpose these guidelines into national law.
In order to build support and educate the general public, the animal welfare organization has developed the Big Cat Reporting Tool. This tool enables the reporting of suspiciously kept big cats to the organization through an online platform. This is how the tigress Charlotta was saved last year.
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“We remain hopeful”
While no live tigers have been rescued in South Africa to date, Amoroso states that the collected evidence of illegal activity has been submitted to the South African authorities in an unredacted report.
“We remain hopeful and ready to work with the South African government and institutions,” she said. The South African government has already announced that it is working on a voluntary phase-out of lion breeding, with the recommendation that all big cats be included.
“We advocate for a time-bound implementation plan that aims to shut down the industry by 2030,” Amoroso elaborated. Detailed plans for this are to be presented by the ministerial working team early next year.
“As long as there is trade, every big cat has a price on its head,” warns Amoroso. Four Paws is trying to raise public awareness with its campaigns. The topic is also addressed in the organization’s new film entitled Dethroned. It shows the sad fate and suffering of the big cats in impressive images. “We are confident that this film will engage a wide international audience.”