WhatsApp group found to be selling lion cubs for R35 000.
(The Post News)- An investigation is currently underway of allegation of keeping and selling a litter of lion cubs by a resident in Pretoria, who is said to be marketing the cubs on a WhatsApp group for R35 000 each. The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa is leading the investigation. A video of three lion cubs was shared on the WhatsApp group advertisement where the cubs could bee seen on wooden floors inside a home.
Seasoned veterinarian of the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa in Philippi, Allan Perrins, says they were alerted about the selling of the cubs and contacted the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) immediately. It was confirmed by Perrins there would be communication with their offices on the way forward in the matter.
Perrins said a suspect is yet to be apprehended and cubs found and could not disclose the information of whom the authorities were tracing in order to protect the investigation. Perrins finds the case very disturbing and says wild animals belong in the wild.
He says thus far they can confirm they know the alleged sellers name and contact details, and since the matter has been reported to the GDARD, they have the mandate and authority to act. He sincerely hopes the lion cubs will be confiscated and ultimately returned to the wild.
Perrins explains lions should never be domesticated as they are the proverbial kings of the jungle and will bite the hands that feeds them. He furthermore continues saying the laws governing the keeping, breeding and sale of wild animals in Gauteng are far more lenient than those in the Western Cape where this type of trade would be classified as an offence and prohibited.
The seasoned veterinarian says cubs should never be kept as pets as they are instinctively dangerous and in the case of most big cats near impossible to domesticate, and lions and other wild animals have the capacity to kill which would be considered as a real danger to humans.
The Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation, The Hawks had confirmed the matter was not in their hands. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, National Police spokesperson has said she would query the case was being investigated by their Stock and Endangered Species Unit.
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