072 - Combatting the illegal trade in lion body parts

072 - Combatting the illegal trade in lion body parts

Old version: Version as originally published (View latest version) | Published on: 12 Dec 2019

RECOGNISING that the global lion population has declined during the past decades;

RECALLING that the African lion (Panthera leo) has been classified as Vulnerable on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species;

RECOGNISING that the main reasons for this decline are habitat destruction, depletion of prey populations, retaliatory killing in relation to carnivore–human conflicts and illegal poaching for lion body parts;

RECOGNISING that there are indications that the illegal poaching of lions for the trade in lion body parts is increasing and that this is partly caused by the illegal pan-African and Asian trade in lion body parts, including bones, claws and teeth for zoo-therapeutic, decorative and status purposes across the continuum from subsistence to commercial use and trade, but that there is limited published evidence devoted to the subject;

RECALLING that the legal export of lion skeletons from South Africa represents a highly complex nexus of conservation, political and social concerns, and that it is suggested that the legal trade in lion skeletons also acts as an incentive for illegal trade, whereas, conversely, the opposing opinion states that legal trade may reduce demand for wild felid products and that further restricting legal trade may incentivise illegal trade;

CONSIDERING that the paucity of conclusive evidence for the impact of legal trade upon wild lion populations in Africa leads to the question of where conservation action is best directed regarding the illegal exploitation of wild lions across the continent; and

RECOGNISING that the World Health Organization (WHO) recently endorsed Traditional Chinese Medicines, which may add a risk factor for the illegal trade in threatened species, including large cats such as lions;

The IUCN World Conservation Congress, at its session in Marseille, France:

1. DECLARES the importance of controlling the illegal poaching of lions for lion body parts;

2. REQUESTS the Director General to support an initiative for further exploration of the extent and drivers of African lion-part trade in Africa and in East/South-East Asia, information that is required to better inform decision-making and intervention measures; and

3. ENCOURAGES Members to focus on reductions of illegal exploitation of wild lion populations by improving law enforcement, improving and enforcing wildlife crime legislation, and tackling corruption.

The global population of the African lion (Panthera leo) is decreasing. There are suggestions that this is partly caused by the illegal pan-African and Asian trade in lion body parts, including bones, claws and teeth for zootherapeutic , decorative and status purposes across the continuum of subsistence to commercial use and trade. [There is limited published evidence however devoted to the subject]. The legal export of lion skeletons from South Africa represents a highly complex nexus of conservation, political, and social concerns. It is suggested that the legal trade in lion skeletons also acts as an incentive for illegal trade. Conversely, the opposing opinion states that legal trade may reduce demand for wild felid products and that further restricting legal trade may incentivise illegal trade. From other contentious wildlife trade issues involving species such as tigers, rhinos, and elephants it has been posited that outright trade bans and hunting prohibitions may increase illegal exploitation [due to incentivisation of illegal trade through modified pricing structures] The paucity of clear evidence for the impact of legal trade upon wild lion populations in Africa leads to the question of where conservation action is best directed regarding the illegal exploitation (poaching) of wild lions across the continent. We believe that conservation action should focus on reductions of illegal exploitation of wild lion populations by improving law enforcement, improving and enforcing wildlife crime laws, and tackling corruption. In addition, further exploration of the extent and drivers of African lion part trade [in Africa and S/SE Asia ] are required to better inform decision-making and intervention measures.
  • Asociación para la Conservación, Investigación de la Biodiversidad y el Desarrollo Sostenible [Bolivia]
  • Association Marocaine pour la Protection de l`Environnement et le Climat [Morocco]
  • Cameroon Wildlife Conservation Society [Cameroon]
  • Club Marocain pour l'Environnement et le Développement [Morocco]
  • Conservation Force, Inc. [United States of America]
  • Leo Foundation [The Netherlands]
  • Nederlandse Vereniging van Dierentuinen [The Netherlands]
  • Wildlife ACT Fund Trust [South Africa]

Hosts