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The Inkatha Freedom Party supports all calls to end recreational killing of
lions in South Africa. IFP Spokesperson on the Environment, Mrs CN Zikalala,
MP said, "Lions are being bred in captivity, in most instances tranquilized
and then released into large enclosed areas to be hunted. They are then
being 'hunted' by these pseudo 'hunters' who take great pride and
satisfaction in being able to kill a tame lion, at point blank range with a
high powered rifle. This is as pathetic as it is cruel."

Zikalala further added that, " It is reported that these lions are bred for
the sole purpose of being hunted, often spending the majority of their lives
in small, cramped quarters, are forced to breed  and are released into
controlled environments only when they are about to be shot. The wild lion
population is also under threat with numbers dwindling from 450,000 to only
20000 currently left in the wild."

The IFP accordingly urges the Minister of Environmental Affairs to
immediately ban or at the very least, severely limit the number of lion
hunting permits issued in South Africa each year.