Lions – Their captivity and breeding programs in Africa

At Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage in Zimbabwe, our mission revolves around the rescue, rehabilitation, and well-being of wildlife, including the majestic lion. Over the years, we’ve encountered various challenges and made important decisions to ensure the safety of both these magnificent creatures and the humans who inhabit their shared environment.
Habituated Lions: A Complex Challenge

The concept of reintroducing lions into areas without human presence for an extended period might seem like an ideal solution, but the reality in today’s Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is quite different. Finding truly remote and uninhabited areas is nearly impossible in the modern world.

Habituation is a process where lions become accustomed to human interaction, often as a result of being raised in captivity or close to human settlements. This process leaves them ill-prepared to fend for themselves in the wild, as they lose their natural fear of humans. Consequently, these habituated lions can pose a significant danger to humans when released.Taking a look at Chipangali’s history, it’s evident how conservation efforts have evolved over the years. Lions like Shashi, Shangal (cubs), Joe, and Sandy (adult animals) have been a part of Chipangali for over four decades. The adult animals were set to be euthanized at the Johannesburg Zoo and instead were given a home at Chipangali. The cubs came from High Noon and the Cape after they had closed down. Following these origianl to Chipangali after tragic deaths to their mothers after being killed by a train.

When Chipangali was established in 1973, there were only a handful of wildlife facilities in Africa, including ours. However, the conservation landscape has evolved significantly since then, with hundreds of such facilities now in existence. This proliferation underscores the growing challenges associated with releasing habituated lions into the wild.

The presence of habituated lions and the difficulty of releasing them into truly wild areas without human interaction present a complex and challenging issue in modern wildlife conservation efforts. This underscores the importance of responsible and ethical practices in managing lions and other wildlife in captivity.

The Unintended Consequences of Breeding
At Chipangali, we stand firmly against the breeding of lions in captivity. This practice has never been a part of our program, nor will it be in the future. This is not a part of our responsible and ethical wildlife management.

However, we must acknowledge a period in our history when an unintended issue arose. This unfortunate situation occurred during the hyperinflation period in 2009, when our primary focus was on sustaining our operations. The economic crisis that unfolded in Zimbabwe in 2009 was a deeply distressing period in the country’s history. Hyperinflation reached astronomical levels, causing a devastating devaluation of the national currency. Overnight, people saw their hard-earned life savings rendered virtually worthless. As a result, there was an inadvertent increase in lion births, which was never our intention.

In response to this situation, we took immediate action to rectify the issue. To address the matter cost-effectively, we started first by administering deslorelin chip to the male lions. Regrettably, this led to the males losing their manes, prompting us to reconsider our approach. The manes have since recovered.

Subsequently, we made the decision to spay the older females and administer deslorelin to the younger ones right on-site. We are proud to report that no lion cubs have been born at Chipangali in approximately 13 years. While this might be perceived as a loss by some, it aligns with our unwavering commitment to responsible lion care.
In addition, all lions at Chipangali have also been trovan micro-chipped in order to have a permanent ID of the animals.

The Current State of Our Lions
Today, most of the lions residing at Chipangali are between 15 to 18 years old, and, like all living creatures, they will eventually pass away. When they do, we provide them with a dignified burial on our premises. While the number of lions has decreased from a peak of 20, we currently have 12 lions in our care. Are we concerned about not having lions in the future? Not at all. Over the coming years, we anticipate that new lions will find their way to us, as injured, orphaned, or hurt animals continue to seek refuge.

Walking with Lions
Chipangali opposes the practice of walking with lions, which has gained popularity in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Habituated lions, especially cubs, can be bred for this purpose, often for educational or touching experiences. However, these animals can grow to be large and potentially dangerous at 18 months old, posing risks to both humans and themselves. Many of these lions eventually end up supporting canned lion facilities—a practice we find wholly unacceptable.

The Challenge of Releasing Lions
Introducing lions into spacious enclosures alongside prey species like zebras might appear as a potential solution. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to take into account that lions accustomed to human presence are not well-suited for such situations. They tend to over-hunt due to the accessibility of prey near fences. Furthermore, releasing them into areas where wild lions have already established territories poses numerous challenges.

While some may argue that releasing habituated lions could be effective, here at Chipangali, we firmly believe that it’s not a practical solution. The risks these lions pose to humans and the complexities involved in integrating them into established ecosystems cannot be overlooked. Instead, we strongly support a hands-off approach to lion conservation, where they can remain as untouched by human contact as possible.

In conclusion, Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage remains dedicated to the responsible care and protection of lions. Our commitment to the well-being of these magnificent creatures, combined with the recognition of the challenges associated with breeding and releasing habituated lions, guides our approach. We advocate for ethical and sustainable practices in lion conservation to ensure the safety of both these apex predators and the communities they coexist with in our ever-changing world.