The trade in lion bone has emerged as a significant international focus. This global trade is primarily associated with traditional medicine and cultural practices. Conservationists and governments worldwide are increasingly concerned about the challenges this trade poses.
Traditional Uses and Modern Demand
Historically, lion bones were not a recognized ingredient in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM), but their demand has surged as a substitute for tiger bones due to declining tiger populations and a ban on tiger product use. Tiger bones have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and tonics to address ailments such as arthritis, rheumatism, back problems, general weakness, and headaches. While lion bones are now marketed as substitutes, there is no credible evidence supporting the efficacy of these remedies.
Lion bone is primarily used to produce products like “lion bone wine,” which is believed to treat conditions such as rheumatism and arthritis. Beyond medicinal claims, lion bones and other parts, including teeth and claws, are fashioned into jewelry and trinkets. These items are sometimes thought to impart strength and vigor to the wearer, or serve as a status symbol.
Modern demand for lion bone is driven by perceived medicinal efficacy, cultural traditions, and the rarity of such products. The commodification of captive-bred lions in South Africa for their bones has been ongoing since 2008, with skeletons primarily exported to Southeast Asia. This trade legitimizes traditional medicine products among consumers.
Sources of Lion Bone and the Trade Network
Lion bone primarily originates from two main sources: captive breeding operations and the poaching of wild lions. South Africa is a significant country where lions are bred in captivity specifically for their bones and other body parts. This captive breeding industry has expanded rapidly.
The “canned hunting” industry is also linked to this supply, where lions are hunted in confined enclosures, and their skeletons then enter the trade. While trophy hunters typically seek the lion’s head and pelt, the remaining bones are subsequently sold into the bone trade. Since 2008, nearly 7,000 lion skeletons, weighing over 70 tonnes, have been exported from South Africa to Southeast Asia for use in traditional Asian medicine.
The illegal killing of wild lions also contributes to the supply, particularly in African range states. Poachers target wild lions across their sub-Saharan range, employing methods such as poisoning water holes and setting snare traps.
The trade network is complex, involving organized crime and smuggling networks. The primary destination markets for lion bone include Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam and China. Traffickers exploit the difficulty in distinguishing between bones from captive or wild lions, allowing illegally sourced bones to enter the market as legitimate. This network has been connected to broader wildlife trafficking syndicates, including those involved in the rhino horn trade.
Conservation and Ethical Implications
The trade in lion bone raises significant concerns for lion conservation and animal welfare. The legal trade of bones from captive-bred lions could inadvertently stimulate overall demand, providing cover for the illegal trade in bones from wild lions. This dynamic could intensify poaching pressure on wild lion populations, which are already declining due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
Ethical concerns surround the animal welfare conditions within lion farming operations. Lions in these facilities, estimated to be between 8,000 and 12,000 in South Africa, often endure severe exploitation. Cubs are frequently separated from their mothers shortly after birth to maximize breeding cycles, leading to potential inbreeding and deformities. These young lions may then be used for tourist activities like cub petting or walking with lions, before being transferred to canned hunting facilities.
The breeding of animals solely for their parts raises profound ethical questions about their treatment and purpose. Such practices undermine broader conservation efforts for big cats globally and contribute to the pervasive issue of wildlife crime. The industry’s focus on profit, rather than conservation, has also drawn criticism from various international organizations.
Regulatory Frameworks and Enforcement Challenges
The international trade in lions is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Lions (Panthera leo) are listed on CITES Appendix II, meaning international commercial trade requires permits to ensure it does not threaten their survival. CITES has banned the export of bones from wild lions.
Despite this, lion bone from captive breeding facilities in South Africa could previously be traded legally under a quota system determined by South African authorities. However, a South African High Court decision in 2019 ruled these export quotas unlawful due to insufficient consideration of captive-bred lions’ welfare, leading to a period with no CITES export quotas for lion skeletons.
Enforcing these regulations presents numerous challenges. Difficulties arise in accurately identifying the origin of bones—whether from wild or captive-bred lions—which can be nearly identical. Corruption and the sophisticated nature of smuggling operations further complicate enforcement efforts. Despite the legal changes, reports suggest that some facilities continue to prepare bones for international buyers following captive trophy hunts.
Conservation organizations and governments are engaged in efforts to combat illegal trade and protect wild lions. However, the complex interplay of national laws, varying provincial permit systems, and the absence of a comprehensive national database for permits hinder effective oversight. This creates a legal grey area, making it difficult to ensure compliance and prevent the laundering of illegal bones into legal markets.