Public health risks from “The Sick 5” go unchecked in the captive lion breeding industry
By Evans Kipkorir Listen to article
A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers, and its communities.
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Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health issues for people”,
says Dr Louise de Waal (Director of Blood Lions). “These diseases are associated with at least 63 potentially harmful pathogens linked with both wild and captive lions, as identified in our peer-reviewed paper.”
You’ve heard about the Big Five, but probably not about the “Sick Five” a frightening package of diseases that goes unchecked in the captive lion breeding industry.
A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection has highlighted how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa holds a serious health risk to thousands of tourists, industry workers and communities.
The ‘Sick Five’ of the captive lion breeding industry
Blood Lions is an award-winning documentary feature film and global campaign that works to bring an end to predator breeding and “canned” hunting industries in South Africa.
Director Dr Louise de Waal says five major diseases dubbed the ‘Sick Five’ in its new campaign have been identified that can cause serious health issues for people.