For most people the African lion is the king of the wild whose spirit symbolises strength and courage. But for thousands of big cats bred in captivity in South Africa, the reality is a far cry from that noble image.

Coinciding with the international outrage that followed the killing of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, a new documentary offers a disturbing look into the inhumane practices used by many farmers involved in captive predator breeding, a multimillion euro industry that has developed primarily in South Africa over the last 15 years.

Blood Lions shows how, from a few days old until after they die, captive-bred lions are part of a lucrative money-making machine.

The film's protagonist, wildlife campaigner Ian Michler, has followed the fate of these animals since the late 1990s. He tells The Irish Times there are currently some 7,000 captive-bred lions in the country, versus a wild or managed population of 2,500 to 3,000 in game parks. The so-called "canned lions" are produced by up to 200 farmers, mostly from the South Africa's North West and Free State provinces.

Rather than being bred and released into wilderness areas, where predator numbers have decreased (there are only about 20,000 wild lions in 28 African countries due to poaching, hunting and habitat loss), nearly all of these animals die from the bullets of a trophy hunter’s gun.

Between 800 and 1,000 predators, most of them lions, are shot dead annually under “canned hunting” conditions in South Africa, according to the Noordbrug-based South African Predator Association.

“Canned hunting” is different from the process by which the late Cecil was killed. In this system, captive bred lions are released into an enclosed space, then tracked and killed by hunters after as little as 48 hours of freedom .

“Canned hunting has opened up a new market for people, primarily from the US and Europe, who normally wouldn’t have the skill or money to hunt under ‘fair chase’ conditions,” said Michler.

Fair flight

“Fair chase” hunting refers to the traditional form of trophy hunting whereby professional hunters and their clients hunt in wilderness areas large enough for free-ranging animals under pursuit to have a chance of escape.

These traditional hunts can take up to 21 days, are only about 60 percent successful, and cost up to $90,000 per outing. Participants can pick the animal they shoot ahead of the hunt over the internet at a cost of between €22,500 and €32,000, and the trophy is guaranteed.

It took three years to make Blood Lions, and the team involved was undercover as prospective hunters for much of the time. Their footage reveals that, in many instances, the adult predators are kept in cages or small enclosures, rather than in habitats that resemble their natural environment.

In addition the team was able to trace the vast multimillion-euro revenue stream tapped into by farmers and others in the industry.

Cubs are separated from their mothers for use in petting farms; young adults are used for “walking with lions” tourist activities; mature predators are hunted and shot for trophies; and the bones of the dead cats are increasingly sold to Asia for use in potions and medicines.

“For instance,” says Michler, “petting operators are making up to $100,000 a month from foreigners who pay $1,000 each for a two-week work placement at their facility.”

He says that canned hunting and breeding lions in captivity are legal in South Africa as long as the farmer complies with provincial legislation, which focuses on minimum standards for fencing and the size of enclosures.

“To breed predators, there are no requirements with regards to understanding biology, animal husbandry, lion ecology or conservation in general,” he says. “And as long as government regards the various revenue streams such as canned hunting and the lion bone trade as sustainable, it is also legal to trade in lions and their body parts.”

Indeed, the most disturbing aspect of what the conservationists uncovered may relate to the sale of lion bones to Asia, where they are increasingly replacing tiger bones in traditional medicines because trade in the latter is banned in China, the main market.

According to statistics from South Africa’s department of environmental affairs and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, 1,094 lion carcasses were exported from South Africa in 2013. This is up from 287 carcasses in 2010 and a mere 60 individual bones in 2008.

“Given what has happened with wildlife trade in other animal parts, creating this demand will only put pressure on the wild lion populations as well,” said Michler.

Blocked by breeders

In 2005, the South African government attempted to bring in restrictions for the canned hunting industry, but its efforts were thwarted by a high court action taken by predator breeders.

However, over the past a couple of years campaigners have begun to record some victories, as the wider, extremely lucrative hunting industry has also been tainted by the practise of canned hunting.

Department of environmental affairs figures show that lion hunting was the biggest contributor to South Africa’s revenue from hunting in 2012, which in total made €8 million from the 8,000 hunters who shot 40,000 wild animals that year.

Furthermore, Lufthansa, British Airways, Iberia and Air Emirates cargo divisions have joined Air France, KLM, Singapore Airways and Qantasall embargoes on transporting sport-hunting trophies. Until mid-July, South African Airways had the same embargo, but the airline has lifted it.

The European Union and Australia have banned the importation of sport-hunting trophies as well, although the EU’s ban only relates to elephant trophies from Tanzania and Mozambique.

Rooting out rogues

On July 17th, the environmental affairs minister, Edna Molelwa, held a stakeholder engagement to address issues of lion breeding and hunting. Afterwards, his department said it was conceded at the meeting that “rogue elements” operating in the industry needed to be rooted out.

The department added that it was against the law to hunt a lion in a controlled environment or while it was under the influence of a tranquiliser. The use of poison, snares, air guns, shotguns, or by luring it with scent was also illegal.

In conjunction with the premier of Blood Lions, a campaign was launched with the aim of putting an end to the practice. The day after the film premiered at the Durban Film Festival on July 24th. the president of the Professional Hunters' Association of South Africa circulated a letter to its members in which he asked them to reconsider their support for lion hunting, which he described as "no longer tenable".

"Broader society is no longer neutral on this question and the tide of public opinion is turning strongly against this form of hunting, however it is termed," said Hermann Meyeridricks, who attended the Blood Lions premier. "Even within our own ranks, as well as in the hunting fraternity as a whole, respected voices are speaking out publicly against it.

“Against this background,” he added, “I have come to believe that, as it stands, our position on lion hunting is no longer tenable. The matter will be on the agenda again for our next annual general meeting, and I appeal to you to give it your serious consideration so that together we can deliver a policy that is defensible in the court of public opinion.”