New laws to ensure lions ’ future
by Greg Martin
Dannii Crystal and her partner , Adam , had kept a magnum of champagne – nonalcoholic of course - on ice for a year or so now , waiting for a special occasion on which to crack the bottle .
That special occasion came recently when Dannii heard news Out of Africa announced by South Africa Minister of Environment , Forestry and Fisheries , Barbara Creecy , a former anti-apartheid activist .
Dannii , who has featured in these pages previously due to her deeds in South Africa working at the world renowned Panthera Africa Big Cat Sanctuary , had reason to have perhaps two or three glasses of champers .
Barbara Creecy announced pending new laws , introduced by her Lions Task Force , which will ensure lions ( Panthera leo ) will inhabit the country ’ s vast veldts for centuries to come .
A ban will be introduced to stop the farming of lions for “ canned hunting ” - enclosed spaces where inexperienced hunters have easy kills due to the lions not being able to escape the fenced boundary . Like shooting stunned deer in the headlights ! Commercial captive lion farming will also be phased out for the next few years .
“ All this doesn ’ t mean that visitors to South Africa will not be able to see these magnificent creatures ,” Dannii explained .
“ Tourists will be able see lions living in peace in one of the seven True Sanctuaries or in the wild by linking with ethical safaris ,
on which the only shooting being done is with a camera ,” Dannii said .
There are several ethical safaris in South Africa , the largest of which is the famed Kruger National Park , in the north-east of the country .
It covers 19,485 square kilometres and is home to a high density of wild animals including the Big 5- lions , leopards , rhinos , elephants and buffalos . All of which live in peace ! The Big Cat Rescue Sanctuaries such as the 40-hectare Panthera Africa , involve no breeding of animals , no patting , no bottle feeding of cubs or buying and selling of the animals .
No interaction – just the opportunity for the public to see lions , tigers , black leopards , caracals and servals living in peace and total safety .
Dannii Crystal , who has long held a passion for the environment and other creatures on this planet besides humans , has had three stints working with lions at Panthera .
“ I first went over in 2015 and found employment for 12 months working with the lions at Panthera ,” Dannii said .
And one lion in particular – Obi – a relationship which has endured to this day .
“ It was an amazing time working with Obi and those other wonderful creatures and I have been back twice since – in 2018 and last year for short employment stints .”
I reckon Obi ambles over to the Panthera boundary every now and then to check if his old friend has returned . And she will , Obi , don ’ t you worry ‘ bout that !
No lyin ’ eyes on Dannii Crystal . The love she has for big cats , especially her old lion friend , Obi , is as obvious as the , well , eyes on her face .
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10 ISSUE 94 // APRIL 2023 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT