Edith Kabesiime, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection (WAP), has advised the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Center (UWEC) to emphasize safeguarding lions in their natural environments rather than pursuing breeding programs in captivity.
This advice follows reports of UWEC’s request for nearly 10 Billion Ugandan Shillings to establish lion breeding facilities in three National Game Parks.
“We urge UWEC to adopt conservation practices prioritizing animals’ welfare and preservation in their natural habitat the wild. The government should redirect efforts and resources toward comprehensive wildlife protection strategies, addressing root causes like habitat loss, prey scarcity, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts,” explained Kabesiime.
While acknowledging the importance of boosting lion populations and conserving biodiversity, Kabesiime cautioned against cage lion breeding, citing failures in countries like South Africa currently phasing out such programs.
“Breeding lions in captivity doesn’t tackle core threats to these majestic beings. The government must invest in sustainable wildlife protection initiatives focusing on lions’ natural habitats, ensuring they live and breed naturally, rather than potentially harmful cage breeding programs that may not be sustainable,” she emphasized.
World Animal Protection warned that cage breeding could escalate human-wildlife conflicts, poaching, and trafficking, leading to an irreversible ecosystem imbalance and systematic biodiversity loss.
The organization urged the Ugandan government to engage in constructive dialogue to explore alternative, ethical approaches aligned with international best practices.