Can the death of a lion ultimately save the species?

The world woke up with a start following the death of the well known Zimbabwean lion named Cecil.

In an unprecedented outpouring of rage, his death at the hands of a trophy hunter circumnavigated the world and educated the masses into the “sport” known as Trophy Hunting. The most intriguing observation was the sheer number of people who were unaware this happens on a daily basis, particularly in South Africa.

South Africa has over 160 Canned Lion Farms. These are facilities which breed lions with no regards for genetics or the welfare of the animals. In fact, welfare is the last thing on their mind. Exploitation from birth to death is the objective. Lionesses are forced into breeding. Cubs torn away from their mothers at a few days old, only to be petted and fed by tourists who think they are helping the poor orphaned cub. They are not orphaned, and any facility that tells you they are, are frankly lying to you. These are the kind of facilities that take in unwitting youngsters looking for a gap year experience by volunteering. In fact they pay good money for the experience whilst unknowingly abetting canned hunting.

The problem with cubs is that they grow up. They become too boisterous to handle in an enclosed space, so they are moved into the world of “Walking with Lions” experiences. Here the dear tourist pays a lot more money for an experience where they walk in a controlled environment, carrying sticks and having their photos taken by the guardians walking alongside them. Do you truly believe this lion cannot kill you? Your stick will not protect you against an animal with an instinct for killing.

However, the lions are so used to human interaction (since birth) they do not really see humans as a threat. Following their growth during the walking with lions phase of their miserable lives, they are put out to pasture to mature. I use the word pasture rather cynically as the reality is these lions are kept in caged enclosures, sometimes 30 or more lions in one pen, fed, watered and allowed to grow to maturity. In any other country the way these animals are treated would be legislated by animal anti cruelty laws. The respective SPCA would step in and ensure their well being, or close down the farms where lions are being reared on an industrial scale.

This is where their worth really comes into fruition. A fully grown male, with a great shaggy mane will fetch anything up to £35,000 to a trophy hunter. This is the reality. This is the despicable act of lion farming. This is the rampant disregard for an animal with no legal protection, a government who sees lions as a commodity and a hunter who murders his prey in an enclosed compound (hence the canned hunting term, as the lion kill is in the can).

This brings me back to Cecil. Yes he was murdered and the world was shaken awake. For decades numerous organisations (not for profit) have been trying to get lions the protection they need to survive and mostly to educate the world to this industry and stop the cruelty that ensues. In the blink of his dying eye, Cecil did this for every lion left on the planet. He died for the last few remaining wild lions, he died for every lion being bred on canned hunting farms and he woke the human spirit in all of us to stand up and say “We are not prepared to live a life where we allow an entire species to become extinct” Not on my watch!

Education was they key. It is with most things in life. If you learn about something, you have a conscious awareness of it for the rest of your life. Every child is in wander when they learn natural history and the ways of our planet. Not everyone is an activist, not everyone can march for justice but every one of us HUMANS can make a difference one way or another by acting upon our knowledge and educating others along the way. We are the messengers, the silent prayers in the drifting winds, the ones with compassion and a love of life itself.

These past few weeks have been incredibly frantic but worth every minute of every day as we take strides to helping protect the apex predator, the king of the jungle, the symbol worldwide of power, royalty, regal status and family bonds.

As Global President of Protecting African Lions Foundation (PAL) I have been quite taken aback by the support and responses we have had across the globe. Our iconic PAL bracelets are being shipped worldwide to those wishing to express their solidarity, to make a difference, to show support and to drive the changes in laws worldwide that are required to protect lions. Our ambassadors work relentlessly building the relationships that can drive real change, our collective intellectual connectivity.

I am pleased to have initiated the campaign for #CecilsLaw which is now a global reference to any legislation passed in the protection of lions. Cecil has a legacy that will live on for generations to come and without him our planet may just have allowed the lion to fade into extinction. Support from the world of conservation, social media, sport, music, celebrity and government is helping drive #CecilsLaw and shall be the catalyst to ban canned hunting and trophy hunting on our planet.

Until next time

Steve

United pride to ban canned hunting

Friday 13th may be a bad superstitious day for some, however in London’s Trafalgar Square incredible things happened this week. The Global March for Lions 2015 (GM4L) was a unified voice for change demanding an end to the canned hunting trade, the ban of trophy hunting imports or exports anywhere in the world and an opportunity for mankind to protect the lion from extinction.

The GM4L was collectively supported by a number of NGOs and a fantastic vocal army of Lion Warriors.

    

Our united voices were heard loud and clear by representatives in the South African Embassy across the road. Not since the call for the end of apartheid have so many congregated, chanting, calling for South Africa to make amendments to their laws, in this case, to ban canned hunting in their country.

There are a range of activities which aide and abet the canned lion hunting and breeding farms that are rife across the African continent. We are urging all international tourism operators to South Africa not to promote;

• Cub petting
• Walking with lion experiences
• Volunteer experiences (unless these operators have been fully vetted and their practises scrutinised meticulously)
• Tours that include any of the above
• Any of the above in airline in-flight magazines

We make a further call on all airline operators to take a stance in agreeing NOT to carry Wildlife Trophies in their air freight.

These barbaric practises have no place in our world today. They are 19th century “sports” being played out in the 21st Century using the last remaining populations of a number of species as bait. To permit a species to be driven to the point of extinction is irresponsible of us as a race – This is not humanity’s finest hour.

Australia has taken the brave step of becoming the first country on the planet to ban the import of animal trophies. This precedence is a very clear message to other countries that they should follow suit.

A petition calling for a ban on canned hunting in South Africa was hand delivered to an official from the South African High Commission. “It was powerful, hearing the chants of the crowd outside echoing right through South Africa House!” said Paul Tully from the Campaign Against Canned Hunting.

Under the watchful gaze of Britains most iconic lions, campaigners from NGOs and fellow lion warriors shared their passion, their achievements and their beliefs in a future without canned hunting.

Click HERE to experience the day in our own words.

For a full transcript of the speech by Steve Travis – President of Protecting African Lions Foundation click HERE

Haters & Detractors

It has been a while since my last blog, for this I apologise. Life has been hectic and things are going from strength to strength with the Charity Foundation. This is great news for the worlds lions.

So, why the theme of this blog entry? Well it is quite simple really. I am at a stage where the great work being done by a number of people to help save the last remaining lions is being undermined by narrow minded, ill educated, egotistical morons, who think they are leading experts on conservation (some of them having never actually been to Africa or seen a lion in the wild, let alone knowing anything about them).

I am NOT a lion expert, but I have dealings with many of the worlds leading experts, those who physically work with these majestic animals daily, those who have studied for years and are qualified to talk about them and make educated assessments on what should be done to protect them. I utilise their knowledge to further my education and the direction our foundation takes in its quest to Protect African Lions. I participated in last years Global March for Lions because I believed in the cause we marched for because we made a difference and were noticed internationally.

Interestingly, some people have become a little carried away with their involvement in said march and think they are the fount of all knowledge these days. They think because they participated in the march that they are the world leaders. They believe their opinion is the only one that matters and they further believe they have the right to bad mouth others, through social media and in private messages and emails. Well, guess what? Libellous claims, of which I and others have a multitude of evidence, will eventually bite these folk in the rear. Nothing like a solicitors letter landing on their door mat to finally wake them up from their misguided self importance.

The thing that frustrates me the most is the fact that their hearts (i believe) are actually in the right place (in terms of caring for lions / wildlife) however their methods and motives are just appalling. Each NGO has their way of operating which they chose when they set themselves up. Its not up to individuals to pass judgement on these Orgs if the individual has a personal issue with others, or is in fact misguided, or has no understanding of what the Orgs are actually doing daily. So instead of passing judgement, perhaps speak with the Orgs to gain an understanding of their work? But no, this would expose their ignorance, so they knock instead of supporting.

Protecting African Lions Foundation (PAL) of which I am President, has made two public donations in the past 8 months to Orgs directly involved with lion projects on the ground. Furthermore, 98% of PALs work is actually done quietly behind the scenes, leveraging the relationships our ambassadors have with those who matter in governments across the globe, in conservation, in land ownership in Africa. Through intellectual connectivity, we meet and discuss the plight of the lion with numerous people on a daily / weekly / monthly basis, eliciting their support, donations and ongoing connections as we work to our ultimate goal – sponsoring a fully serviced sanctuary for lions in Africa. The sale of every PAL bracelet goes straight back into the foundation and is what has funded our two projects in the past year. Do I need some jumped up persons, so full of self importance, bad mouthing the good work my team and I do daily? I certainly don’t, especially when said persons fail to have the balls to talk to me face to face directly, and make waves in private underhand messages.

6 Lion charities have been exposed via social media as being fake fronts in the past year, fake domains collecting charitable donations from the public by playing on their goodwill for lions. There are currently two websites, a Facebook page and an Instagram account with a vast number of followers, who are actually fronts for collecting donations, which no lions will ever benefit from. Through our network of ambassadors, we continue working behind the scenes to have these shut down and removed from social media. If an NGO fails to publish its Charity Number, do NOT Trust it. If any fail to answer your questions as to where the funds donated goes, do NOT trust them. So time and resources that should be spent on lions is actually being redirected to halt the growth of these illegal NGOs.

The lions and our wildlife are having a hard enough time as it is and we certainly do not need illegal sites popping up and taking well deserved lion funding. Most of all, with the state of the worlds lions as bad as it is, the last thing we (any of us) need is so-called do gooders causing rifts between bone fide NGOs across the globe. What we should be doing is mutually supporting each other, educating, learning from each other, growing together and unifying our call to action. Ban Canned Hunting, Ban Cub Petting, Ban Walking with Lions, Close down all the ugly volunteering operations in Africa. EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE and EDUCATE some more. No matter who is doing the educating, we must get canned hunting out there to the masses.

Think about it people, harness that passion that drives you every day and actually put it to good use. Don’t waste your time, or that of others with playground antics. Man up, grow some balls and support one another. Man has an ability to put their differences aside and walk together in a common cause. FW De Klerk and Nelson Mandela proved that to be true.

I am very much looking forward to the Global March for Lions on 13th March, a year after our initial impact. I will proudly be standing there supporting the cause so many of us will turn up for, I will not back down, I will not detract, I will support the ongoing momentum.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Peace

Steve

Save the Planet, with the stroke of a pen

Yesterday was World Animal Day around the globe. Concerned citizens of our fragile planet marched in cities world wide to raise the profile of the plight of our wildlife, the state of the planet and showed solidarity with all those trying to do something about changing our inevitable man made downfall.

I heard many slogans yesterday, chants from the voices of those trying to save our very biosphere.

Extinction is forever…….

I was enthralled with the passion of the speakers in Parliament Square, London. Dominic Dyer, Simon Jones, Sir Ian Redmond OBE and Nicky Campbell all spoke with wisdom, compassion and fire. A fire that started a long while ago but one which is spreading throughout the world, a fire of caring, urging our governments and political leaders to do something about the Ivory Trade, about Canned Lion Hunting, about the state of our oceans.

With the stroke of a pen this could all be resolved. A big statement yes, but the reality is that by sliding that biro across a bill in parliaments around the world we can actually ban the trade in ivory, ban the import of lion parts into Europe, the United States and the rest of the world. It truly IS that SIMPLE.

Ian Redmond spoke of Elephants being the gigantic keepers of the forest. Essentially, without elephants pruning trees, depositing a weekly ton of dung filled with seeds for new life the actual fabric of the forest, of the bush veld, will change and be lost forever. Every species on this planet is here for a reason, yes, even the apex predator the Lion. They are top of the food chain, they control population in the wild, they are our planets gate keepers. If we stand by idly watching a species disappear from the planet, our very planet will be at risk. The make up of it, the equilibrium, the ecosystem will change forever.

I call on all governments across the globe to step up and prove your worth. Sign off the bill to ban ivory trade in every form. Sign off every bill that is put to your government that aids the protection of our wildlife, our heritage, our future. If you can find billions every year for international aid efforts, many more billions for war, make a stance and set aside a few billion to educate those who think rhino horns, tiger bones or shark fins are good for your libido. Step up and utilise social media to get the message across to the youth in China. They are the biggest non violent highly effective movement in the world at the moment. Use them to educate those who think a lion carcass or an elephant tusk looks good on the floor in their offices or as a carved trinket for sale. Use these same harbingers of change to help educate those who hunt whales, endanger dolphins and the list goes on and on.

I call on YOU, China, to sign into law the banning of ivory trade with severe custodial consequences for those caught dealing in this material, close the ivory carving factories, re-appropriate the staff there to doing good for your and my environment.

South Africa, President Zuma, I call on you to finally outlaw canned hunting, and to ensure that you set aside sufficient funding to have those 8,000 lions in captivity sent to protective custody on game farms and sanctuaries, for them to live out their days on this planet. Sign into law the ban on hunting any wildlife species, particularly this that are endangered. I implore you to stand up and actually do the most effective thing you can do for your country, support the ban on canned hunting, support having the lion listed on the CITIES endangered species list at the convention in South Africa next year. Stand up and employ thousands of your unemployed citizens, train them, develop them and use them to help conserve your heritage, your environment and your reputation. You cannot be a puppet all your life, man up and make a stance.

To all those in the United States I call on you to make the changes in your laws that will help protect our wildlife. Just because you’re a big country does not give you the right to go kill endangered animals on another continent. How would you like it if the rest of the world came to the USA and shot your buffalo? (Have you got any buffalo left?) You can make the biggest difference to the plight of the lion by changing one simple law. The import law that allows you to bring lion trophies into the United States as personal items, not as an import. Goodness me, you confuse me. I cannot even bring an apple into your country when I visit, how the hell do you let a lions head trophy in with no regard?

I further call upon all those fantastic organisations around the world all working in the interests of conservation, preserving our wildlife, to actually support one another, stand by our common goals and present a united front. The barrier would be far easier to pull down together then individually. United we must stand.

Despite all this, I am in a happier place today. Happier because i witnessed the people who will no longer stand for this. They are not government officials or radical activists, they are normal compassionate human beings who are making a stand for our wildlife, for our environment and for our very existence and for that, I salute you all.

 

Focus on the Goal…..

Hi again, good to be back in blog land.

I have been amazed as I watch with open mouthed abandon how many people, all with a common goal to protect Lions, save lions, home lions and educate others about lions land up falling into the political wrangling of a minority who have their own interests at heart ahead of the lion itself.
It is easy to put your name to a cause, bang on about it or proclaim to be an expert in the field (having never set foot in Africa), however its another when the very reason you care becomes a vehicle for self gain, ego, status and self opinionated drivel.

In my eyes, anyone who has the interest of the animal at heart is worth supporting. I am aghast at how people ally themselves with one group or another, how they turn and become vile social media commentators, how they twist situations and are always whiter then white. How it is everyone else that is being vindictive, or talking out of turn.
For me, the use of social media is best utilised to promote and educate others to the cause, to the plight of our planets Lions, or Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers and more.
I made a promise to support and attend the Global March for Lions earlier this year, probably the single most significant event ever in the name of the lion and having them protected. I also promise to mail out PAL bracelets when we have received your order, and we do, without fail.
Every action is another step to help protect our last lions.
THIS is what matters.

Publicly belittling others, entering into unwarranted dialogue provides absolutely NO protection to lions. It does not raise funds, it does not create positive awareness, it does no good to anyone apart from the originator.

If anything it diminishes everything those who are truly committed to the cause are doing.
I am fortunate to know some incredibly gifted, knowledgeable subject matter experts. I look to them for guidance, education and respect everything they do. THESE are the voices that matter, the ones who actually know what they are talking about. Not those who speak in their names.

This week marks the start of the Great War. Incredibly moving to see soldiers from all countries involved sitting next to each other. Former enemies at war, sitting alongside their now allies. This is testament to the changes they made to our world as we know it. Opposing sides can find common ground, can build a future together as a united force rather then fractured enemies.
This is my dream for the lions. That all our individual efforts connect to create a wider coherent web of strength, where we respect each others passion, try to understand the motivations, help each other, support one another and put political wrangling behind us and focus on the Goal!

Protecting African Lions (PAL) Launches in New York

The most extraordinary event of my life. That is a bold statement coming from a guy who has catered for the worlds elite athletes at two Olympic Games, operated the most incredible catering contracts on the planet and is now living in rural Oxfordshire.

My affiliation with PAL grows each day. The foundation was publicly launched, at Soho House New York, on the roof top last Friday night. Hundreds of guests turned up for the most wonderful event in the city.

Whilst I may have met the most incredible people, innovators, leaders, change managers and though meisters the entire focus was on the cause. Founder Conor McCreedy made a passionate speech and the crowd were enthralled at the video which followed.

I am thrilled we inducted new ambassadors on the night and unveiled our official video. The pride has come together, now we need to take it to you, the rest of the world.

Look at the launch video here to see the truth behind the cause and what you can do to help.

PAL Ambassadors at the New York Launch

 

To all those who attended, thank you.

We are busy planning our next launches in Cape Town and in the United Kingdom, at the most incredible venues you can imagine!!

Don’t forget you can order your McCreedy Blue PAL bracelet of support from the Lianne Landman Collection.

http://liannelandman.com/collection/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_90&products_id=679

Watch this space for exciting news and developments as they happen

#jointhepride

Thanks

Steve

 

 

Now is the time to wake up the world!

What fantastic news I have to share with you, dear planet!

The Global Launch of Protecting African Lions (PAL) is officially taking place in New York City on 27th September 2013.

This auspicious occasion marks the public start of the Foundation, its’ ideals and the ultimate goal of protecting one of the most endangered species on the planet. The African Lion. You may think there are plenty of lions in the wild, what’s the issue? The truth is that the lion is the fastest declining wild species in the world. They are being hunted in the wild, hunted through canned farming, hunted as trophies for wealthy people (I refuse to call them human) who have no courage or conviction, just a mere desire to take what they think is theirs, no matter what it costs.

It has been proven that the hunt seasons in various African countries has actually increased local poverty as none of the income goes back into the community.

PAL aims to get protection for the king of the jungle.

I have just finished watching HRH Prince William inaugural TUSK awards where he stated how devastating it would be for a child born in recent months, as his son HRH Prince George was, could possibly grow up never having the chance to see a Rhino in the wild. FACT – the lion will be in the same situation by the end of the decade unless something is done about it.

To all the PAL Ambassadors, our supporters, our sponsors and you the general public, THANK YOU for your ongoing support. The most incredible group of people have come together from around the world to help launch PAL, including Colin Cowie, Soho House New York, Live Out Loud and Michael Eilertsen, Lianne Landman, and everyone else involved in getting the message out there. Mostly, to Conor McCreedy, PAL Founder, for his tireless work in building the team, developing the dream, eating, sleeping and living it every day.

If you are in New York towards the end of the month, then the place to be, and be seen, will be at the launch of PAL. You can come along, with 20 of your closest wealthiest friends who wish to support this wonderful cause. It’s exclusive and will be the event of the Autumn!

As you know by now, there are a number of charities affiliated to PAL who all benefit from your support. Please share the mission we have. Tweet, Like us on Facebook (ProtectingAficanLions) and get everyone buying the PAL bracelet of support.

Have a great week and we will be sending updates live from New York on Twitter, #jointhepride

Power of the People

Firstly I would like to thank all of you who got involved in World Lion Day on the 10th August. The power of the people was felt across the globe and for an inaugural event it took the social media world by storm and has captured the imagination, hearts and support of thousands world wide. Thank you.

Harnessing the power of the people is what this blog is all about.

The time has come to share that the global launch of PAL will be happening on 27th September 2013 in New York City!

The most incredible bunch of supporters, leaders and inspiring individuals are all busy pulling together an event of global proportions. Guest lists are being developed, contacts called and the who’s who being lined up for a dazzling night at Soho House NY.

The reason for all of this, is to cement the PAL Foundations’ commitment to protecting the African Lion from extinction. Critical issue, without a doubt. You’ll have seen from my previous posts details about the decline of the lion population, so today is all about celebrating them and the way forward to get them the protection and recognition they deserve.

So what can you do to get involved? Well you could invite 100 of your closest friends to join you in purchasing your PAL bracelet of support for the cause and #jointhepride PAL bracelets available from www.protectingafricanlions.org

This is who we are and what we stand for:

THE FACTS

• African lions are increasingly threatened and endangered with over 90% decline in the past 50 years and continuing. 
• During the hunting “season” 7 male lions are killed every 2 days. 
• Over the past 6 years around 3,900 lions have been shot as trophies and exported
  from Africa, largely through ‘canned’ hunting. 
• There are fewer than 2,500 male lions left in the wild and hunted at a rate of 650 per
  year. 
• In Zimbabwe and Tanzania, communities are worse off after joining trophy hunter
  projects- rural poverty increased 

• During research periods 104 cubs are born within the prides but fewer than 10 reached adulthood due to feline AIDS 

PAL (“PROTECTING AFRICAN LIONS”)

Our Lion-Hearted Mission:

PAL is a non- profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness and to start protecting lions from further decline.

We have established a foundation designed to protect lions and to become a key strategic partner for governmental and other affiliated charity programs.

The goal of our well-researched partnerships will be to help drive awareness of PAL. Conor Mccreedy (Founder) will front the organization through his brand and global appeal. Strategic partners presently on board include those listed on the above photo.

Our first artistic collaboration, through our founder, Conor McCreedy, has created a one-of-a-kind ‘MccreedyBluePAL’ bracelet. Hand picked, renowned South African designer Lianne Landman will head up the designs, employing and empowering local women to hand make each bracelet and enjoy a sustainable income. These unique bracelets will be sold globally through www.protectingafricanlions.org or www.liannelandman.com 

By purchasing a “MccreedyBluePAL” bracelet, you will help drive our mission. Each bracelet will be sold for $21 USD. A portion of the funding will also assist other global charity groups affiliated to the project.

Now, all i humbly request is you #jointhepride and buy a bracelet now, tell your friends about it, share this blog online, tweet about it, facebook it, like it and the power of social media shall help us secure the future of the King of the Jungle.

Thank you

World Lion Day Roars

What an incredible response across the world for the inaugural World Lion Day last Saturday.

Thank you to everyone who got involved world wide to raise the profile of the lion and their imminent extinction. Yes, EXTINCTION! This is a very real fact I am sad to admit. In this day and age where the world is very small through the likes of the internet, I find it really difficult to accept that humanity will sit back and accept that in 1960 there were over 200,000 lions in the wild in Africa and in 2010 the census had a count of just on 20,000. Thats 180,000 lions killed in Africa in 50 years.

This is acceptable? I have an inherent fear that in the future, unless we do something about it quickly, that when visiting Africa, safari goers will be going to see the BIG 4, not the BIG 5. If rhino poaching continues as it is then it will become the BIG 3. Is this the world and the legacy we want to leave our children and grandchildren and generations beyond?

“Financially, ecotourism generates around $80 billion a year for Africa, which feeds into local communities and economies. Few people I know would bother coming on safari if they knew they would not see the king of the beasts.”
– Dereck Joubert for National Geographic

The reality is that not only do we lose the lion but a continent loses a multi billion dollar income stream that currently supports millions of people and keeps them out of poverty.

Protecting African Lions (P.A.L) may be a fantastic vehicle for sharing the plight of the lion with the world, however there are a number of affiliated charities and foundations that benefit from the sale of every PAL bracelet. The knock on effect is astounding. From the communities supported and developing through being employed to hand make the PAL bracelets to Faces of Hope being able to support cancer sufferers to UBUNTU Education Fund which helps South Africa’s orphaned and vulnerable children access higher education and employment by providing world-class household stability, educational, and medical support from cradle to career. The benefits go so far beyond protecting lions.

Support these incredible causes by purchasing you PAL bracelet now from www.liannelandman.com

Please share, quote, copy, forward and tweet about this blog to 500 of your closest friends. That will help us spread the word and for this I thank you.

Steve

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