The Charity Dinner for San Wild was organised by Cecile Auersperg and Saeko Hamada on the 10th of April and altogether 1250€ was raised for the charity!

What is Canned Hunting?

In 1997, the Cooke Report screened a television documentary in the United Kingdom highlighting the cruel hunting of captive bred lions in South Africa.  Graphic visuals showed a lactating lioness being separate from her small unweaned cubs into an adjoining enclosure. As she walked up the fence with her cubs following on the other side of the fence, the first bullet slammed into her sleek, tawny body. She jumped into the air and fell onto the electrified fence as more and more bullets hit her. Later as she was hung from her back legs in the slaughter house to be skinned for her hide, her milk mixed with her blood on the cold concrete floor. This type of hunting soon became known as “canned hunting”.

Despite a huge international outcry from animal loving people across the world, the South African authorities continue to allow the hunting of captive bred lions. Not do they just allow the hunting of lions, but have put into legislation a new policy pertaining to the sustainable utilization of large predators that will legalize the breeding and hunting of even Africa’s most endangered predators – African wild dog and cheetahs.

The future for South Africa’s large predators look pretty bleak indeed, however at a unique wildlife reserve which Cecile Auersperg supports, SanWild (where the land belongs to the animals themselves) at least some of the unfortunate creatures destined for a cruel canned hunt have been given the opportunity to live out the rest of their natural lives in safety at a sanctuary where they can once again learn to trust and not fear man.

You will find the full history on the respective lion prides at www.sanwild.org SUCCESS STORY ARCHIVE. Most of the 15 lions living in large natural habitat enclosure along with their pride members have been confiscated by the authorities from illegal hunting and breeding operations. At the time SanWild negotiated with the authorities to ensure that these animals did not find themselves back in the hunting industry they were rescued from and today the lions are safe, but depend on financial help to ensure that the lions are well cared for.

To ensure that the monthly expenses for the lions are covered, Cecile Auersperg has raised funds at a charity dinner in Marbella, at Puro Beach, to which she will donate the integrate amount raised. 1250€ were raised on the night of the event, with some extra donations coming in from valuable supporters of the cause. We can now count with 1500€ to go towards the maintainance costs of the lions, with a part to go towards the purchase of some more land for these lions to live in safety.

Cecile came across canned hunting, three years ago on one of her trips to Southern Africa, and has seen this situation evolve as more and more demand for this type of hunting is being whitnessed. “the fight against canned hunting is only a start, in terms of conservation. Lions are on the verge of being listed on the endangered species list, as are many other animals we identify with even in our society,” says Cecile, who foresees her own training in conservation program to start this July.

“I would like to show conservation orientated people the right path, and give them the opportunity to experience Africa, its wildlife, communities and culture in a completely natural habitat, where they will learn about the wildlife and their environment, and help conserve this. A vacational learning experience where people have the chance to really make a difference, which will mark them for a lifetime”.

See the pictures of the charity dinner at Puro Beach HERE!