Humane World for Animals South Africa

12/10/2026

🎨🐘🌿Art for Wildlife Conservation

Humane World for Animals South Africa, in partnership with , is supporting learners to use mural art as a tool to raise awareness and advocate for wildlife protection. Through the project, learners have transformed their ideas into a vibrant mural that celebrates nature and highlights the importance of conserving wildlife for future generations.

We are proud to see learners from Anthony Mtaka Secondary School and Lukugu Primary School take part in these inspiring mural activities, using their artistic talents to share an important conservation message with their communities. As part of the initiative, at least 10 schools are set to participate, with one new mural painted each quarter.

By combining creativity, education, and collaboration, these young artists are becoming loud voices for wildlife conservation, demonstrating that every brushstroke can inspire action and positive change.

A heartfelt thank you to the learners, teachers, and artists who helped bring this beautiful project to life. Together, we can nurture a generation that cares for and protects our precious wildlife. 💚🦒🎨

09/10/2026

📣 Breaking News

Today, The Constitutional Court of South Africa delivered a landmark judgment (South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others, [2026] ZACC 42) preserving the inclusion of animal "well-being" within South African biodiversity legislation, dismissing SA Hunters challenge with costs.

SA Hunters sought to declare invalid or temporarily suspend the "well-being" provisions added to the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) via the 2022 Amendment Act. They argued that Parliament failed to conduct proper public participation because the definition changed late in the legislative process. The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA - National Council of SPCAs) and the EMS Foundation Trust intervened as respondents to oppose the challenge.

The Act defines -being as "the holistic circumstances and conditions of an animal, which are conducive to its physical, physiological and mental health and quality of life, including the ability to cope with its environment." Today's ruling means the provisions and definition remain in force.

💪 This is an important ruling for wildlife protection in South Africa. Animal well-being will continue to be a mandatory consideration in the management, conservation and sustainable use of wildlife under NEMBA. The judgment reinforces that decisions relating to wildlife management, permits, policies, quotas, biodiversity management plans and other regulatory processes must continue to take animal well-being into account.

Humane World for Animals South Africa welcomes this landmark outcome and stands ready to support the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in the implementation of these important well-being provisions.

👏 Congratulations to the NSPCA, the EMS Foundation and their respective legal counsel for their intervention and success. 🐾 👌

Read the judgment: https://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACC/2026/42.html
Watch the judgement (from 2:02:30): https://www.youtube.com/live/4CmO1X4wKDU?si=yybl5M09FnemXiWC&t=7335

06/10/2026

Humane World for Animals South Africa, represented by Candice Blom and Zanele Cindi, is presenting at the 10th Africa Animal Welfare Conference, taking place on 5 and 6 October in Lusaka, Zambia.

Their presentation, “African Animals: Reclaiming African Ethics of Care,” explores African ethical traditions and our relationships with animals, land, ancestors, and the more-than-human world.

It challenges simplified narratives of African identity and asks how we can reclaim an ethic of care amid colonial modernity, industrial agriculture, and today’s environmental crisis.

South Africa illustrates many of the contradictions within an industrialised food system. Animals, too, are caught within this system. Like many communities displaced through colonial histories, animals have been displaced from relationships of care. They have been transformed into commodities, production units, and economic assets, with their value measured largely through productivity.

This is a timely conversation about history, belonging, responsibility, and the future of human–animal relationships.

We look forward to contributing to this important dialogue and exploring what it means to reimagine relationships of care across Africa. 🌍🐾

05/10/2026

Hoedspruit HALO Animal Rescue doing amazing work for community pets 👏 💙

02/10/2026

Our animal rescue teams are doing incredible work in South Korea where they have just rescued 70 dogs on a dog meat farm. 👏💪 The dogs will be given a second chance at life, as it was meant to be, and your donation can help! 🐾

30/09/2026

Great work by our partners Elephant Reintegration Trust at Khamab Kalahari Reserve demonstrating that when done correctly, elephants can be successfully reintegrated back to the wild and revert to their 🐘👌

30/09/2026

🐾 Taking Stock: Assessing Animal Welfare Conditions - Mobility 🐾

Wild lions occupy home ranges spanning 100s of square kilometres. In captivity, their movement is severely restricted.

Restricting a predator’s movement affects not only their physical health, like loss of muscle and bone mass, but also their mental well-being.

A lack of space inhibits the lion’s opportunity to explore their environment and hunt, which can lead to chronic stress, boredom and stereotypic pacing.

This and any day thereafter, choose
Our lions are

Read more 👉https://bloodlions.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Blood-Lions_Welfare-report.pdf

26/09/2026

🐾 How to Assess Animal Welfare Conditions Systematically? 🐾

Blood Lions and World Animal Protection assessed a total of 34 venues across Gauteng, Limpopo, Free State and North West provinces, all catering to local and international visitors.

The lion welfare conditions and husbandry practices were systematically assessed at each venue using ten established indicators:
🟢Mobility
🟢Environmental noise quality
🟢Shelter
🟢Hygiene
🟢Environmental naturalness
🟢Social interaction
🟢Enrichment
🟢Diet quality
🟢Entertainment intensity
🟢Animal management

Our findings highlight what lions experience on a daily basis in South Africa’s commercial captive wildlife industry. Welfare considerations must remain central to bringing this industry to an end.

Join us over the next few weeks to see how these tourism venues treat our captive predators.

Read more 👉https://bloodlions.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Blood-Lions_Welfare-report.pdf

26/09/2026

22/09/2026

🐾 Why study animal welfare conditions? 🐾

For decades, South Africa’s captive lion industry ⛓️🦁⛓️ has attracted concerns about, among others, animal welfare and our country’s international tourism and conservation reputation.

Lions are highly social, wide-ranging predators with complex behavioural, physical and environmental needs. Captive environments limit the animal’s ability to exercise choice and control, and to behave in ways that are important to their overall well-being.

NSPCA - National Council of SPCAs inspections have repeatedly reported multiple animal welfare transgressions, which are supported by welfare research on lion cubs used in tourist interactions.

However, systematic animal welfare evidence has been lacking. To help address the welfare conditions evidence gap, Blood Lions and World Animal Protection undertook a systematic assessment of lion welfare conditions and husbandry practices at tourism venues across South Africa.