Police have launched a criminal investigation after discovering two lion cubs being kept without a permit at a residential property in Dawncliffe, Westville. The discovery, made on Tuesday May 21, has raised concerns about wildlife conservation and public safety.
Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that the case was being investigated under the National Environmental Management Act for undertaking a restricted activity involving a threatened or protected species without the necessary permit.
“On Tuesday, officers from the Westville SAPS were called to the property to assist the SPCA and wildlife conservation officials,” Colonel Netshiunda said.
“The SPCA had received a tip-off about the cubs. Although there was initial resistance, police supported the search, and the cubs were found. All relevant authorities were called to the scene.”
Despite the discovery, no arrests have been made so far, although a man has been taken in for questioning.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said they had not issued any permits for the lion cubs and were unaware of their origin.
“Permits are required to keep lions in captivity under the Natal Nature Conservation Ordinance and the Threatened or Protected Species Regulations,” Mr Mntambo explained.
“In the absence of a permit, laws have clearly been violated,” he said.
Mr Mntambo emphasiesd that Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has strict standards for the captivity of wild animals, that include minimum enclosure requirements and environmental enrichment needs.
“Keeping lion cubs in a residential area as pets is not supported and may also contravene municipal by-laws,” he said. He noted the broader national efforts to phase out lions in captivity, highlighting that there were only two facilities in the province housing lions for educational purposes.
Barbara Patrick, manager of the Kloof and Highway SPCA, confirmed that the male and female cubs were currently safe and under close monitoring.
“It’s the saddest thing. We believe wild animals should be in the wild. They are not pets,” she said.
A local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, described the discovery of the cubs at the house.
“When police arrived, a young woman at the property denied having any lion cubs. After some resistance, she eventually allowed entry, but initially, no cubs were found,” the resident said. He added that evidence in his possession confirmed the cubs had been on the property for a while.
News of the cubs in the suburb spread after a security company posted on their social media page that they had found the two cubs on a grassy verge out of a property.
A domestic worker who spotted them initially mistook them for dogs.
“I called my madam and told her. She called the security company, who then informed me that they were lions. I ran inside the house,” she recounted.
Dr Louise de Waal, director of Blood Lions, an organisation dedicated to exposing the exploitation of lions, expressed concern.
“Providing for the needs of predators in captivity is extremely difficult, and doing so in a residential property is impossible. It poses significant welfare and safety risks,” she warned.
“These cubs will grow into dangerous predators quickly, as evidenced by previous incidents involving escaped tigers from residential properties in Gauteng.”
