Local NGO’s have initiated a Global March for Lions that will be held in designated cities throughout the world to highlight the plight of lions embroiled in the canned hunting industry here in South Africa.
The march is to be held on Saturday 15th March 2014 and Durban is thrilled to be one of the most important cities to host the event.
Launching Durban into the foreground is the fact that Christine Jordaan, the lady who initiated it all, will be leading the march along the beachfront promenade with other local celebrities, sport stars and conservation giants.
“From the heat of the African summertime to the winter cold of the northern hemisphere we want people to rise up and give out a ROAR for South Africa’s lions and populations elsewhere.” says Christine. “Many of our supporters are from overseas and we have new cities coming on board daily.”
A local NPC, Wild and Free SA is hosting the Durban march and they are calling for KwaZulu-Natal to stand united in absolute outrage at the total betrayal of South Africa’s lions. In Zulu culture the lion (iBhubesi) is sacred and Christine happily points out that the IFP have condemned canned hunting.
At most, there are 32,000 – and perhaps as few as 15,000 according to Dr. Pieter Kat of Lion Aid – lions remaining on the entire African continent, as compared to 100,000 lions in the 1960s. The population trend of the African lion is classified as Decreasing by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The March is in support of CACH (the Campaign against Canned Hunting), a Western Cape based charity led by Chris Mercer and Bev Pervan. Internationally, any excess funds raised through the marches will be donated to CACH.
The Durban march will be filmed by Michael Almendro (of “Tigers and Tutus” fame – a documentary that was flighted on Carte Blanche in an expose of cruelty on circus animals).
If you would like to assist by volunteering, or by sponsoring some of the costs such as printing and publicity, please contact either Margot Stewart (084 499 5352), Mariana Fernandes (marianajfe@hotmail.com) or Christine Jordaan (cmjordaan03@gmail.com).
For online support, please contact Paul Tully (globalmarchforlions@gmail.com).