The Lion Park, near Lanseria, Johannesburg, published a response to allegations aired on a programme by CBS 60 Minutes America in this weekend’s edition of the Saturday Star, a South African newspaper.

According to The Lion Park’s statement, which can be accessed in full here, allegations that the park sold lions to people associated with hunting operations are not true.

Rodney Fuhr, CEO SA Lion Park, says in the statement that these allegations pertain to transactions that occurred more than three years ago. “The policy at the time was that staff had to ask the buyer if he intended to sell to hunters. Unfortunately the Lion Park staff did not always meticulously follow this practice and through their naivety some of the lions sold in the past did end up on hunting farms,” he states.

According to Fuhr, the park’s policy was tightened in September 2013. “We took the decision that only donations would be made to reputable institutions which we would thoroughly vet before any transfers took place.” A spokesperon told Tourism Update: "These institutions must be able to give us proper proof of where the lions will end-up, what their housing facilities are like and does in comply within nature conservational requirements. Furthermore, we would need copies of all the required permits, and an affidavit stating that all the received documentation is correct under oath."

"Lion Park, it’s employees and managers as an organisation is against canned hunting, we don’t and never will support any canned hunting operation," the spokesperson said.

The park has instituted legal proceedings against CBS.