Tourism Update recently conducted a survey around the topic of ‘test tube breeding’: using artificial insemination (AI) as a potential tool in increasing numbers within various wildlife species. The survey sought to tap into opinions of the industry around whether respondents thought test tube breeding would be a positive in aiding conservation, or would be used to facilitate canned wildlife for the purposes of hunting.

This is what the industry had to say.

Q1: On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being ‘not at all’, and 5 being ‘it could save a species’) how much do you feel artificial insemination (test tube breeding) will contribute to species conservation?

Q2: On a scale of 1 to 5 (with 1 being ‘not at all’, and 5 being ‘it could save a species’) how much do you feel artificial insemination (test tube breeding) could be abused for the benefit of canned hunting?

Q3: Which organisation/research facility/conservation authority do you feel would be best placed to drive, monitor and transparently report on research of this nature?

Other suggestions by respondents included NRF, ADI, EWT, IUCN, PAAZAB, Conservation Action Trust, and a coalition of independent facilities that do not benefit financially.

Q4: Do you feel this type of research should be more strictly regulated?

• 95% voted yes
• 5% voted no

Q5: Additional comments

Some respondents shared additional comments; here is a summary.

• ‘Test tube’ breeding is not a tool for conservation for me; this is about benefit the canned hunting /lion bone trade sectors.
• This opens the door to farming lions for the canned lion and bone industry, which is disgusting. We cannot just keep taking from nature.
• It is unfortunate and scary that a commercial lion breeding facility is leading this work.
• This is preservation not conservation.
• This is simply a cover to justify the ongoing unethical commercialisation of lion.
• The breeding of endangered species in captivity is generally, at best, preservation and rarely conservation. The lack of reproductive capacity is rarely a conservation threat. The loss of habitat and human-wildlife conflict are, however. Hence, if we can't conserve a species in the wild for those reasons, artificial insemination is not going to save the species. This can only be a tool if a species is on the brink extinction and protected habitat for future release is being created. Artificial insemination of lions in South Africa is not only unnecessary – as they breed very well both in the wild and in captivity – but also dangerous. We already have an 8000+ captive-lion population in various states of animal welfare. The researchers claim to have created AI protocols, but similar research has been done with cheetahs that could have created AI protocols. Why reinvent the wheel with lions? To be the first in the world?
• I will never visit South Africa or buy any SA products. They are as bad as China now. I will go to Kenya for safari someday.
• Must be stopped right from the scratch! Save wildlife habitat instead!
• Your question 2 scale is misleading. I answered 5 because I think AI will definitely be used for canned hunting purposes, not because it will save a species.
• I feel that the ability to retain the genetic material of endangered species would assist in bringing them back, but it would provide a false sense of security – “it doesn’t matter if it goes extinct/is killed because we can just bring it back”. It will reduce people’s ability to care if there is a perceived solution.
• Focus on habitat preservation and management instead of single iconic species.
• The lion population is not endangered through lack of breeding but through the slaughter via canned hunting.
• Lions have absolutely no trouble breeding so there is no value in this and it leaves a big door open to abuse for financial gain. Once these particular cubs have outlived their PR usefulness, what happens to them?
• There is no problem with lions’ ability to breed. In fact with a short gestation period of only three months, provided there is adequate prey and territory, they can increase in number quite quickly. The problem is decreasing habitat for lions. I fail to see how artificial insemination can solve any of the problems facing this species.
• Very concerned with ongoing loopholes which allows unethical organisations to get away with cruelty to animals we are entrusted to care for under the guise of conservation or edutainment.