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Captive lions taken from their wild habitats in Africa and raised in captivity, are being slaughtered for the pleasure of tourists, particularly from Western countries, with the US a major contributor.

Lion Day is celebrated Aug. 10.

Thousands of captive lions, who spend their lives entertaining tourists behind steel bars, are kept ready for the day when they will be killed under the guise of hunting events.

Wild lions, who have lost the majority of their population and habitats due to human activity in the last century, are struggling to survive in the vanishing savannas of Africa.

Lion population has fallen by 43% since 2001

There were about 200,000 lions in the wild at the beginning of last century, according to estimates by the Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.

By the end of the last century, the population, which had dwindled to around 33,000 due to hunting and other human factors, had decreased by 43% since 2001.

Today, it is estimated that 23,000 lions remain in the wild.

Having lost nearly 95% of their historical natural habitats, lions today primarily live in well-protected national parks in Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Captive lions

Research includes only lions living in the wild in global lion population estimates.

Captive lions, which are removed from their natural habitats and live in captivity, are excluded from the list.

The term captive lions refers to lions born and raised on special farms for commercial purposes.

Those lions lack hunting skills and do not adapt to the wild due to their fearlessness of humans.

Lion tourism

South Africa, which hosts one of the largest lion populations in the world, has about 3,500.

It is also one of the leading countries with the largest captive lion population.

According to a 2024 report by the World Animal Protection Society, there are approximately 8,000 captive lions in 366 farms in the country.

The captive lion industry, which generates more than $40 million annually for the South African economy, is a significant part of the tourism sector.

Lions kept in private nature reserves and farms across the country are displayed to tourists visiting the area for safaris, for a fee.

Tourists who visit the facilities, where entrance fees typically range from $10 to $15, can pay an additional fee to pet and take photos with lions separated from their families.

One of the most popular activities among tourists is watching captive lions being fed by caretakers.

Lion hunting

Captive lions, who spend their lives entertaining tourists behind steel bars and cages, are often killed for sport by tourists from Western countries when they grow old.

South Africa, where captive lion hunting is legal with a special permit, is one of the leading centers for lion hunting worldwide.

According to a 2022 report by Humane Society International, approximately 4,000 captive lions were hunted by foreigners in South Africa between 2014 and 2018.

The report revealed that more than half of the lions were hunted by American tourists, followed by Spaniards, Russians, Danes, Canadians and Germans.

According to information obtained by Anadolu reporters from South African tourism agencies, the cost of hunting parties ranges from $4,000 to $60,000 in 2024, depending on the type of hunt and tour.

The tours are conducted as safari tours lasting seven to 10 days on farms covering thousands of acres, mostly in the North West and Limpopo provinces.

Hunts, where lions are killed with rifles from a safe distance in more confined areas, are referred to as “canned hunts.”

Hunters can take photos with the lions they kill and bring the skulls home as trophies.

Lion bones to far east

The bones of hunted lions are in high demand in Far Eastern countries, especially China, where they are used to produce luxury ornaments, jewelry and aphrodisiacs.

South Africa, the only country with a legal lion industry, is a major supplier.

Although the government has imposed quotas on bone trading in recent years due to national and international pressure, the highly profitable lion bone trade has led to captive and wild lions being targeted by hunters.

South Africa’s efforts to shut down captive lion industry

Under pressure from national and international environmental organizations, the South African government has been focusing on the lion industry in recent years.

In 2022, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment took steps to end the industry, including promoting voluntary exit from the sector and working on various strategies.

While Lion Day is celebrated on Aug. 10, the captive lion industry, however, continues to operate legally in the country.

KAMPALA:

A landslide at a landfill in Uganda’s capital Kampala has killed eight people, the city’s authorities said on Saturday.

The incident happened late Friday after heavy rainfall when sections of the landfill collapsed, covering some nearby houses, Ugandan media reported.

Kampala Capital City Authority said government and Red Cross personnel were searching the site and had rescued 14 people.

“On a very sad note, eight people have so far been found dead, six adults and two children. The rescue operation is still ongoing …,” the authority said on its X account.

The landfill, known as Kiteezi, has served as Kampala’s sole garbage dump for decades and had turned into a big hill. Residents have long complained of hazardous waste from the site polluting the environment and posing a danger to people.

Footage from NTV Uganda television showed people walking on a section of the landfill that had crushed parts of a house, while pictures from UBC Uganda showed an excavator attempting to dig up garbage.

Parts of Uganda have been experiencing heavy rains in recent weeks causing flooding and landslides, though no fatalities had previously been reported.

Scientists at Oxford University may have made a significant breakthrough in expanding access to solar energy by developing an ultra-thin material that could replace bulky silicon-based solar panels. Researchers from the university’s physics department have created a flexible film made of light-absorbing perovskite layers, which are just over one micron thick as reported by Engadget website. 

The innovative material is 150 times thinner than traditional silicon wafers and can generate 5 percent more energy efficiency than standard single-layer silicon photovoltaics, according to a statement from Oxford University. Dr. Shauifeng Hu, a postdoctoral fellow in the university’s physics department, stated, “This approach could enable photovoltaic devices to achieve far greater efficiencies, exceeding 45 percent.”

The new technology could also reduce the cost of solar energy production. Due to its thinness and flexibility, the film can be applied to almost any surface, cutting down on construction and installation costs and potentially increasing the number of solar energy farms producing sustainable power.

Despite its promise, the technology is still in the research phase, and concerns about the long-term stability of the perovskite panels remain. While solar energy efficiency has increased from 6 to 27 percent in the past five years, the stability of perovskite remains a challenge. The U.S. Department of Energy has noted that perovskite’s stability is limited, especially when exposed to moisture. A 2016 study published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells also highlighted perovskite’s potential for “efficient, low-cost energy generation” but pointed out its “poor stability.”

Over the past decade, solar energy has become increasingly affordable. According to the Global Change Data Lab, the cost of solar photovoltaic technology has dropped by 90 percent in the last ten years.

 

 

 

 

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PARIS:

The United States men’s basketball team secured their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday with a 98-87 victory over France. Despite hopes for a “Miracle on the Seine,” the French team fell short, losing to a dominant American squad led by Stephen Curry and LeBron James. James, wearing gold sneakers to mark the occasion, played a pivotal role alongside Curry, who scored 24 points, including eight three-pointers.

The loss was particularly painful for the French, as it occurred on home soil at the Bercy Arena, with the nation’s hopes pinned on the team.

France’s coach, Vincent Collet, acknowledged the Americans’ superior talent, saying, “It’s their incredible talent that ended up marking the difference.”

The atmosphere at the arena was electric, with President Emmanuel Macron among the spectators, hoping for a historic French victory.

The game, filled with tension, skill, and emotion, began with a powerful dunk by James, setting the tone for a fast-paced contest. The Americans built a 14-point lead in the third quarter, but France, spurred on by a passionate home crowd, narrowed the gap to 82-79 with just three minutes remaining. However, Curry, as he had done in the semi-finals against Serbia, stepped up in the crucial moments, sinking three long-range three-pointers to secure the win for the US.

James contributed 14 points, 10 assists, and six rebounds, while Curry’s performance ensured the Americans maintained their dominance in Olympic basketball.

France will have another opportunity for gold on Sunday when their women’s team faces the US, although they are considered significant underdogs against the reigning champions.

PARIS:

Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer embroiled in a gender dispute at the Paris Olympics, has lodged a formal legal complaint, alleging online harassment, according to her lawyer on Saturday. Khelif, who secured the gold medal in the women’s welterweight category on Friday, has been in the spotlight alongside Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, with their situation sparking widespread debate and dominating social media discussions.

Her lawyer, Nabil Boudi, confirmed the complaint was filed on Friday. Khelif stated, “What is being said about me on social media is immoral. I want to change global perceptions.”

Khelif, who triumphed over China’s Yang Liu to claim the welterweight Olympic gold, made a powerful statement about her identity amid the ongoing controversy. She is the first Algerian woman to win an Olympic boxing title and the first Algerian boxer to secure gold since Hocine Soltani in 1996. Women’s boxing has been an Olympic event since London 2012.

Reflecting on her achievement, Khelif, 25, expressed her joy: “This is my dream. Eight years, my dream. I’m an Olympic champion, gold medallist. I’m very happy. Eight years, no sleep. Eight years, tired. Now I’m Olympic champion. I’m very happy. I want to thank all the people who came to support me — people from Algeria and all the people in Paris. This gold medal is the best response to the fierce campaign against me.”

Addressing the controversy, Khelif said at a press conference: “I am a woman like any other woman. I was born a woman and have lived as a woman, but there are those who cannot accept my success.”

Her opponent, Yang Liu, responded graciously, saying: “I’m happy for her. I respect everyone and will learn from her.”

Thailand’s Janjaem Suwannapheng and Taiwan’s Chen Nien-chin both received bronze medals.

Khelif and Lin were disqualified by the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the 2023 World Championships after a gender test deemed them ineligible. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is using eligibility rules from the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, which do not include gender testing.

Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting participated in Paris after the IOC stripped the IBA of its governing body status in 2023 and assumed control of the boxing events. The IOC dismissed the IBA-ordered gender tests as arbitrary and invalid, a position supported by Human Rights Watch on Friday.

New research led by Neda Akhavan, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences at UNLV, suggests that potatoes may offer significant cardiovascular benefits for adults with Type 2 diabetes, challenging the vegetable’s often-negative reputation among dieters.

Akhavan’s study, which was recently presented to the Alliance for Potato Research and Education, found that consuming baked potatoes, when prepared correctly, could help lower blood sugar levels and reduce waistlines. “I like doing research on food items that are highly stigmatized in the nutrition world,” Akhavan said. “Most people associate the potato as something that is mostly fried or has a lot of fat, and we wanted to shine a light on how a potato – when prepared properly – can be both functional and healthy.”

The study involved 24 participants with well-controlled Type 2 diabetes. Each participant was given a 100g serving of baked potato with the skin, containing 20 grams of carbohydrates, to eat daily as a snack or side dish. A control group was provided with a similar portion of white rice. The study, which lasted 12 weeks, measured changes in glycemic control and cardiometabolic health.

Participants who consumed potatoes showed a modest decrease in fasting blood glucose levels, improvements in body composition, waist circumference, and a reduction in resting heart rate. “The results from our study provide evidence that white potatoes can be healthfully incorporated in the diet of individuals with Type 2 diabetes when substituted for other foods with a high glycemic load, such as long-grain white rice,” Akhavan noted. “Additionally, there were no harmful effects on measured health outcomes, and some cardiometabolic health benefits were shown, which aligned with what we expected to see. Therefore, diabetics should not shy away from potatoes.”

Akhavan emphasized the importance of moderation and preparation methods. “Potatoes are a very versatile food and can be eaten with most types of cuisines, but you want to make sure to incorporate them into a well-rounded diet,” she said. She also highlighted the benefits of potato skins, which are rich in dietary potassium and resistant starch, known to improve glucose control and satiety.

Akhavan plans to expand the study to include a larger and more diverse participant population and to explore the effects of potato consumption within a Mediterranean dietary pattern. “A lot of people are shocked to learn that a potato has a higher level of potassium than a banana,” she added. “Believe it or not, a baked potato is one of the most satiating foods consumed within the western diet. And, when it is consumed baked, it increases our ability to feel fuller throughout the day.”

The news is published as a press release in Eureka Alert website. 

UKRAINE:

A Russian missile struck a supermarket in the Ukrainian town of Kostiantynivka in the front-line Donetsk region on Friday, killing at least 14 people and injuring 43 others, Ukrainian officials said.

Heavy black smoke clouds rose from the destroyed building in images and videos posted by officials. The interior minister later said the blaze was put out.

“Russian terrorists hit an ordinary supermarket and a post office. There are people under the rubble,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on X. Emergency services continued working out the rubble looking for survivors, he added.

Kostiantynivka lies just about 13 kilometers from the active combat line in Ukraine’s east. Ukrainian government-held parts of the Donetsk region regularly come under Russian shelling and air strikes.

This week Russia has been fighting what it says is an armored cross-border assault by Ukrainian troops in its Kursk region. The Kyiv military has not commented on that operation yet.

“No situation on the battlefield can justify targeting civilians,” Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said on X, reporting an updated death toll in Kostiantynivka.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow. Russia denies intentionally targeting civilians although it has killed thousands of them during the 29 months since it launched its full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian regional governor Vadym Filashkin initially said Russia used artillery but later said it carried out the attack with a Kh-38 air-to-surface missile.

Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private postal company, said its cargo office in the supermarket was damaged in the strike.

“All our employees are alive. One colleague received a concussion – he is getting all the necessary help,” the company said on X.

Residential houses, shops and more than a dozen cars were as well damaged in the attack, according to the interior minister’s post on Telegram.

Donetsk region is one of the hottest areas of fighting as Russia targets areas in the direction of the strategic eastern logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

 

BEIRUT:

An Israeli airstrike on Friday evening targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, killing Samer Al-Hajj, a senior security official from the Palestinian group Hamas.

The strike occurred near the port city of Sidon, about 60 kilometres from the Israeli border, and also left Al-Hajj’s bodyguard critically wounded, according to a Hamas source and two other security sources.

Israel has been conducting airstrikes against members of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other factions in Lebanon for the past 10 months, in conjunction with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

These resistance groups have launched rockets, drones, and artillery into northern Israel, with most of the clashes concentrated along the Israel-Lebanon border. However, Israeli strikes have also targeted senior figures from these groups further north.

In January, an Israeli airstrike on the outskirts of Beirut killed Saleh Arouri, Hamas’s deputy chief. Another recent strike in the same area last week resulted in the death of Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s top military commander. Hours after Shukr’s death, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran, with Iran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, attributing the attacks to Israel and vowing retaliation.

BERN:

Switzerland formally backed the call by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Friday.

Viola Amherd, President of the Swiss Confederation, highlighted the critical need to reduce suffering in the area.

“Switzerland supports the call by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to urgently establish a ceasefire in Gaza. The suffering must end, all hostages must be released, and unrestricted humanitarian aid must be provided,” she wrote on X.

Amherd stressed that a ceasefire is vital not only to halt the violence but also to contribute to broader regional de-escalation efforts.

According to local health authorities, nearly 40,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed, and over 91,700 injured in Israel’s response to an attack by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on 7 October.

More than 10 months into the Israeli offensive, large areas of Gaza remain in ruins under a severe blockade of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has ordered it to immediately cease military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had taken refuge before it was invaded on 6 May.