The African Travel Week Travel and Tourism Awards took place last week and together with Love Africa Marketing, South Africa's Blood Lions documentary walked away with the award for the “Most Compelling Digital Story” award.
This was the inaugural African Travel Week Travel & Tourism Awards event with its aim being to highlight “exceptional individuals and businesses which have written the most compelling stories in the book of African travel for 2019/20.”
NEWS: @Blood_Lions and @loveAfrica_ win at @WTM_Africa Awards 2020: most compelling digital story. https://t.co/z42Hw97H3a pic.twitter.com/iRQMQpEhB2
— Nicola Gerrard (@NicolaGerrard_) May 12, 2020
Blood Lions follows acclaimed environmental journalist and safari operator Ian Michler, and American hunter, Rick Swazey, on their journey to uncover the realities of the multi-million dollar predator breeding and canned lion hunting industries in South Africa.
“The story blows the lid off claims made by these hunting operators in attempting to justify what they do. Last year alone over 800 captive lions were shot in South Africa, mostly by wealthy international hunters under conditions that are considered anything but sporting”.
Ian has been covering this story since 1999, the documentary shows him visiting these breeding farms to witness the impact that decades of intensive breeding is having on captive lions and other predators.
As stated on their website, "Every single day in South Africa captive-bred or tame lions continue to be killed in canned hunts and hundreds more are slaughtered annually for the lion bone trade in Asia.
The documentary is available on Netflix Africa and well worth watching. Take a look at the trailer right here. Congratulations to the team.
