The legal trade in African lion bones, primarily from South Africa to Asia, highlights the complex intersection of trophy hunting, conservation, and international wildlife trade. As the only big cat listed on CITES Appendix II, the lion is subject to regulated commercial trade, including a controversial lion bone export quota established at CITES CoP17. Between 2008 and 2016, over 6,000 lion skeletons—mainly from captive-bred lions—were exported legally, largely supplying the substitute tiger bone market. While this regulated trade is intended to reduce pressure on wild lion populations, conservationists stress the urgent need for monitoring to prevent illegal poaching and trafficking. Pro-hunting advocates argue that the industry, when strictly regulated, can support conservation through economic incentives, captive breeding, and habitat protection, but transparency and oversight are essential to ensure sustainable and ethical wildlife management.
