Vienna, 21 November 2024 – In collaboration with Terra Mater Studios and Four Corners Films & Photography, global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS presents ‘Dethroned’, an award-winning documentary that sheds light on and invites viewers to examine their relationship with big cats. ‘Dethroned’ follows photojournalist and long-time FOUR PAWS collaborator Aaron Gekoski as he embarks on a cross-country journey to capture the majestic icons of nature. The film raises a powerful question: What happens to humanity when we destroy what is sacred? In the face of the rising global commercial big cat trade, FOUR PAWS is urging governments in South Africa, Europe, and worldwide to implement a ban on the commercial trade of big cats and their parts before they cease to exist outside of captivity once and for all.

‘Dethroned’ reveals the dire state of big cats around the world – from the jungles of Peru, where jaguars face increasing threats from poaching and illegal trading, to the lavish estates of wealthy individuals in Pakistan, who acquire big cats for social media fame, and private zoos and breeding farms in Thailand, where dozens of tigers are crammed into small cages and abused as tourist attractions.

“FOUR PAWS continues the fight for better protection of big cats, but we cannot do it alone. We need the support and action of governments and the awareness of the public to better the lives of big cats who are innocent victims of the cruel commercial and illegal trade,” adds Amoroso.

“This is the first in-depth documentary looking at all the different big cat species, and the multitude of threats they face. We were shooting for 18 months and following the story wherever it took us, which ended up being all over the world. This was a hardcore and sometimes dangerous investigation, and an investigation into what happens when we destroy something sacred,” says internationally-acclaimed environmental photojournalist Aaron Gekoski.

The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth biggest criminal activity in the world 

The commercial trade of big cats is legal in most parts of the world, most notably in South Africa, Europe, the US and Asia. That means the laws allow for live big cats to be bred in captivity, used for tourist attractions, kept as pets and their parts exported, especially to Asian countries, where the demand is high. This demand for big cats and their parts used in traditional medicines and as so-called luxury items perpetuates the illegal wildlife trade, the fourth biggest criminal activity in the world, and must be urgently addressed. In the past decade, South Africa has emerged as the largest exporter of big cats and their body parts globally, with thousands of animals and their parts being trafficked to destinations such as China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.

There are approximately 10,000 captive lions in South Africa, and more than 600 tigers, a non-native species to the country. FOUR PAWS believes that if the vicious cycle of big cat exploitation is stopped in South Africa, it will create a ripple effect that enhances the protection of all big cat species worldwide.

"The scope of the big cat trade is internationally significant, and the exploitation of big cats is a highly lucrative billion-dollar business. Countries like Vietnam, where tigers are native, import live animals because they have already become extinct in the wild locally. Participating in direct interactions, tourist attractions, or consuming products made from big cats fuels this cruel industry and adds to the suffering of the animals. We urge the South African government to follow through with its plan to end the captive lion breeding industry that were announced in 2021 and include all big cat species in the process,” says Amoroso.

Read more about the work of FOUR PAWS to end the commercial big cat trade here. 

Read more about the #BreakTheViciousCycle campaign and the recently published report on the big cat industry in South Africa here.