Intrepid Helping Keep Africa’s Lions Free and Alive

Blood-Lions-Jan20

The Intrepid Travel Group says Africa’s lions should be both born free and live free.

Intrepid’s Canadian office held a Wednesday Toronto showing of the movie Blood Lions, which looks at the practice of canned lion hunts in South Africa. Canned hunting has captive animals being shot in enclosed areas by trophy hunters and has come under attack because of the inability of prey to escape.

“The film you’re about to watch explores the extremely sad and concerning world of lion hunting tourism within Africa. It is an industry that we have never supported and for most of our staff and travellers, one that we never knew existed. What you are about to watch will be heartbreaking to many, and you will be left wondering what you can do to help,” Nicholas Shuttleworth, The Intrepid Group’s vice-president of industry sales, said before the movie’s showing.

“What I am here to tell you is that your very presence here tonight is the first step you can take to help.”

Shuttleworth noted that Intrepid Travel – one of The Intrepid Travel Group’s brands – began with an Africa trip 28 years ago, and said the company is committed to “the both social fabric of a destination and for the environment.”

Among Intrepid initiatives cited by Shuttleworth were its decision in 2013 to become the world’s first tour operator to eliminate elephant rides from its itineraries and its becoming a carbon-neutral company in 2010.

The Intrepid Group has now shown Blood Lions in Toronto, Vancouver and Melbourne and says more showings are planned.

“Education of the issues of the world is our most powerful path to change,” Shuttleworth told the Toronto gathering.

Pictured are The Intrepid Travel Group’s Michael Sadowski, Heather Kelly and Shuttleworth.

(http://www.intrepidgroup.travel)