Target: Shamila Batohi, National Director of Public Prosecutions, Pretoria, South Africa
Goal: Seek maximum sentencing guidance, lifetime animal-ownership bans, and strict enforcement after videos reportedly showed live prey fed to captive predators for social media content.
An anonymous complaint flagged a TikTok account that appeared to feature an enclosed python being fed live rabbits and a tarantula being fed a live mouse. Inspectors obtained a warrant, executed a search, and reportedly found the animals seen in clips. Officials confiscated multiple snakes, a tarantula, and an underweight leopard gecko. Court records state that a defendant later pleaded guilty on two counts under the Animals Protection Act, received a fine with a suspended sentence, and was permanently deprived of the seized animals.
These scenes—live prey apparently dropped before confined predators for clicks—convey deliberate suffering packaged as entertainment. Confinement denies any chance of escape, while filming prolongs distress for “content.” A suspended sentence, while lawful, can read as lenient where cruelty is performed for views and potentially copied online. Visible accountability, paired with clear bans, deters would-be imitators who chase virality at animals’ expense.
Stronger prosecutorial guidance can set a baseline. Live-feeding for spectacle should trigger custodial terms where facts warrant, stacked per count, along with lifetime bans on owning, dealing in, or exhibiting animals, and mandatory counseling where indicated. Platforms should receive preservation requests and takedown orders so evidence is secured and revenue streams do not reward cruelty. This petition asks national prosecutors to pursue those outcomes and to move swiftly if suspended terms are breached.
PETITION LETTER:
National Director Batohi,
Reports describe videos that show live prey being fed to captive predators for social media content. A warrant execution reportedly recovered the animals involved, and court proceedings ended with a guilty finding on two counts, a fine with a suspended sentence, and permanent deprivation of the seized animals.
We respectfully urge the National Prosecuting Authority to issue charging and sentencing guidance that seeks maximum lawful penalties in live-feeding and “content-driven” cruelty cases. In appropriate matters, please request custodial terms, lifetime prohibitions on owning or exhibiting animals, unannounced compliance checks, and counseling where suitable. We also ask prosecutors to coordinate with platforms for rapid evidence preservation and takedowns that prevent monetization of cruelty.
Finally, we encourage diligent monitoring of suspended sentences and immediate applications to court upon any breach. Clear, firm action will deter copycats, protect vulnerable animals, and affirm that cruelty staged for clicks carries serious consequences.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: William Warby
