WHAT'S NEXT

Stop Selling Lion Meat Burgers
  1. Signatures
    1,162 out of 1,500
    Petitioning
    1. Il Vinaio Restaurant (Cindy and Cameron Selogie)
  2. Created By
    Stephanie Feldstein
    Ypsilanti, MI
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jun 25, 2010

After learning that a restaurant in Arizona was serving lion burgers in honor of the World Cup, more than 1,100 Change.org community members asked the owners of Il Vinaio to stop selling lion meat. Two days later, the restaurant  posted on their Facebook page that "Il Vinaio is no longer serving lion." They also say they've made a donation to a local animal shelter and are investigating the source of the lion meat after questions had been raised by the press about the "free-range" lion farm.

While African lions are not endangered, they are a vulnerable species, and serving lion meat supports inhumane lion farming and creates a demand in the global market for poachers.

Update 06/25/10: Il Vinaio posted the following announcement on their Facebook page: " It is officially Friday, June 25, 2010. il Vinaio is no longer serving Lion. There is no lion on the menu. I won't name names but many thanks to the FDA, Associated Press, Humane Society, and Maricopa County for their part and for showing we can work constructively together."

Thanks to everyone who sent an email to the restaurant owners on behalf of lions.

*****

Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa, Arizona is selling lion burgers in honor of the World Cup in South Africa.

Owner Cameron Selogie claims that since the lions are farm-raised, it doesn't pose a danger to threatened animals in Africa. But that's not true. Serving up farm-raised wildlife creates a demand, which makes it easier for poachers to get their product onto the market.

Lions do not belong on farms in the midwest, and they don't belong as a novelty item on restaurant menus. Ask the owners of Il Vinaio to take lion meat off the menu.

Photo credit: Zigomar

Recent Signatures

Please Take Lion Meat Off the Menu

Dear Il Vinaio,

I recently read on Change.org that you're serving lion burgers in honor of the World Cup in South Africa. While you may think that farm-raised lions do not impact the animals in the wild, that's untrue. Farmed wildlife creates a demand for products, like lion meat, that makes it easier for poachers to get their products on the market.

Further, I do not support farmed wildlife. Even on a "free-range" farm, Illinois is not a suitable habitat for African lions. There is no need to serve lion meat when there are so many other options available that are more humane and don't pose a threat to wildlife (including many fantastic vegetarian dishes from South Africa).

I urge you to immediately remove lion meat from your menu and support sustainable, humane dining instead.

Thank you.

[Your name]

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