Big game hunting has many supporters and just as many opponents. Many would be happy to see an end to trophy hunting especially the hunting and killing of big cats such as lions. In reality though the trophy hunters bring in big money to conservation and can make the difference between an area of land remaining wild or being turned over to over uses such as ranching or agriculture.
Trophy hunting brings in much more income and resources to locals than photographic safaris that tend to be run by large international holiday companies with little ‘bleed ‘ of finances out of the companies into the local communities.
Lion trophy hunts worth up to US$71,000.
The value of hunting to conservation soon shows itself when you consider the cost of the permit to shoot a lion. Prices range between US$24,000 and $71,000 a head. That’s a lot of money raised by government to fund their wildlife programmes.
Newly published research has taken a look at the value of lion hunting to conservation programmes in 5 countries;
- Mozambique,
- Namibia,
- Tanzania,
- Zambia,
- Zimbabwe.
Possible for lions to be listed as endangered.
The study results comes at a time when NGO groups are trying to get both the US and Europe Union to recognise and list the lion as an endangered species. This could impact on trophy hunts and local African economies as any ban on bringing in the trophy could effectively bring lion hunts to an end.
With lions contributing up to 17% of national trophy income this could result in less value being placed on lion habitat. the researchers estimated that without lion income then hunting would not be a viable option in at least 59,538 km2 and it could lead to the loss of the habitat completely. The area that could become financially non-viable represents over 11% of the lion range of the countries examined.
Loss of local support in lions range countries.
There is also the fear that if local people lost income generated by the trophy hunts then they will not be as supportive of lions as they currently are. Lions are a high cost species for local people as they have a habit of preying on local cattle and livestock. without being compensated locals could become less tolerant of the losses and poaching could increase.
Trophy hunting of lions is controlled in all the countries examined but not all of them are allow a sustainable shoot and some of the hunting concessions could be better manage to ensure a stable and long-term lion population.
One of the problems with a badly managed hunt is if the wrong individual lion is targeted by the hunter. Take out the pride leader and a new lion could enter the pride and kill all the lion cubs and juveniles.
Strong management could ensure long-term survival of African lions.
The researchers recommend that in order to stop the general decline in wild lion numbers that a maximum hunting yield should be established and set at 1 lion per 2000 km2 and that an age based targeting should be undertaken to help reduce pride instability.
Tackling the losses of lions can be achieved quickly with strongly enforced regulations noted the researchers. Lions breed quickly and numbers can soon recover. If lion hunting was closely managed and monitored then areas that were over-hunted could have a moratorium to help lions.
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