• About BCR
  • News
  • News @ BCR
  • Rescues
  • Issues
  • Cat Laws
Friday, January 22, 2021
  • Login
  • Register
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
  • Get Involved
  • Cub Facts
  • The Sanctuary Cats
  • FAQs
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
  • Videos
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
Big Cat Rescue
No Result
View All Result
Home News World

Trophy Lion and Leopard Hunts Unsustainable

BCR by BCR
February 18, 2013
in News World
0
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

You might also like

Cub Petting Shame

Rules

GoFree

Male lion (Laurent Geslin/NPL)
Too many lions are killed for sport

Lion and leopard numbers in Tanzania will crash unless fewer big cats are killed by trophy hunters.

Trophy or ‘sport’ hunting can be used as a conservation measure, with the money hunters pay being used to help protect a wider population of animals.

But even in Tanzania, which is open about how much trophy hunting it allows, too many big cats are being killed and of the wrong age.

So say conservation experts who have published a new study of the industry.

Tanzania holds most of the remaining large populations of African lions (Panthera leo), and also has extensive areas of leopard habitat (Panthera pardus).

Vast areas of the country have been set aside as ‘hunting blocks’, in which private companies facilitate trophy hunting by tourists.

Strict quotas are set for how many big cats can be taken, and the companies are expected to manage the land and prevent poaching.

Tanzania currently allows about 500 lions and 400 leopards per year to be killed for sport across a total area of 300,000km².

That equates to 1.67 lions per 1000km² and 1.3 leopards per 1000km².

The idea is that allowing a small quota of cats to be hunted will help safeguard the future of the overall population of each species.

But a new study by lion expert Professor Craig Packer of the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, US and colleagues in the US, UK and Tanzania has found that the rate of trophy hunting of big cats in Tanzania has been too high.

Evidence comes from a survey of lion harvests in the country between 1996 and 2008 which found that the number of lions hunted fell by 50%.

Those hunting blocks that ‘harvested’ the most lions initially suffered the steepest declines, according to the study published in the journal Conservation Biology.

In contrast, lion numbers remained stable in most tourist areas where hunting is not allowed.

“Hunting off-takes in the late 1990s were unsustainable,” Prof Packer told the BBC.

Across the country, the numbers of leopards killed for sport has remained relatively stable, though there have been declines in northwest and around the Serengeti.

ROARING CATS

Prof Packer and colleagues have established exactly why lions uniquely form prides

It is not clear why, but it could be that hunters are putting more effort into killing leopards as lion numbers fall.

The researchers recommend that new, much smaller hunting quotas are set.

Tanzania should reduce quotas to 0.5 lions and 1.0 leopards per 1000km² per year, the scientists say. Slightly higher quotas would be acceptable in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest contiguous hunting area uninhabited by people.

They also say that only older cats should be hunted.

“It would be best to limit off-takes to male [lions] that are at least 6 years old,” says Prof Packer.

“For many years, companies filled their quotas by shooting immature males, and males that were in their prime of life.”

That doesn’t work, as lions are infanticidal; males that has taken over a pride will kill the offspring of their predecessors, so by removing a breeding male from the pride, his offspring are likely to die too.

“If this happens on a regular basis, recruitment rates plummet and the entire population will decline. By limiting off-takes to older males, the ‘ripple effect’ from infanticide is minimised,” says Prof Packer.

Only leopards that are 7 years or older should be hunted, the researchers recommend.

Although necessary, this might be challenging as leopards are harder than lions to age by sight alone.

If these recommendations aren’t met, “trophy harvest will continue to decline and Tanzania will lose potential revenue from sport hunting, thus diminishing the economic rationale for setting aside so much land for conservation,” says Prof Packer.

Overall, he says “the Tanzania government should be congratulated for making their harvest data available. Most other countries conduct trophy hunting in a shroud of secrecy. Zimbabwe and Zambia need to join Tanzania in a new spirit of openness.”

What is more, Tanzania has adopted new rules designed to enforce the minimum age at which lions can be shot.

But it remains to be seen how the law will be implemented and if exports of lion trophies will be inspected and older lion trophies seized.

“If the age-limit is effectively enforced, lion populations should quickly recover from the effects of past hunting practices,” says Prof Packer.

However, while some well-financed hunting companies have invested heavily in relatively small reserves, and helped restore them by careful management and preventing poaching, it remains to be seen whether larger scale hunting operations are working, he cautions.

“I fear that companies in most parts of Africa operate on too small of a budget to have the necessary impact to protect more than a tiny fraction of their holdings.

“For example, Tanzania has set aside 300,000 km ²for hunting in about 150 blocks.

“The Selous Game Reserve contains over 40 of these blocks and is the most important hunting area in the country.

“But the government receives inadequate revenue from the hunting companies to pay the salaries of their game scouts.”

bigcatrescue.org


Tags: News World
Previous Post

Cougar’s First Visit is his Last

Next Post

Poor Care, Neglect, or Worse, What Killed the Big Cat?

BCR

BCR

Big Cat Rescue is Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade

Related Posts

Cub Petting Shame
Cat Laws

Cub Petting Shame

January 17, 2021
275
Be Safe Out There!
How To Start A Sanctuary

Rules

March 31, 2020
25
Big Cat Rescue does bobcat rehab and release of native, Florida bobcats.
Articles by BCR

GoFree

March 29, 2020
87
Nik Tiger being Xrayed
How To Start A Sanctuary

What is a day like at Big Cat Rescue?

June 30, 2020
14
Cougars at Big Cat Rescue
Memorials

Artemis

January 28, 2020
39
Next Post

Poor Care, Neglect, or Worse, What Killed the Big Cat?

Leave a Reply

  • Default Comments (0)
  • Facebook Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Take Action Against Abuse

Shop To Save Big Cats

More From BigCatRescue

  • Rescue Missions
  • About Big Cat Rescue
  • Big Cat Rescue News
  • Reviews
  • Our Recent Work
  • Sanctuary FAQs
  • Big Cat TV

Sanctuary Cats

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Big Cat Information

  • Jaguars
  • Leopards
  • Lions
  • Tigers
  • Bobcats
  • Canada Lynx
  • Cougars
  • Ocelots
  • Savannah Cats
  • Servals

Ways to Help

  • Newsletter SignUp
  • Donate Now
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • View AMP Versioin
No Result
View All Result
  • 2018 Appeal
  • About BCR
  • About our Cookies
  • BCR in the Media
  • Big Cat Rescue Caring for Cats and Ending the Trade
  • Big Cat Times
  • Blog
  • Board of Directors
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Credentials
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Embed Link
  • GET THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT CUB PETTING
  • Global Big Cat News
  • Intern Program
  • Kids
  • Latest from Big Cat Rescue
  • Licensing
  • Map
  • Map of Big Cat Owners
  • Netflix
  • News about Big Cats
  • News Gallery
  • News@BCR
  • Our Video Series
  • PressRoom
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rescues
  • Search result
  • Series Archive – Default header
  • Shop
  • SnowLeopard
  • Social Stream
  • Staff
  • Teachers
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Test Gravity
  • USFWS
  • Vets
  • Videos archive
  • Get Involved
    • Automatic
    • Sponsorships
    • Volunteer
      • AdvoCats
      • Click to Feed
      • Intern
    • Legacy
    • Roar! Speak Out for Big Cats
    • Ink
  • Finances
  • How We Started
  • Abuse Issues
    • Issues
      • Exhibitions
      • Private Ownership of Big Cats
      • Zoos
      • White Tigers
      • Circus
      • Fur
      • Trophy Hunting
      • Canned Hunting
      • Why Regulations Don’t Work
  • Our Evolution
  • Photos & Facts
  • Videos
  • Our Volunteers
  • Your Privacy
  • Donate
  • Site Map
  • Field Trips

© Copyright 2021 BigCatRescue.Org. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Add New Playlist