Zambia bans lion, leopard hunting
10/01/2013 00:00:00
by Obert Simwanza I AFP
ZAMBIA on Thursday banned lion and leopard hunting to protect rapidly
decreasing feline numbers for a burgeoning safari industry, despite
criticism that it will drive tourists away.
“We do not have enough cats for hunting purposes, especially if we have to
save our national resources,” tourism minister Sylvia Masebo told AFP.
“No amount of convincing from any sector or group will convince me
otherwise,” Masebo said. “The cats are gone.”
The southern African country, which draws tourists to the world famous
Victoria Falls, hopes to develop a wildlife tourism trade, which has long
been a mainstay of the economies in neighbouring countries.
“Although there is evidence that safari hunting and wildlife record income
for the country, there was a need to weigh the benefits against the
fast-depleting species of some animals,” said Masebo.
But the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) said the ban would be bad for the
tourist industry.
“The population of cats in Zambia is around 3,400 to 3,500 and with the ban
on safari hunting for cats we are likely to lose on revenue. It is these
cats that make Zambia’s safari hunting competitive in the region,” said ZAWA
head of research Chuma Simukonda.
Only 55 felines were hunted a year, he said, though the income from the
sport was unknown.
ZAWA and the government are in a spat after authorities temporarily closed
the agency’s offices pending investigations into graft.
Its director and senior officials were fired last month for alleged
corruption in the awarding of safari hunting concessions.
The country’s hunting community however sees the move as political meddling.
“This is painting a bad picture about Zambia to the outside world. Blood
sport is more beneficial to this country than game viewing,” said Gavin
Robinson of the Professional Hunters Association.
“People from Europe and America wish to hunt here but they will now move
elsewhere, meaning all the clients will leave Zambia,” he added.
On the other hand conservationist James Chungu welcomed the minister’s
announcement.
“If you feel there are areas where animals are overpopulated and you need to
crop them why don’t you get those animals to other parks which have been
depleted so that they produce?” he suggested.
Chungu who runs the Lusenga Trust conservation organisation said ZAWA’s
figures were inaccurate.
“We need to have the correct numbers, and if anything the people benefiting
from hunting are not indigenous Zambians. Zambians benefit from game
viewing,” he said.