Namibia’s desert-adapted lions in the Tomakas region of Namibia are being killed off in a sad whirlpool of human politics, with the recent killing of the last of the famous ‘5 Musketeers’ being one such example.
Category Archives: Hunting
Let’s boycott African tourism. Not.
Some keyboard warriors regularly call for the boycott of an entire country’s tourism industry in reaction to the death of animals that could conceivably have been prevented.
Hunting body president resigns over canned lion dispute
The president of the Professional Hunting Association of South Africa [Phasa], Stan Burger, unexpectedly announced his resignation on Tuesday with immediate effect.
The link between hunting & tourism in Namibia
I am not a hunter. Nor have I ever been. I am a vegetarian (since the age of about 11), I am part of the environmental NGO sector and I have interests in the tourism industry in Namibia. So, it might surprise you that I am a strong supporter of the hunting industry in Namibia, and indeed, throughout Africa.
Opinion: Rhino horn trade = extinction in the wild
It is now legal in South Africa to trade domestically in rhino horn, after this country’s Constitutional Court recently overturned an eight-year ban on domestic trade, based on a technicality.
No Timbavati ‘100 Pounder’ elephant hunt
The last few weeks have witnessed some pretty vicious social media attacks on lodges within Timbavati Private Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park
Trophy hunting: leopard update
Earlier this year, South African Environmental Affairs minister Edna Molewa announced a ZERO quota for leopard hunts in 2017, a continuation of the 2016 ruling.
Hunting: the colour game is over
The breeding of wildlife to produce unusually coloured animals, in the hope that hunters would pay a lot more to shoot them, has fallen flat in a spectacular manner — with the practice being widely condemned.
Lion skeletons – 800 to be exported annually
SANBI’s recommendation to the Department of Environmental Affairs to allow export of 800 captive-bred lion skeletons from South Africa is coming under fire from Humane Society International and the producer of the film Blood Lions.
Trophy Hunting: unethical Namibian hunters to blame for poor image
Unethical hunters cause poor international image of trophy hunting – says past president of the Namibian Professional Hunting Association
Trophy hunting: sustainability problems in Zimbabwe exposed
Trophy hunting in Zimbabwe’s Matetsi Safari Area is not sustainable at current levels as trophy sizes are declining, there is little scientific data supporting quota sizes and hunting management is seriously incapacitated.
PHASA to defend captive-bred lion resolution
The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) is to defend its position on captive-bred lion hunting and breeding in the Pretoria High Court on 22 November.
USA bans trophy imports of captive South African lions
The USA government has tightened regulations about the importation of lion trophies – focusing on South African captive lion trophies
Sustainable utilisation of wildlife not so sustainable
Overexploitation of wild species that cannot be compensated for by reproduction or regrowth has been identified as a threat to biodiversity
Breaking news: Wild leopards captured for hunting on Walter Slippers’ farm
Seven wild leopards found in a concrete shed on Walter Slippers’ farm – reportedly trapped then stored there for American hunters to shoot.
Bushmeat hunting alarmingly high in South Africa
A recent study shows levels of bushmeat hunting in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa are alarmingly high.
Missing the Mark: African trophy hunting fails to show consistent conservation benefits
African trophy hunting fails to show consistent conservation benefits – according to the US House Committee on Natural Resources
“Born to Live Wild” pledge initiated by tour operators worldwide
Promoting responsible tourism the “Born to Live Wild” pledge has been initiated to stop canned hunting.
Botswanan communities want exemptions to hunting ban
Communities in Botswana want elephants and buffaloes to be exempted from the country’s two-year-old hunting ban, arguing that the two species are not in decline.
Trophy hunting – a compromise?
Trophy hunting – the debates rage on. This analysis of the arguments put forward to justify trophy hunting makes for interesting reading
Do hunters conserve wildlife?
A debate for and against the motion “Hunters Conserve Wildlife”.
Travel companies call for an end to activities that exploit lions
Leading African tourism companies call for an end to captive breeding, canned hunting and other forms of abuse of lions
South African private wildlife numbers overstated
Endangered Wildlife Trust has published a study on wildlife ranching, which shows that South African private wildlife numbers may be inflated threefold.
Will this giant hunting auction benefit African wildlife?
Does trophy hunting support wildlife conservation in Africa? The world’s most influential hunters’ association would like you to think so.
Lions, trophy hunting and the US government – the 27 facts you need to know
27 things you need to know about lion trophy imports in the US, and the impact hunting is having on lions in Africa.
The aftermath of Cecil the lion – Interview with researcher Brent Stapelkamp
Cecil the lion was shot by American dentist Walter Palmer near Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe – we interview researcher Brent Stapelkamp
Zimbabwe elephant hunter identified as German mogul Rainer Schorr
Animal rights group PETA has named the hunter who killed one of Africa’s largest elephants as German businessman Rainer Schorr
China issues one-year ban on African ivory hunting trophy imports
China has issued a one-year ban on African ivory hunting trophy imports ahead President Xi Jinping’s visit to Britain this month.
Dereck Joubert responds to a hunter on the economics of hunting
Dereck Joubert responds to hunter claims – explains how the argument for hunting gets thinner each time it is tested
MSC ban the transport of hunting trophies
The privately owned global shipping company, MSC, has banned the transportation of hunting trophies on ethical grounds.
But first, let me take a lion selfie!
An exploration of the reality behind the lion breeding industry and the heavy implications of taking a ‘selfie’ with an adorable lion cub.
Hunting lions for fun
Dereck Joubert explores the viability and ethics of hunting in the aftermath of the killing of Cecil the lion
Zimbabwe lifts nationwide trophy hunting ban
The nationwide ban on hunting lions, leopards and elephants in Zimbabwe has been lifted, but a ban is still in force in a limited area including on the farm where Cecil was killed and on another farm where a second lion was hunted.
American Airlines and United Airlines also ban hunting trophies
Following recent news that Delta Airlines has banned the transport of hunting trophies, two other American airlines – United Airlines and American Airlines – have been quick to follow suit.
Delta joins growing list of airlines banning hunting trophies
Delta has announced a ban on transporting trophy kills following pressure from customers, activists and a petition with 395,245 signatures.
Professional hunters’ association president calls for a review of lion hunting
After viewing the new film Blood Lions, Hermann Meyeridricks is asking the hunting association to reconsider its position on lion hunting.
SAA lifts embargo on the transportation of hunting trophies
South African Airways have lifted with immediate effect the embargo that was placed on elephant, rhino, lion and tiger hunting trophies.
Blood Lions – a film exposing the brutal exploitation of the king of beasts
We interview wildlife campaigner Ian Michler, and filmmaker Nick Chevallier about their new film, Blood Lions.
Female elephant mistakenly shot by hunters
A female elephant was accidentally killed instead of an allegedly ‘damage causing’ bull elephant when a hunting permit was suspiciously issued at Mabalingwe Nature Reserve.
60% collapse of Tanzania’s elephants justifies US ban on trophy imports
Dwindling elephant populations in Tanzania and Zimbabwe justify the USA ban on the importation of elephant trophies from the two countries.
Lions are in trouble in Namibia
Lions could be in trouble in Namibia’s arid northwest if nothing is done to reduce human-predator conflict
Lufthansa bans transport of hunting trophies
Lufthansa airline changes its policy on transporting hunting trophies.
Zambia lifts big cat hunting ban
Zambia lifts ban on safari hunting to attract tourists.
South African lion management plan released
How lions in South Africa are destined to end up being traded to China.
South African Airways Cargo to ban transportation of hunting trophies?
Reports claim that South African Airways (SAA) Cargo has placed an embargo on the transportation of hunting trophies.
How do you like your rhino – canned or wild?
Are South African conservation authorities intent on shipping some of our wild rhinos to live out their lives “safely” on hunting and horn cropping farms?
NSPCA’s formal stance on the selective breeding of wild animals for colour mutations
The NSPCA speaks out on why selective breeding for colour morphs has absolutely no benefit to the individual animal, the species, biodiversity or conservation as a whole.
Hunting for conservation
Russel Gammon discusses what every conservationist should be fighting for – both hunters and non-hunters alike.
A response to the hunting debate
A response from well-known conservationist Gail Potgieter on the hunting debate.
The Thing About Hunting
The thing about hunting is that the topic is so polarising that it prevents meaningful discourse between people who probably have more in common than they care to admit. And, while the protagonists battle it out, the grim reapers continue to harvest Africa’s wildlife and other natural resources. We humans tend to silo information to …
Buffalo bull market worth millions
All about buffalos, their increasing value to the hunting community and the size of their horns.
40 000 Maasai told to leave homeland as hunters move in
Tanzania has been accused of reneging on its promise to 40 000 Maasai pastoralists by going ahead with plans to evict them and turn their ancestral land into a reserve for the royal family of Dubai to hunt big game.
Namibian black rhino hunt may be cancelled
The Texas hunting club that auctioned off a permit to shoot an endangered black rhinoceros in Namibia said it will cancel the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service denies the winning bidder’s request to bring the dead animal back to the U.S. as a trophy.
The Rise of the Huntress
A commentary on the rising popularity of hunting among young women.
Hunting with the Hadzabe bushmen
Ken joins a traditional hunt with a tribe of Hadzabe bushmen.
Video footage emerges showing why Tanzanian hunting company was banned
Motherboard has gotten its hands on some horrifying video footage of hunting and wild animal abuse in Tanzania with a company known as Green Mile Safari.
Lion King or Commodity?
AN ANALYSIS OF
THE LION BREEDING INDUSTRY
IN SOUTH AFRICA
World Cup beauty loses modeling gig after hunting photo outrage
Belgium teenager, Axelle Despiegelaere, loses modeling contract with L’Oreal, a cosmetic giant that: “no longer tests on animals,” after controversial hunting photograph, of her with a dead oryx, emerges during the World Cup.
Emotion and desert elephants
Dr Margaret Jacobsohn gives her thoughts on the Namibian desert elephant hunting debate.
A Namibian’s view on hunting in his home country
Namibian John K Kasaona gives a local’s view on the Namibian hunting debate.
More desert elephants to be shot
Concerns have been heightened by the Namibian Ministy of Environment and Tourism’s decision to issue additional hunting permits for desert elephants.
Happy huntress the next Melissa Bachman?
Meet Kendall Jones, a happy huntress, with good looks, a large weapon and her very own dead lion she seems to be the next Melissa Bachman.
Hunting of “desert” elephants
Award-winning conservationist sets the record straight about the Namibian desert elephant hunting debate.
The link between cub petting and canned lions
This video by Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) clarifies the connection between the canned lion hunting and cub petting industries in South Africa.
Namibian government responds to elephant hunting debate
The Namibian government response to NGOs, on hunting ‘desert elephants’.
Sleeping elephant woken up to be shot
The sickening footage of the shocking moment a sleeping elephant in Zimbabwe was woken up by American trophy hunters and shot.
Kenyan ranger’s moving letter to American rhino hunter
A Kenyan grassroots initiative, Walk With Rangers, has spoken out against the controversial rhino auction held by the Dallas Safari Club that saw the highest bidder, Mr. Corey Knowlton, cough up a staggering US$350 000 to hunt an endangered black rhino in Namibia.
Did Melissa Bachman, and her friends, shoot your lion cub?
Kevin Richardson discusses the reality of lion cub petting and how this relates back to canned lion hunts and the likes of Melissa Bachman.
Permit to hunt black rhino auctioned for $350 000
A permit to hunt an endangered African black rhino has sold for US$350 000 at a closely watched auction that’s been criticised by wildlife and animal rights groups.
Botswana minister in lion trade scandal
Botswana’s Minister of Agriculture, Christian de Graaff, is under fire after he exported a large shipment of lions to a canned hunting outfit in South Africa last month.
Melissa Bachman’s lion hunt – the latest
Melissa Bachman has sparked international outrage after posting a picture on social media, boasting publicly about killing a magnificent male lion in the Maroi Conservancy in South Africa.
Trophy hunting in the context of community conservation
A thought-provoking blog post about how a well-managed trophy hunting operation has a positive effect on both wildlife and communities.
South Africa’s trophy hunt industry linked to rhino horn trafficking … AGAIN
The trophy hunting industry has been caught using loopholes to traffic rhino horns into the illegal rhino horn market
Maasai people locked out of Loliondo
Loliondo the Maasai community concession and wildlife destinations is in the spotlight as locals clash with trophy hunmting companies
Conservation is Politics: Zambia’s Hunting Landscape
On 9 January 2013, the Zambian Minister of Tourism Sylvia Masebo – responsible through its board for the parastatal the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) – called a meeting at very short notice in Lusaka of all the hunting-safari stakeholders. Vice-President Scott attended. Rolf Shenton, the former MP for Mkushi whose father Barry brought the first …
Continue reading “Conservation is Politics: Zambia’s Hunting Landscape”
Zambia Hunting Ban Update
On Wednesday the Zambian government held a stakeholders meeting in Lusaka in an attempt to thrash out some of the issues surrounding the crisis within the local trophy hunting industry. Chaired by the Vice-President (VP), Dr Guy Scott, those in attendance included a cross-section of hunters, wildlife managers, eco-tourism consultants, outside observers, government personnel and …
Fingers Off the Trigger: Zambia Cancels All Trophy Hunting Licences
Towards the end of last week Zambian wildlife authorities suspended the tender process for hunting concessions and cancelled all hunting licences for the foreseeable future. According to sources and local news reports, Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo has based her decision on corruption and malpractices between the hunting companies and various government departments. …
Continue reading “Fingers Off the Trigger: Zambia Cancels All Trophy Hunting Licences”
