In memoriam - Lion kills Zimbabwe safari guide Quinn Swales

[broncolcj]

And let's see what the media has to say about this.

"crickets"

 

[Royal27]

Prayers

 

[Royal27]

CNN Does Pick Up Story of Lion Killing Guide. I'm surprised, but they did pick it up.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/25/africa/zimbabwe-safari-guide-killed-by-lion/index.html

(CNN)A safari guide has been mauled to death by a lion in the same Zimbabwean national park where Cecil the lion lived.

Quinn Swales was taking a group of tourists on a walking safari in Hwange National Park on Monday morning when a lion suddenly charged, the company he was working for said.

"Quinn did everything he could to successfully protect his guests and ensure their safety," the company, Camp Hwange, said on its Facebook page, adding that no other members of the group were hurt.

Swales, 40, died the morning of the attack from the injuries he suffered, it said.

7 photos: Big beasts, big business: The countries cashing in on wildlife tours
Hwange National Park and its lion population drew global attention after news emerged last month of the death of Cecil, a popular a black-maned male lion.

Zimbabwean authorities have said that Cecil was lured out of the park and killed in an illegal hunt paid for by Walter Palmer, American dentist. Palmer, who became the focus of an outpouring of anger over Cecil's killing, denies he did anything wrong.

Opinion: How outrage over Cecil's killing misses the point

Camp Hwange describes itself as a small safari company that specializes in walking tours in the park, which covers a wide area of northwestern Zimbabwe.

It said Swales was a "fully qualified and experienced" guide.

During the safari Monday, Swales spotted fresh lion spoor and decided to track a pride of two females, two males and two cubs, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said in a statement.

It didn't specify which of the lions attacked him but noted that one member of the pride, named Nxaha, wore a tracking collar, as Cecil did.

For some in Zimbabwe, Cecil tells only part of the story

CNN's David McKenzie and journalist Columbus Mavhunga contributed to this report.

 

[BWH]

Very sorry to learn of this. Sad for he/his family. However, it was just a few weeks ago how the world/media were telling us how soft & cuddly these "pets" were!

 

[Photoshooter]

RIP Mr. Swales and condolences to his loved ones. Lots of respect for all the PH's and photo guides who sacrafice their own safety to ensure ours.

 

[Nyati]

Sad news, RIP Quinn.

 

[gillettehunter]

What a terrible thing to have happen. R.I.P. Quinn. I hope that the tourists realize that he gave his life for them. Bruce

 

[edward]

My condolences to his family. I wonder if anyone in the media will pick this up and broadcast in the US and talk about how the unnamed lion should be tried and jailed for legally defending its territory?

more likely the scumbag media and antis will be happy over what has happened.

 

[Johnny7604]

Rest in peace brother. Condolences to his family and friends.

On an irrelevant side note apparently it was another collared and named lion "Nxaha"

John

 

[8x68]

Condolences & prayers for the family. Amazing bravery!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Incredible how those seemingly tame lions can change into dangerous animals so quickly.
Perhaps the folks on the photo safari will educate their brethren about the nature of the beast.

Sad loss. Condolences to his family.

 

[enysse]

The story is going around now. The antis are spreading it.

They are bragging how the lion even the score because of "Cecil".

 

[boldo 42]

Done his job till the end , RIP.

 

[KVS]

Trageic news. My sympathies and condolonces to his family. A brave brave man, who put the safety of his guests first. Rest In Peace

 

[sandman0921]

A very sad, and tragic situation. Prayers go up to this young man's family and friends.

I admittedly know very little about this story other than what I've read in the media. I do not know if the lion in question was wounded, killed, or later exterminated because of the incident. Furthermore, I am also admittedly ignorant of the policies, and procedures regarding shooting a threatening animal whether it be an elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, croc, etc. in a national park in Zimbabwe like Hwange.

I also do not mean this as a commentary, or slight at this young PH/guide's professional acumen, demeanor, or behavior. I know he performed admirably, and did his job. He protected his clients, and as a result, paid the ultimate price by doing so. That says all I need to know about his character.

However, and forgive me if this has already been discussed, I can't help but wonder if the "Cecil incident" played any part, however small, in this young man's tragic death? What I mean by that is did this young PH try and prevent shooting this lion "at all costs" in order to avoid the stigma, and/or repercussions, of killing another lion inside Hwange park, knowing the crap-storm it would ignite in the mass media circuits, and social media forums? Did that little bit of hesitation, doubt, or fear of reprisal cause him to hold off in pulling the trigger until it was too late. One little seed of doubt can sprout hesitation, and when seconds count, as in a lion charge (although I've fortunately never been a part of those circumstances), that's all it takes to screw up, and lose the fight. Also, in this case, there was no one there that could have, or would have, been able to do anything about it because no one else had a firearm, only cameras.

I guess we'll probably never know, and certainly those in the mass media would never let those facts come to the light of day, if it meant they had to accept some sort of culpability in this young man's death. It certainly may be that the lion was on the group so fast, that the PH only had time to put himself in the line of fire, so-to-speak, and didn't have time to raise his rifle. As tragic as these facts would still be, I certainly hope that is the case, and his inability to stop the lion's charge wasn't for fear of reprisal from Zimbabwean officials, or worse yet, fear of having his, as well as his family's, name posted, and smeared in the court of public opinion. Of course, again, this is all speculation.


It's not just the PH community that I wonder about this in. I also wonder if it happens in the police fraternity as well. With all of the unfair persecution of police officers in the media, especially social media, it has to be going through the minds of officers when they have to draw their weapon on a violent criminal. I know they are highly trained professionals, but they are also human. In the effort to avoid confrontation, or violence, at all costs, I'm afraid this outpouring of "cop-hating" is only going to serve to get more police officers, and potentially citizens, killed.

I hate to have such a cynical outlook on society, and life, in general, but it pains me to see just how far society has fallen into depravity in the last couple of decades.

 

[thi9elsp]

^^^I had not thought of that impact but certainly agree with your concern. John

 

[sandman0921]

Interestingly enough, if anyone subscribes to African Hunter, I received an online version of an article discussing this very topic just a little while ago.

It was very interesting, and painted Mr. Swales as a true hero, as well as a very well-liked, and respected PG in Hwange National Park. It did raise the specter of the Cecil debacle as possibly contributing to this unfortunate incident, in that, at the very least, it could have caused a moment's hesitation. However, it also questioned that supposition, and stated the attack was extremely fast, brutal, and efficient according to the New Zealand tourists who bore witness to the tragedy. It was very chilling to read of the lions behavior and events leading up to the attack, and apparently Nxaha (the lion reported to have killed the PG) had been exhibiting very aggressive behavior for "some time" towards humans in the park, and exhibited signs of becoming "habituated" towards the presence of people/tourists.

Also, the article was mocking the coverage of the UK's Daily Mail (one of the rags that whipped up the firestorm over Cecil) over this incident. The paper was apparently painting Nxhaha as a known killer of baby elephants, and thus implied to be evil, and yet at the same time previously painting Cecil as beloved, cuddly, and majestic because he was killed, skinned, and "decapitated" by humans. It described how ludicrous the anthropomorphism of animals, especially elephants and lions, has gotten in today's society and how you can't have it both ways. As we all know, and has been said on here many times, lion are lions, and they are neither evil or fluffy, cuddly....they're just lions, and are extreme and majestic predators. They do what lions do, and they do it very well both to baby elephants and humans alike.

Anyway....a great read for those who have access to it. I would love to post it, but I don't want to violate any copyright rules, or deprive a great publication of it's right to earn a profit on a well-written story.

 

[siml]

When I heard the news, it was also my immediate thought.....did he hesitate because of Cecil. Which ever way sad.

 

[mcdowelr]

I was wondering if he was even armed. I can't imagine walking around without something for protection. Can someone shed some light on whether these guides carry? Sorry I do not know what the normal practice is.

 

[siml]

They will be carrying firearms.