By Telegraph Reporters
6 DECEMBER 2016 • 8:16AM
Lion numbers are in steep decline across Africa CREDIT: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A government-commissioned review into trophy hunting has found it can "help lion conservation" - a view that has angered wildlife charities.
The Oxford University report was ordered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs following the international outcry over the death of Cecil the lion, writes The Times.
One of the most famous creatures in Zimbabwe's national park, Cecil was killed by an American dentist who is believed to have paid £35,000 to kill the lion with a bow and arrow.
According to Zimbabwe officials, Walter Palmer broke no laws when he killed Cecil because he had obtained the legal authority to hunt.
Lion numbers are in steep decline across Africa. According to UK-based charity Lion Aid, trophy hunters in Zimbabwe killed around 800 lions in the 10 years to 2009, out of a population in the country of up to 1,680.
But according to the research by David Macdonald, director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit: "Where trophy hunting is well regulated, transparent and devolves sufficient authority to the land managers, it has the potential to contribute to lion conservation."
The report adds: "The most fundamental benefit of trophy hunting to lion conservation is that it provides a financial incentive to maintain lion habitat that might otherwise be converted to non-wildlife land uses."
The report found little evidence trophy hunting had a substantial negative effect on lion numbers
Professor Macdonald also found little evidence to suggest trophy hunting had substantial negative effects on lion populations.
His review also considered how conditions on importing trophies to Britain might be restricted.
According to The Times, around three lion trophies a year are legally imported to Britain under permits issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Prof. Macdonald suggests the UK should only permit trophy imports from areas where the lion population is "demonstrably well managed".
Pieter Kat, director of Lion Aid, told The Times he feared the report gave the false impression that trophy hunting could be sustainable when it was contributing to the decline of lions.
A spokesman for DEFRA said: "This report provides useful evidence on this issue and will be made available to Cites and the international community."
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...on-conservation-says-government-commissioned/
6 DECEMBER 2016 • 8:16AM
Lion numbers are in steep decline across Africa CREDIT: AFP/GETTY IMAGES
A government-commissioned review into trophy hunting has found it can "help lion conservation" - a view that has angered wildlife charities.
The Oxford University report was ordered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs following the international outcry over the death of Cecil the lion, writes The Times.
One of the most famous creatures in Zimbabwe's national park, Cecil was killed by an American dentist who is believed to have paid £35,000 to kill the lion with a bow and arrow.
According to Zimbabwe officials, Walter Palmer broke no laws when he killed Cecil because he had obtained the legal authority to hunt.
Lion numbers are in steep decline across Africa. According to UK-based charity Lion Aid, trophy hunters in Zimbabwe killed around 800 lions in the 10 years to 2009, out of a population in the country of up to 1,680.
But according to the research by David Macdonald, director of Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit: "Where trophy hunting is well regulated, transparent and devolves sufficient authority to the land managers, it has the potential to contribute to lion conservation."
The report adds: "The most fundamental benefit of trophy hunting to lion conservation is that it provides a financial incentive to maintain lion habitat that might otherwise be converted to non-wildlife land uses."
The report found little evidence trophy hunting had a substantial negative effect on lion numbers
Professor Macdonald also found little evidence to suggest trophy hunting had substantial negative effects on lion populations.
His review also considered how conditions on importing trophies to Britain might be restricted.
According to The Times, around three lion trophies a year are legally imported to Britain under permits issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Prof. Macdonald suggests the UK should only permit trophy imports from areas where the lion population is "demonstrably well managed".
Pieter Kat, director of Lion Aid, told The Times he feared the report gave the false impression that trophy hunting could be sustainable when it was contributing to the decline of lions.
A spokesman for DEFRA said: "This report provides useful evidence on this issue and will be made available to Cites and the international community."
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...on-conservation-says-government-commissioned/
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