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Trophy Hunting: A Threat to Africa’s Wildlife UNSUSTAINABLE PRACTICE RIDDLED WITH CORRUPTION, PUTTING AT RISK AFRICA’S WILDLIFE & TOURISM OCTOBER 3 RD , 2017
Trophy Hunting: A Threat to Africa’s WildlifeUNSUSTAINABLE PRACTICE RIDDLED WITH CORRUPTION, PUTTING AT RISK AFRICA’S WILDLIFE & TOURISM
OCTOBER 3 RD, 2017
Global Scale of Trophy Hunting
Source: IFAW Report titled “Killing for Trophies” (2016)
Who are top African exporters?
Source: IFAW Report titled “Killing for Trophies” (2016)
These well-funded trophy hunting membership and lobby groups promote the practice globally, incentivizing the killing through competitions that offer awards and prizes.
• Safari Club International
• The European Federation of Associations for Hunting & Conservation
• Conservation Force
• Dallas Safari Club
• Professional Hunter’s Association of South Africa
• International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation
Why this enormous scale?
Trophy Hunting Adds Little Value
HSI & Economists at Large issued a report: “The Lion’s Share?”
Tanzania Zimbabwe Namibia South Africa
Mozambique Zambia Ethiopia Botswana*
All Tourism vs. Trophy Hunting Annual Spending and Employment in 8 Countries
$17 Billionfrom
Overall Tourism
$132 Million from Trophy Hunting
15,500Jobs from Trophy Hunting
2.6 MillionJobs from
Overall Tourism
Unsustainable Hunting QuotasTanzania: Lions• The lion population in the well-studied areas (Ngorongoro Crater, Katavi, Matambwe (Selous
GR), Serengeti, and Tarangire) is estimated to have decreased by 66% (IUCN)
• 2015 population modelling suggests a 37% probability that lions in East Africa will decline by 50% over the next two decades (Bauer et al. 2015).
• Tanzania disputes these findings and bases quotas on a variety of unpublished population estimates, methodologies that lack standardization (ex: SCI-funded spoor count in Selous without baseline, undermining its reliability)
Zimbabwe: Elephants• 2016 Muposhi et al. paper found Matetsi Safari Area trophy tusk sizes declined significantly
from 2004-2015, which is one possible indicator hunting there is unsustainable
• Muposhi study also states quotas “may have been based on previous experiences and individual opinions and not based on scientific principles”
• Elephant Management Plan (2015–2020) recognizes population ↓ in Sebungwe and mid-Zambezi (poaching), yet trophy hunting continues (note: national-level ↓ is 6% since 2001!)
Corruption and Scandal in Trophy Hunting
Tanzania• Science lacks independence with most scientists relying on hunter $ or fearing retribution
• Dr. Craig Packer (studied Serengeti lions for decades) was expelled for exposing corruption
• Dr. Jerry Belant (Mississippi State U. and affiliate of Safari Club International) replaced Packer
• Independent scientist Dr. Henry Brink was removed from his post studying lions in Selous (top hunting destination for lions) and also replaced by hunter-funded research
• IGF Foundation (who's mission is to “safeguard the world's hunting heritage”) is charged with collection and aging of lion trophies
Zimbabwe• The year before Cecil, one hunter killed a male just over 2 yo (still with mom). There was no lion
quota for 2015 (!). Dentist passed on Jericho (11 yo male) and shot Cecil. No accountability!
• June 2017 article described how the Tsholotsho Rural District Council sold permits to a safari hunting company, Lodzi Hunters, to hunt 50 elephants in order to get money to fund the construction of a football stadium
Fear Mongering Over Import Restrictions
False Claims:Import Restrictions Will Lead To…….
The Truth: Hunting blocks were failing long before bans
➢ vacant hunting blocks➢ reduced responsible management➢ decreased incentives for
community wildlife management➢ competition from other forms of
land use➢ increased poaching and human-
wildlife conflict
✓many hunting blocks were already unviable (no wildlife b/c of poor mgmt)
✓money was diverted into contradictory projects (roads, infrastructure)
✓ community incentives were low with officials and outfitters benefitting most
✓ Tanzania (with thriving trophy hunting) has devastating elephant poaching
✓Human-wildlife conflict better addressed through improved livestock mgmt, etc.
Trophy Hunting Hurts Tourism
• National parks where photographic tourism thrives are:
“core areas providing wildlife that can be hunted in surrounding areas once it voluntarily moves one kilometre outside” (1995 Tanzania Policy and Management Plan for Tourist Hunting)
• Trophy hunting occurs in areas adjacent to protected parks & can be detrimental as hunting depletes wildlife and diminishes tourism’s draw
• Stories like Cecil’s damage brand Africa, sending the wrong message to tourists and investors about Africa’s wildlife management and government operations
• Hunting block areas can be attractive not just for tourism, but also other alternative sustainable uses like farming (ex: coffee, cashews, etc.) which maintains land for wildlife
Global Bans and Import Restrictions
