Restrictions on Lion Hunting in Tanzania

Tanzania's Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) have passed a resolution imposing welcome restrictions on lion hunting to encourage trophy-hunting of lion of six years or older. While the taking of a five-year-old lion will be tolerated, younger lions will not be exportable and will incur a $5,000 penalty and the PH responsible may lose his license. If lion less than four years old are taken, the professional hunter will lose his PH license. Lions determined to be less than five years old will no longer be exportable from Tanzania. Many Tanzanian operators have been employing the six-year rule for the last few years, many others have not, leading to this regulatory measure.