Lion Killer to Be Charged in Namibia
Lion Killer to Be Charged in Namibia
The trophy hunter who admitted that he shot and killed a protected lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy recently might be in for a surprise when he returns to Namibia next week.
Criminal charges were laid against Keith Wright on Monday following a high-profile investigation by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism into the killing of the collared lion known as Leonardo.
The Deputy Director: Parks and Wildlife Management in the ministry, Colgar Sikopo, yesterday confirmed that the Police had opened a case of illegal hunting of a protected species.
Wright had a permit to shoot a lioness in the Anabeb Conservancy Area but had no authorisation from the Ministry to hunt a lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy Area, Ben Beytell, Director: Parks and Wildlife Management, told The Namibian last week.
Wright last week admitted that he was "the guy" who had shot Leonardo. According to him, he had "a permit for the area from the people" and that he could not see that the animal was radio-collared because of its thick mane.
The trophy hunter added that he would be out of the country for two weeks and is thus expected to return next week. Before his departure he claimed that "bad blood by somebody" was responsible for the "rubbish" allegations against him.
Sikopo added that investigations by the Ministry in conjunction with the Police were continuing.
On his website, conservationist Flip Stander writes: "Trophy hunting and the shooting of lions by local people is the major cause of mortality amongst adult and sub-adult lions. The indiscriminate selection of male lions for trophy hunting has resulted in an alarming decline in the ratio of adult males to adult females."
Stander has not been reachable by phone for the past week.
Leonardo had been collared barely a month before he was killed. The radio collars are reportedly worth N$60 000 each.
The killing of this protected lion has sparked a public outcry from animal lovers and conservationists alike.
Source: The Namibian
Hunters' Body Probes Lion Killing
Hunters' Body Probes Lion Killing
by Denver Kisting
In addition to the criminal charges that professional hunter Keith Wright faces after the recent killing of a protected lion, the Namibia Professional Hunters’ Association (NAPHA) has also launched a disciplinary investigation.
NAPHA disciplinary committee chairperson Rainer Ling yesterday said the disciplinary hearing might take place within a month.
Wright is a member of the Association, which has more than 500 members.
According to him, the hunting regulatory body’s policies require that 30 days’ written notice needs to be given to a suspect per registered mail before a hearing can take place.
At this stage, there is no “punishment catalogue” stipulating what action will be taken in the event of an offence. It could range from a monetary fine to expulsion from NAPHA. The highest penalty do date was a N$26 000 fine, Ling told The Namibian.
Meanwhile, the Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Ben Beytell, has confirmed that the criminal investigation lodged against Wright is still in full swing. According to him, the ministry received a letter from Wright’s lawyer in which it was stated that the Didimala Safaris operator would fight criminal allegations in court.
Wright yesterday said he did not “know what the ministry’s story is”.
“I had done nothing wrong. I had a permit [to hunt Leonardo, the lion].”
A public outcry erupted after the news broke of the killing of the collared lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy Area in the Kunene Region, demanding that Wright should be brought to book.
Environment Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah also lashed out about the incident.
Yesterday Wright expressed shock at the subsequent controversy, saying: “This story split out of hand. Facebook (the social utility site) got hold of it and my children were getting death threats.”
A Facebook page with more than a 1 000 members has been created in which authorities are asked to ban Wright and his family from carrying on with their hunting business in Namibia.
One participant, Val Hackett, writes: “What is going on here? Trophy hunting? What is wrong with you guys? Disgusting. You should be trophy hunted yourselves. Ugh. Makes me sick.”
Ling expressed hope that legislation would be introduced compelling hunters to become members of NAPHA. This, he said, would better regulate the industry, in the same way that the medical industry is controlled.
Source: The Namibian
