Thanks Cecil; 200 lions need to go at Bubye Wildlife conservancy

Being a retired peace officer, I have a tendency to make distinctions between death threats (aka - terroristic threats) and other methods of exerting pressure (aka - persuasion) that do not have the potential to result in either bodily injury, serious bodily injury, and/or death. My understanding (as per my face to face conversation with the PH) is that the debacle went ballistic while the PH was en-route to attend the various hunting conventions/expos here in the states. Upon the PH's arrival here in the states, he was advised that his immediate family members (i.e. - wife and children) were receiving death threats via their home telephones. Hmm? Not good. Obviously, the PH had several options available to him including, but not limited to, (1) proceeding with the controversial lion raffle with the resulting funds supporting the ongoing BVC lion research project (thus knowingly, intentionally, negligently, and recklessly endangering his immediate family who are located 9049 miles away) or (2) canceling the controversial lion raffle. Anyone have a coin that the PH can borrow?
 
.......... Anyone have a coin that the PH can borrow?

I'll bet there are a few who would lend him a firearm for protection of his family.

Bloody sad state of affairs when someones life is being threatened at all over an issue or difference of opinion.
 
I really don't know why anyone would want a bunch of lions around anyway. As Africa developes they will be a few around some of the national parks kind of like the grizzly bear around Yellowstone. It is their country and they have a right to do what was done here in North America. I seen irrrigation pivots in South Africa watering corn doubt them guys want any elephants around there. I think the plains game management is great sell a few trophies to hunters and the meat to market. Them animals are living alot better than my cattle. What the anti's complaining about grass feed meat. I see in California they had to make more room for the chickens that were going to be eaten. Sooner or later the general public will become sick of these idiots after they pay alot more for their food.
 
In an effort to better understand the anti-hunters mentality, I encourage you to visit the various anti-hunting social media sites including Facebook (especially Lion Aid and Wild Aid). However, please be forewarned that if you attempt to engage them in a "fact vs. emotion" based debate, they will quickly resort to name calling and vulgarities. In some cases, they will ban you from their site since your fact based comments don't fit their narrative and/or talking points. Despite my best efforts to avoid partaking in the topic du jour, sometimes I just can't resist placing a cuckle bur under their saddles (especially when they are attacking ethical hunting practices via lies and half truths). It's easy to dismiss these folks as being crazy, rabid, ignorant, ineffective, keyboard warriors, etc. Unfortunately, even crazy, rabid, ignorant, ineffective, keyboard warriors vote and are capable of placing their "X" on the various anti-hunting petitions. If you do access their social sites, please remember Ivan Carter's advice: "..... the most important thing is to be polite and respectful - we are always judged by our lowest moment or individual". Today the following quote is more relevant than ever: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall". Their ultimate goal is to ban all sport hunting. From their perspective, polar bear, elephant, lion, leopard, giraffe, etc. are just boxes for them to check off (sort of a bucket list) as they slowly advance their emotion based anti-hunting agenda.
 
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Still don't believe that the "Cecil the Lion" debacle will have a negative impact on ethical hunting here in the USA?

Excerpts from a recent Outdoor Life article dated February 19, 2016:

Trophy Hunting and Conservation in 2016: Recent Threats and What We Can Do About Them

Trophy hunting. It’s a loaded term, defined in many different ways and often misunderstood. But one thing is certain. Trophy hunting, or at least the idea of it, will in one way or another impact us all in 2016 and the years to come. Last spring, a Responsive Management survey found that approximately 77 percent of the general public in the US was in support of hunting. But on the other hand, when it came to “trophy hunting” approximately 28 percent of Americans were supportive—that's a drop of 49 percentage points. Fast forward to July of 2015 and things got even more grim. You likely remember a certain lion known as Cecil?

With the help of Walt Palmer and Cecil the Lion, and by way of massive media coverage and a good dose of misinformation, “Cecil-gate” took the world by storm and became a referendum on trophy hunting and trophy hunters. And what we found was that stories like this can stoke wild emotional fires that have very real ramifications for hunters. Anti-hunters will always hate what we do, but what was most concerning about the Cecil incident was how quickly the story influenced your average American who typically would fall into that 77 percent group that generally supports hunting. We saw it on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, on the Discovery Channel and CNN, and in conversations between friends and family. By way of this incident, “trophy hunting” (or some warped view of it) had been presented front and center to the people of this country and it was almost universally condemned. Now, in 2016, we’re beginning to see the ramifications—for big-game African hunters, Midwest deer hunters and everyone in between.

The effects of Cecil-gate and the anti-trophy hunting movement are being felt closer to home as well. For example, hoping to take advantage of last year’s lion-induced momentum, the Humane Society recently released a US mountain lion focused propaganda report that has been picked up by many mainstream news outlets. A spokeswoman for the organization explained, “Cecil deserved better, and so do America’s lions and thousands of other native carnivores killed every year for no other reason but to be stuffed and displayed on a wall or collect dust on a shelf.” And while anti-hunting sentiments and hunter harassment are nothing new, it seems now to be popping up more than ever – especially impacting women and children. This potential shift in public sentiment is even starting to impact deer management decisions, as more cities across the country debate the use of hunting as a management tool for over-populated urban deer herds. Increasingly, emotional propaganda similar to that used last summer during Cecil-gate is now being used to eliminate hunting as an option.

So what can we hunters do about this rising tide against trophy hunting? Most I’ve spoken to believe our best move is to step up our fight to win the communication battle and correct misconceptions.

“There is a worldwide movement coalescing against trophy hunting, and it is the most intense antagonism towards hunting that the world has ever seen,” explained noted hunter-conservationist Shane Mahoney. “And much of it is based on misunderstandings about trophy hunting.” To combat this movement, Mahoney recommends that hunters be more diligent about telling our story—explaining that trophy hunting isn’t just about a head or a pelt or a set of antlers, but also about the meat, and the experience, and the pursuit. Or better yet, eliminate the term “trophy” all together. “I have for many years argued and advised hunters to eliminate all adjectives,” explained Mahoney. “No trophy hunting, no meat hunting, no sport hunting. Let’s simply call it what it is. Hunting.”

There also seems to be a greater need than ever for the general public to be educated about how hunting and conservation are intertwined. During a panel discussion at the 2016 SCI convention, Ivan Carter - an African hunting guide and TV host - described the Cecil incident as “the twin towers of the hunting world,” and emphasized the importance now of helping non-hunters understand the extent of our work as conservationists. “We’re too busy showing everyone what great hunters we are, and we’re not doing enough to show what kind of conservationists we are,” said Carter. “We have to change the perception that we are just trophy killers and we’ve got to focus on the fact that we’re conservationists, and we do that by having and sharing the right information and research, and taking the time to post properly on social media.”

As Ivan noted above, as important as it is to refine how we speak about trophy hunting and conservation, it’s equally critical to show care in how we visually present hunting and the results of our hunts through social media. Melissa Bachman, a popular TV show host and hunter, explained during the aforementioned panel discussion that every hunter needs to be especially careful about the types of photos they’re posting. “It’s incredibly important,” said Bachmann, “that you show respect at all times in your photos, comments and captions - because once you put it out there, you cannot take it back.” The photos we post, whether we intend them to or not, can reflect back on all hunters. Melissa, Ivan and others recommend hunters share more about their hunts than just pictures of dead animals, for example, an explanation of how the meat will be used, what went into the hunt, or other stories and photos of your experiences enjoying nature.

Whether you consider yourself a trophy hunter or not, the controversy surrounding trophy hunting and the lessons to be learned from it will surely have an impact on you sooner or later. For too long we’ve let anti-hunters and the non-hunting media tell our story—and they’ve failed miserably. So in 2016, let’s take back the story and tell it how it is.

by Mark Kenyon
 
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a right on article,but how does joe average reach the public we are talking about.my hunting stories go to sites that are hunting sites where everybody knows the facts.
 
Just saw this posted on another forum. Thought fellow members might be interested.

‘Cecil effect’: Zimbabwe park may kill 200 lions as discouraged hunters result in over-population


The largest wildlife reserve in Zimbabwe said it may be forced to cull 200 of its lions after the predator’s population “exploded” due to hunters being scared off by international outrage over the killing of Cecil the lion last year.
Bubye Valley Conservancy, which is home to more lions than anywhere else in the south African country, said that the population of over 500 was too much for the reserve, the National Post reports.

The big cats have been decimating the population of antelopes and giraffes, and even wild dogs, cheetahs, and leopards, which have become easy prey after a dry summer left the grass short.

Mike Hutchings Hunting lions helps protect species, supports African economies – environment minister
Bubye Valley now fears that it will have to kill more than a third of its lions to ensure the survival of other species. The conservancy has appealed to other reserves across Africa, asking them to take the predators in to avoid a worst case scenario.

“I wish we could give about 200 of our lions away to ease the overpopulation,” Blondie Leathem, Bubye Valley Conservancy’s general manager, said.

However, Leathem stressed that his institution lacks both the offers and funds to relocate the animals so far.

“If anyone knows of a suitable habitat for them where they will not land up in human conflict, or in wildlife areas where they will not be beaten up because of existing prides, please let us know and help us raise the money to move them,” he said.

However, the head of the UK-based Lion Aid charity organization told the National Post that “there is nowhere in Africa, which could take so many lions.”

The big cats burgeoning population is blamed on the so-called “Cecil effect,” which has led to a sharp decrease in big-game hunters visiting Zimbabwe.
 
Sorry didn't mean to repeat story. I didn't see Stug's original posting
 
Sorry didn't mean to repeat story. I didn't see Stug's original posting
All good and the contribution is much appreciated. Also different articles may provide different stories, thank you for posting the article @8x68.
 
Not sure how the Cecil effect is connected to 200 excess lions in the conservancy in less than 12 months.
Have lion imports been banned to some countries ?
Have 200 hunters suddenly cancelled hunts ?
Is there any evidence of any of this ?

If I was managing an oversupply of game I'd be contacting my regular clients and offering cull hunts at cost + a small percentage rather than the normal fees. At least it would get some income and cover infrastructure costs, wages and depreciation of equipment for a period.

Anyhoo, good advertising for the Conservancy in the short term.
 
Not sure how the Cecil effect is connected to 200 excess lions in the conservancy in less than 12 months.
Have lion imports been banned to some countries ?
Have 200 hunters suddenly cancelled hunts ?
Is there any evidence of any of this ?

If I was managing an oversupply of game I'd be contacting my regular clients and offering cull hunts at cost + a small percentage rather than the normal fees. At least it would get some income and cover infrastructure costs, wages and depreciation of equipment for a period.

Anyhoo, good advertising for the Conservancy in the short term.

Most lion hunters are American and USFW and effectively stopped lion imports in to the US. Also an auctioned hunt for a lion in the Bubye conservation area was cancelled due to death threats.
But you are right the overpopulation won't have occurred overnight, but one of their tools to remove lions as been effectively stopped, as well as an important income stream for the private reserve.
 
The BVC just posted (on their Facebook page) an article published by National Geographic. The article is one of the best yet regarding the surplus lion issue. Very pro-sustainable hunting. I am unable to provide a link at this time. Perhaps someone can post a link on our behalf. Thanks!
 
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Most lion hunters are American and USFW and effectively stopped lion imports in to the US. Also an auctioned hunt for a lion in the Bubye conservation area was cancelled due to death threats.
But you are right the overpopulation won't have occurred overnight, but one of their tools to remove lions as been effectively stopped, as well as an important income stream for the private reserve.

Thx Stug. Once the US$ is out of the equation then that eliminates Trophy hunters. I take it you can still go there and hunt one though.
 
Damn shame we have a government that is filled with liberal assholes.
 
Damn shame we have a government that is filled with liberal assholes.

Unfortunately, judging from the circus the republicans are conducting in the primaries, this won't change any time soon.
 
That National Geographic article is SPOT ON, love it!(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)(y)
 
great article, professionally done and the truth about the interaction of hunting and conservation.
sent the article to Animal Justice, one of the anti hunting organizations that were very vocal on the Cecil Lion issue.
 
I was scouring the internet yesterday to try and complete a writing assignment for a college class. I found this article in the extra stuff that always pops up. Turns out, the hunting of Cecil the Lion has caused a bit of a drought in the hunters in Bubye Valley Conservancy, and they are considering culling about 200 lions. Too bad we can't bring the animals back to the states...

http://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2016/02/23/zimbabwe-park-to-cull-200-lions-cites-lack-of-hunters/
 

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