What The US Fish & Wildlife Service Is Doing For The Lion

MARTIN PIETERS SAFARIS

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So its finally happened, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has listed the African lion on the US endangered species list. Panthera leo leo, the lion subspecies found in India and western and central Africa, is classified as endangered which means all imports will be generally prohibited.

Panthera leo melanochaita, located in eastern and southern Africa, is listed as a threatened species which means a special permit will be required for the importation of sport-hunted trophies. Apparently the Service wants to ensure that U.S. trophy imports originate from countries with a scientifically sound management program and provide funds that further lion conservation. The Service has its rule book, formulas and peer reviews to back its decision but is any common sense is being applied?

USFWS has identified three main threats facing the lion: habitat loss, loss of prey base and human-lion conflict. Habitat loss and loss of prey base are the same thing really, if there is no habitat there won’t be much for the lion’s prey to eat. According to the United Nations figures Africa’s human population in 1900 was 133 million, in 1950 it was 229 million, 2000 it was 811 million and by 2050 it will be 2.2 billion so human-lion conflict is unsurprising.

200 years ago there may well have been 500 000 or more lions in Africa but since then much has changed. An exploding human population, mushrooming towns and cities along with expanding mining activities and the spread of agriculture and livestock has forced lion numbers to shrink into national parks and other protected areas. This was inevitable if Africa was going to have any chance to develop.

Coincidentally the same thing has happened in the developed world. The red wolf was once common throughout the Southeast of the USA as far west as Texas and southeastern Missouri and as far north as the Ohio River Valley.

Populations were decimated by the 1960s as a result of aggressive predator control programs and loss of habitat. In 1967 the red wolf was listed as endangered by US Fish and Wildlife Service and in 1973 the first recovery plan was approved. Today there are around 50-75 red wolves in the wild after 48 years of “endangered listing” protection. Human-red wolf conflict is unsurprising.

There is no doubt that the continental range of the lion has shrunk considerably but the days of 500 000 or even 100 000 lions in Africa are long gone. The continent can no longer afford them. So how big should the lion range be? What is the benchmark? It obviously cannot be the same as 200 years ago. As Africa’s human population increases so more and more land and resources will be required. How much more? How long is a piece of string? How can this be reconciled with wildlife conservation?

In its final ruling USFWS has taken on board researcher Packer’s opinion that effective management of wilderness reserves requires around $2,000 USD per square kilometre per annum. Tanzania has 250 000 square kilometres of wilderness outside of national parks where trophy hunting is permitted.

So, following Packer’s logic, just to protect these areas $ 500 million USD will be needed per year. USFWS total budget for 2016 is $ 3 billion. $258.2 million of this amount has been set aside to conserve, protect and enhance listed and at-risk wildlife and their habitats in the USA, half the amount that USFWS suggest Tanzania needs just for the hunting areas. What of the rest of the hunting areas across Africa? Where will this “management” money come from? They may as well put the figure at $ 10 000 per square kilometer for all its worth.

Nowhere in its final ruling does USFWS give credit to the people who are the current keepers of these wilderness areas nor the work that they are doing, the hunting safari operators.

The Service has stated that unless reforms are made to the current management of trophy lion hunting, they expect excessive harvests to further contribute to declines in the species across its African range. According to data available from the CITES database, 131 lion trophies were exported from Africa in 2014 of which 98 went to the USA. These figures don’t include trophies from South Africa where the majority are captive bred and therefore have no effect on wild populations. Is the taking of 131 trophy lions really going to have an effect on a continental population of around 20 000?

With the listing USFWS will require “proof of enhancement” before a permit is issued to import a lion trophy into the USA. But what’s the flip side of that? The loss of lion hunting revenue will make it difficult for the hunting companies to remain viable. Less money will be available for anti-poaching operations and general maintenance of the areas in the form of roads and water provision. If they are put out of business the wilderness will be abandoned to the onslaught of the cow and plough.

The Service risks overplaying its hand here. Once the hunters are gone and the hunting areas decimated their leverage, the American hunter’s wallet, will evaporate.

In his “ah shucks” You Tube address on the subject of the lion’s listing, USFWS director, Dan Ashe assures everyone that they will be there to support and finance the conservation of lion across Africa and that all will be well. Time will tell but as an aside last year USFWS suspended its red wolf recovery program.


Who, in the end, will be held accountable for the consequences of listing the African lion on the US endangered species list? The faceless, foreign bureaucrats who are condemning vast swathes of African wilderness to obliteration with their rules and regulations wont be putting up their hands. Instead they will shuffle off into the dark shadows of their windowless, grey buildings whilst the true custodians of the African wilderness will be left wondering how it ever came to this.

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Great post Martin. I am fairly sure though that the members of this forum that keep up with everything Africa, are aware of the potential results of these less than intelligent decisions made in Washington. I have a question for you though that some have bantered back and forth on another related thread.....If you have say 50 hunters that can afford to hunt a lion in an African country, how many would not go simply because they could not bring back their trophy? Some of the posters on the other thread commented that with the cost of hunting a lion will be reduced greatly if American hunters can't bring it home to mount. The argument was that there may be a large influx (over time) of hunters going to Africa to hunt lion due to the reduced cost. The hunt is what they want. There are many that are not interested in bringing it home! Only lots of photos. I could put myself in this category under the right circumstances. Your thoughts please!
 
We have not had any intelligent decisions from Washington D.C in the last 8 years. This action by USFW, is proof positive, that people within that organization need to be shown the exit door. Hopefully that will happen in 2017.
 
I would say we haven't had much intelligent decision-making in Washington D.C. for decades. Frankly, the politicians no longer run the country. The career administrators of the different departments run the country. Some laws get changed / updated / added and the departments adjust. But, in the end the career federal employees do what they want and see fit to do and we as the population that pays their salaries suffer the consequences.
 
In the end, not much will change there are more anti-hunters than pro hunters. Everyone has become a preservationist and believes the days of hunting lion is ethically over with because of silly emotions propagated by libel media.
 
It all comes down to this...Its a sad day for the African lion and the people who try and protect them. I for one would not hunt lion to have just photographs. I respect those who disagree with this. In the end hunters are collectors and having the trophy in our homes for me makes all the expense and hard work worth it. I truly hope things change.
 
So did they issue anything on how one can apply for permit of captive raised lions?
 
I second @CAustin's question. Seems like usfw isn't actually clarifying anything regarding importation... Other than that they plan to make it harder and harder and harder to discourage all.
 
There will be no changes unless there is a new president......and if it's Hillary, well our days over:cry::cry::cry:
 
So did they issue anything on how one can apply for permit of captive raised lions?

No

I second @CAustin's question. Seems like usfw isn't actually clarifying anything regarding importation... Other than that they plan to make it harder and harder and harder to discourage all.

Why would they clarify anything before they have to? Their goal is to stop lion hunting, not to make the rules clear. I think their strategy is brilliant and effective (and again, don't anyone think I agree with it. I don't). Until we stand up and hunt for the pure love of hunting and not a trophy on the wall import bans will continue to be a powerful tool. Why? Because collectors accept bans and don't hunt because of them. The people who implement these bans are a lot of things, stupid is not one of them.

If I'm an anti hunter reading here I want to give USFWS a high five everytime I read a collector's comment that says, "I won't hunt anything I can't import." Bans are a viable strategy that many hunters ALLOW to work. We have a choice. We CAN still hunt. That's why I refuse to allow a ban to me part of my choice. If I want an animal and can afford it I will hunt it. Trophy on the wall be damned! Sorry @johnnyblues I'm a hunter who does some collecting. I'm not a collector.
 
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No



Why would they clarify anything before they have to? Their goal is to stop lion hunting, not to make the rules clear. I think their strategy is brilliant and effective (and again, don't anyone think I agree with it. I don't). Until we stand up and hunt for the pure love of hunting and not a trophy on the wall import bans will continue to be a powerful tool. Why? Because collectors accept bans and don't hunt because of them. The people who implement these bans are a lot of things, stupid is not one of them.

If I'm an anti hunter reading here I want to give USFWS a high five everytime I read a collector's comment that says, "I won't hunt anything I can't import." Bans are a viable strategy that many hunters ALLOW to work. We have a choice. We CAN still hunt. That's why I refuse to allow a ban to me part of my choice. If I want an animal and can afford it I will hunt it. Trophy on the wall be damned! Sorry @johnnyblues I'm a hunter who does some collecting. I'm not a collector.
And this is what makes the world go round. I respect your opinion and your choices. But let's be clear, the anti hunting community wants to stop hunting period!
Makes no difference to them if we hang em on a wall or just take pictures . They just don't understand or respect our way of life. Again for me to just go and hunt a trophy big game animal and just take pictures makes no sense. If I m shooting a doe for meat or I'm bird hunting that is completely different. I m sure a lot of taxidermists would be might disappointed if we suddenly took hunting in Africa and turned it into a photo/kill safari.
 
And this is what makes the world go round. I respect your opinion and your choices. But let's be clear, the anti hunting community wants to stop hunting period!

Totally agree. I won't help them to stop hunting by not hunting, some will. That's the difference.

I m sure a lot of taxidermists would be might disappointed if we suddenly took hunting in Africa and turned it into a photo/kill safari.

I'm sure taxidermists would be disappointed and I feel for them too. I'm going to the bank today to wire one money in fact. Taxidermists aren't my top concern though, hunting and the wildlife is. Don't hunt and everything below in the food chain fails, not just taxidermists - outfitters, animals, gunmakers, you name it.

I just won't help the antis by helping to make an import ban a viable strategic option to stop hunting. I may be in the minority with this opinion and that's fine.
 
@Royal27 I agree with you. Its very smart what they are doing. They are essentially implementing restrictive legislation without any legislation actually existing. Imagine the uproar that would follow a temporary halt on gun sales until the ATF is able to determine whether or not every gun in existence has an ATF approved safety switch on it. The NRA would loose their minds, suing every government agency and bureaucrat until the temporary halt was overturned. This is the same thing as what we are dealing with, but our lobbying force just sends questions to USFW.

Also, to your point on
I'm a hunter who does some collecting. I'm not a collector
I fall into the same boat. I'll be hunting a lion that I can't export this summer and can't wait for what will surely be an incredibly exciting hunt. But I also understand where our "collector" friends are coming from (there's just no way my wife would let me put a full mount lion anywhere in our house other than the garage... which would be a crying shame!)
 
It's simple for me, don't have room for something like that, even if I could afford a big full mane lion. But if the price ever becomes low enough, I would sure bring a photo back to show customs and USFW if anyone happen to ask! The hunt is what counts, and that's true for me even if it's a September dove hunt!
 
But I also understand where our "collector" friends are coming from

I should probably shut up now, but I'm not going to....

I understand where they come from too. And I have no issue with a collector not taking an animal he can't collect. If that is your end goal why would you? Collectors shouldn't apologize for collecting anymore than I should apologize for hunting.

Where I get annoyed is when some hunters act as if an import ban is a hunting ban. It isn't. Can anyone tell me of a place where lion hunting has been made illegal in the last year? Zambia actually started it again. So lion hunting has expanded in scope, not contracted, since "the ban." Who would have known that????

Call it like it is. That's all I would like to see. Both lion and ele hunting have declined and less money is going to anti-poaching not because of any actual on the ground hunting ban, but because a souvenir, albeit a very important one to many people, can't be brought home.
 
As said we all have our opinions on this subject as many others on this site, and I respect everyone's ( except Obama supporters) lol. When the smoke clears the only thing everyone here agrees on.....leave our sport alone. Let the professionals handle it . But I'm afraid political correctness has taken a firm hold on this country. If hunters were the majority voters things would be very different.
 
Where I get annoyed is when some hunters act as if an import ban is a hunting ban. It isn't.

Spot on @Royal27. The importation ban driving down prices is actually what is making my lion hunt this summer possible. There's no way I can afford 20-30k for a lion... but I'm paying a fraction of that price for non-exportable.

When the smoke clears the only thing everyone here agrees on.....leave our sport alone. Let the professionals handle it . But I'm afraid political correctness has taken a firm hold on this country. If hunters were the majority voters things would be very different.

I totally agree @johnnyblues. Perhaps one day we will have leaders that govern via logic, compromise, facts, and science. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. We need to get an undercover avid hunter to get elected... noone will notice until he/she are in office, making laws that make sense!
 
I should probably shut up now, but I'm not going to....

I understand where they come from too. And I have no issue with a collector not taking an animal he can't collect. If that is your end goal why would you? Collectors shouldn't apologize for collecting anymore than I should apologize for hunting.

Where I get annoyed is when some hunters act as if an import ban is a hunting ban. It isn't. Can anyone tell me of a place where lion hunting has been made illegal in the last year? Zambia actually started it again. So lion hunting has expanded in scope, not contracted, since "the ban." Who would have known that????

Call it like it is. That's all I would like to see. Both lion and ele hunting have declined and less money is going to anti-poaching not because of any actual on the ground hunting ban, but because a souvenir, albeit a very important one to many people, can't be brought home.

I'm getting to the point where I'm running out of room for "stuff". My enthusiasm for hunting hasn't diminished, so I will still support African countries that see the value in sustainable hunting!
 
JB
As said we all have our opinions on this subject as many others on this site, and I respect everyone's ( except Obama supporters) lol. When the smoke clears the only thing everyone here agrees on.....leave our sport alone. Let the professionals handle it . But I'm afraid political correctness has taken a firm hold on this country. If hunters were the majority voters things would be very different.
I am 63 and hunters have never been the majority of voters in the entire country in modern times. There are areas and towns in the south and maybe the mountains states that may have a majority hunters and particularly when you include fishermen. Even in many of these small population areas that don't have a big city, most of the younger generation with males, and some females, like to shoot but have no interest in hunting. They in many cases only want an AR type weapon because it's cool I guess. Until I joined this forum, I had only personally known three hunters that had hunted in Africa. Most of the many hunters I have known were happy to take an 8 point buck, a 5 pound bass and a few green heads every year. The idea of ever going to Africa to hunt never has crossed their minds. My 37 year old son would confirm my thoughts if he were here. Taught him to shoot a 22 at five, then let him rabbit or quail hunt with me by 8, but only carry a BB gun. Not that he would going to kill a rabbit with it, but that's how I taught him gun safety while hunting. Now for the bad news. By the very nature of population growth, at some point, not in my lifetime, the idea of hunting with hi-power rifles will go away, disappear, be outlawed, you pick the word, except for the very wealthy who can afford to buy and manage large acreage, for their personal use. I am glad I won't be here to see it. It bothers me though that it may affect my grand kids. As far as the presidential candidates go, Clinton is a criminal and Trump is a wealthy buffoon. It is unbelievable that our system could not have produced better candidates!
 
I like to collect things, it in my blood. I good emotionally tied to things. I like to view certain things in my living space or I become unhappy or dissatisfied. If I hunted a lion I would want a rug or full mount for the visual affect. I would never apologize for my attitude. I don't mount everything.....that is impossible. But it would not go out of my way to hunt a lion or leopard is if I could not bring it home. That is just my personal opinion.
I would personally put money towards a Lord Eland Derby or Bongo hunt. But if they were banned from export, I will freely admit, I would not hunt them. I'm a man of modest means and support, money doesn't grow on trees for me. I have to work 60- 80 hour+ weeks to earn my money....and it's not a easy job.
 

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