Lion conservation is a must for he survival of the species. In Africa, its proven time and again that when value is placed on the game, and the game is able to "pay for itself," sustainable or population increases follow. The Rhino is certainly the best example but here are others. Usually demonstrated in the negative - areas like Zim where changes in concession management lead to increased poaching for survival and the decimation of the wildlife.
It would be very difficult in the modern era to sport hunt something to the point of extinction. Conservation Force has the right track, sustainable lion management plans in all countries with existing lion populations. Science has shown that taking male lions over 6 years old does not affect the breeding strength or genetics of pride survival. Consequently, sport hunting with an age limit of at least 6 year old males in conjunction with area specific quotas should strengthen the lion populations.
The hardest part is likely to be the human/lion interactions. If part of the fees where given to support lost livestock, and the lion "pays" for itself, it will survive and thrive. Remember that even in this day and age, the fundamental principals of evolution still control. The strongest survive over the weaker species. In this case, with modern guns, drugs, spotlights and sheer numbers, humans are stronger than lions and can (and will) decimate them unless adequate intervention in he form of a lion management plan is put into place.
As for canned hunting, I am not a fan. Having said that, I have found, through some hard work and research, some very good hunts in RSA that I would not consider "canned" under any definition. While some of the lions may have been born in captive breeding programs, there are large farms and ranches, particularly in the Kalahari, with sustainable lion prides outside of the so-called "canned hunt" fencing. Lions that where either bought for canned hunts that "escaped" (I use the parenthetical because as I have found out, the escapes are well known and nothing is done to prevent it, so the lions leave the enclosures and roam freely in self sustain prides) and make for me very good hunting in game rich parts of the Kalahari at reasonable (for lion) prices. That is at least for now.
I agree with those who compare lion to Sable, Kudu or other animals like Buffalo. If hunting those animals on a ranch setting is considered suitable and sporting, why not lion? Most lion are hunted over bait, bringing the lion to the hunters and are shot while feeding. Is that somehow more sporting than hunting self-sustaining lions on the same ranches that droves of hunters hunt plains game - the lions prey of choice?
Lion hunting on ranch settings may be a vital part of lion survival and recovery in certain parts of Africa. I do not consider that "canned hunting."
I do not agree with what was happening years back where lions were bought on Monday and shot on Tuesday or Wednesday. But lions, or any game, that can be born into an area and be self-sustaining is just as sporting a hunt as any of the other game hunted on the same properties. Suitable size is the key component. I would not hunt a ranch in RSA that was not adequately sized for my personal taste. Strictly IMO that means greater than 20,000 hectares.
I have nothing against the smaller properties, and I am not saying they are not suitable for lion as well, I just have a size in my mind as a minimum area I would want to hunt. Others may happily hunt smaller areas and others may require much larger areas or avoid hunting in RSA all together because of the game ranching nature of the hunting. But the yardstick should be whether the area can sustain wildlife without supplemental feeding or other domestication-type activities such that the animals maintain their basics instincts and have adequate area to escape.
But in the end, when it comes to lion, species survival may depend on human intervention and the creation of a market for hunting areas that do not impact existing stocks in stressed areas. The methods being invoked in RSA may be part of the solution.
I for one support the change in regulations that go from a 6 month to a 2 year free roaming period before hunting is allowed. That will give enough time for prides to establish (like they do in the Kalahari) and the hunting will be no different at anywhere else in Africa. It is true that more PG will be lost to the lion prides, but the market will make up that differential and the population will stabilize around demand.
The science and economics of lion sustainability is not that difficult. The politics and greed associated with lion or any wildlife management issues are far more difficult and IMO opinion will have a greater impact on the ultimate fate of lions (and lion hunting) than sound science and reasonable and responsible wildlife management plans.
I have not been around the block as many times as some of the earlier commentators but I work in an area that involves heavy government regulation, permitting and determinations of reasonable use and necessity and from my own experience, what the average person considers reasonable and necessary if often are removed from the gov't decision making process.
Just the thoughts of a hopeful lion hunter looking to compete the Classic big 5 while it is still possible.
