http://www.biologicaldiversity...nting-06-26-2018.php



For Immediate Release, June 26, 2018

Contact: Tanya Sanerib, (206) 379-7363, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org

Trump Administration Urged to Deny Trophy Import Permits for South African Lions


Famed Lion 'Skye' May Have Been Illegally Baited, Shot
WASHINGTON— In the wake of news that a famed lion may have been baited and shot in South Africa, conservation and welfare groups yesterday urged the Trump administration to deny import permits for all lion trophies taken near Kruger National Park in the Umbabat Reserve.

The potential killing of the famed Western Pride leader, known as “Skye” to visitors of Kruger Park, shed new light on a lacking management structure around trophy hunting in the area as well as the use of baiting during lion trophy hunts in South African reserves. Skye has not been seen since a June 7 trophy hunt in the Umbabat Reserve.

“If a pride leader like Skye was shot for a cheap thrill, that’s especially tragic because all his cubs will be killed by the new top lion,” said Tanya Sanerib, international program legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Today’s letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also highlights the flaws in Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s secretive new case-by-case process for approving trophy imports. Under the new system initiated in March, trophy hunters provide the U.S. government information behind closed doors, without giving the public notice and an opportunity to provide information.

“With all the questions around this kill and the inconsistent statements from the reserve managers, an import permit should not be issued on the facts as they appear,” said Sanerib. “But under Zinke’s trophy-by-trophy system, the government typically only hears from hunters and those who sell them services. That stacks the decks against imperiled wildlife like lions and elephants.”

Baiting a lion is not only likely illegal in the area of South Africa where the hunt occurred, it violates the principle of “fair chase.” The practice of baiting and trophy hunting of animals in the reserves bordering Kruger National Park has spurred a raging debate over trophy hunting in South Africa fueled by the lion, possibly Skye, recently killed in the Umbabat Reserve.

“These animals are treasures, and I hate to think of tourists’ hard-earned money going to conserve park wildlife only for a lion or elephant to cross an imaginary line and get gunned down by a trigger-happy trophy hunter,” said Sanerib.

The letter was submitted by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, and Humane Society Legislative Fund.

http://www.biologicaldiversity...nting-06-26-2018.pdf



Link to letter to USFWS.

Lion hunting, and the lies that go with it:
The Skye Lion lowdown

Make no mistake, anti's want all hunting stopped forever and here's another example of California's recent attempt at doing their worse.
Stop trophy import to CA

I may be wrong. If I understand this correctly, this was on private property. These people sure seem to be demanding a lot of information about something that happened on private land. From what I read, they have been repeatedly assured it was not the lion in question. it make no difference to them because they could care less.

"Donate now!" is all that matters to them. As a biologist, what I object to more than anything else is the "Biological Diversity" name, implying that they are something more than what they really are: activists.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I may be wrong. If I understand this correctly, this was on private property. These people sure seem to be demanding a lot of information about something that happened on private land. From what I read, they have been repeatedly assured it was not the lion in question. it make no difference to them because they could care less.

Its seems like all the lions in Africa has names now... what a load off bullshit!!!!!!

Baiting lions serves the very purpose these morons should be in favor of...shooting a / the "proper" lion. But we all know none of this is really the issue - as ijl mentions, its really about getting that "money!"

And yes Phillip, every damn lion now has a name....unbelievable?! Give it a name, apply human sentiment, and its no longer a wild animal its a Disney character.

If they can get Lion imports Banned from one Country it will turn into all Countries.