Dark clouds are gathering on the horizon as red-tape bureaucracy and the powerful anti-hunting movement join forces to put an end to lion hunting in Africa. Without trophy hunting the African lion is doomed, the future has never looked as bleak.

The anti-hunting forces are attempting to place the African lion on CITES appendix I. The motive? The US Fish and Wildlife Services has new CITES regulations whereby you have to prove that the species should not be on Appendix I before the trophy can be imported. The time and costs of fighting this red tape makes this next to impossible.

This video presentation looks into the threats that face the future of lion and lion hunting and offers a practical solution.

For the full version of this video production go to:
www.safarinewsreel.com/video/safari-newsreel-video-10

Yes, very few people are aware of the dire threat to lion hunting. The last issue of the African Hunter magazine was delayed - this time not by Mugabe and Zimbabwe - but by the need to include some CITES information. Hours away from going to press, we stopped production, pulled five pages out of the magazine (the only article we could shelve) and scambled to get a piece in by Aaron Neilson on this situation. See Page 30 of 14#5.

The opposition to this ban and CITES needs to get really vocal if we are to win this one.

quote:

Yes, very few people are aware of the dire threat to lion hunting

Excuse me! I thought the threat was to the lion? Let me explain, no lion, no lion hunting! As long as you explain your concern as about lion hunting, you will get little sympathy from the general public. Now, talk about saving the lion, as the first poster did, then you will get people's attention.
Peter.

Hunters - First, thanks to Ant for getting that article into the mag, hopefully it helps do some good!! Secondly, it's important that guys like TIMOT raise this issue more and more, and try to get some additional awareness brought to the forefront, before it's too late! PLEASE give money to CONSERVATION FORCE, they need it to fight the CITES Listing of LION!!

Here's something AR members might find interesting. Having worked with John Jackson III on this issue a bit over the past 6 months, we have become acquaintances. I get insider emails from him periodically, updating the progress, etc, etc. I found it very interesting that one of his latest messages spoke of how SCI told CONSERVATION FORCE, sorry but because of economic hardship, we cannot give money to you to help fight the listing of LION onto CITES 1! That was it in a nutshell. What, are you kidding me???? I can also tell you this. The article Ant mentions, I sent to African Hunter, African Sporting Gazette, DSC's Game Trails, and to Steve Comus, the editor at SCI. Not only is SCI the ONLY one of the four not printing the article, they did not even respond to me!!!!

If anyone wants to see the article, let me know and I will post it again? Please guys, give what you can to CONSERVATION FORCE and Mr. Jackson, he is the one that is truly fighting this fight, almost by himself.

Aaron Neilson
Global Hunting Resources

Peter - Let me explain it a bit better!! No LION HUNTING, NO LION!!!!!!! Lion hunting, and lion conservation go hand in hand! Without one, in particular the hunting, the LION will suffer greatly!

Aaron. Well put! I see hunters and hunting as the only true conservation option. Separate the two, and there will be NO wildlife. Yes, we do need to sway more of the fence sitters and non hunters with the cause. But ultimately, it will be the hunters who make the difference. I have also posted a comment on Andrew's topic of canned hunting. It is all relevant.

SCI's standpoint does not surprise me. While I have avoided the discussions I have seen on AR about SCI and their real contributions, this is an identifiable issue. They need to come to the party! John Jackson is tireless, but needs the bang of someone like SCI behind him... and us.

We did the numbers some years back, and if you strip away all else - donations, funds etc, hunters contribute a phenomenol amount when compared to non-consumptive or photographic clients. I think the numbers were in the region of 100 N.C. photographers to contribute the same as one buffalo hunter! Then you have 100 people littering and tearing up the bush - see the Serengetti - instead of one careful, conservation-minded group conserving all they touch, and ultimately touching and affecting very little.

It really is a no-brainer. Why don't the fence sitters see it and throw their weight behind hunting? Human nature is a funny thing.

The Hunting Report has posted a bulletin about a special opportunity hunt to benefit this project. You can read that at this link:

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=438

We're getting down to the wire and Conservation Force desperately needs all the funds it can get to fight the uplisting of lion to CITES 1. John Jackson is currently in Paris fundraising for this project, so contact Barbara Crown at barbara@huntingreport.com if you have any interest in the special hunt.

You can also read the original bulletin on the subject at this link for a full explanation:

http://www.huntingreport.com/w...te.cfm?articleid=423

Any funds you can donate will be greatly appreciated. This could make or break lion hunting in Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by editor-ant:
We did the numbers some years back...

Ant here is a study from Selous - "The road towards financial sustainability - scroll to page No53 (4) - 54 (5)":

http://www.wildlife-programme....arks13_1-pp50-80.pdf

[/

Alf.I dont think Kenya is a good example.Or maybe it is.I read in a article about two years ago written by the a ranger in Kenya who said as muchn as he doesnt like hunting lion he thinks that hunting is peobably one of the only things that could save lion in Kenya.He said that since the ban on lion in Kenya the population has dropped by nearly 80%.The locals have got no reason to protect them if they not going to benefit from it.

In Botswana more lion were been killed for cattle killings than what were been hunted.At least the ones that were been hunted were old and mature males and not just at random.

Lions are considerd a pest to the locals and they wont hesetate to kill them no matter how nice you ask them not to.They need to be managed by reputable safari operators who care about conservation.

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quote:

But assuming blindly that hunters conserve or guides and outfitters are conservationsists is simply not true, they are consumers first and foremost

Agreed! They justify the consumption based on conservation, but, try to limit the consumption and see what happens! Hell breaks loose! It is the damn greenies, liberals, commies, tree huggers etc. etc. who are the real cause of the problem, after all, we spend the money. Managed hunting is certainly a conservation tool. But the key is managed, and, as the market has just proved, pure market forces are not necessarily good for preservation/conservation.
Peter.

Peter & Alf - First see article below! If you like, I will send you another article, roughly 12 pages, that I wrote which was published last year in DSC's "GAME TRAILS" The real shame is you both comment on something that you KNOW NOTHING ABOUT!!! You know why I'm not on here commenting about turkey hunting, because I know nothing about it!!!! Secondly, the ONLY THING that will save the masses of lions throughout Africa, is lion hunting! After you have spent over 350 days there hunting lion, studying, learning, traveling to different places just to learn about the lions in the area, working to conserve, spending hours with people like PAULA WHITE who heads the Zambian Lion Project, like I have, then give us your comments! Until then, they don't really carry much weight now do they????



LION: End of an Era, Maybe!!!
By: Aaron Neilson

Have you ever seen one up close, a lion I mean? It’s beauty, its bravery, how about its cunning and skill! Maybe it’s just me, maybe I’m biased. But without question, the lion is the planet’s greatest creature! As a child he consumed my thoughts, and as an adult he consumed my passion. Not the grizzly bear, not the tiger, not even the mighty elephant has ever been deemed the “King of Beasts”! Only Simba holds that distinction, and now his very existence is being threatened forever. Only we the “Hunter” can save him from possible dire straits or worse! I implore you to help, help Simba and help us all before it’s too late!!!
Staring at the bait, my eyes wide open! Sleep, how could I sleep? I was bouncing off the blind wall, mere inches from my PH as he showed me just how it’s done. Waiting impatiently as the sun began to set across Zimbabwe’s Gwaii Valley, my excitement over-flowing, as I hoped beyond hope; the lion would make his appearance. Finally he did, but not alone. Instead he invited a guest, a lion that looked much like him. Obviously his brother, his partner in crime, but in this case, my intended quarry and lifelong dream! Even though it was almost 14 years ago, I will never forget the calmness of my guide Neil Lindsay as he replied to my overly excited claim that the lion had arrived. “Yep, that’s a lion”! Quickly I thrust the rifle through the peek hole, anxiously trying to find the one I had targeted in my crosshairs. About that time, Neil reached over and grabbed me by the scruff. Kid, relax my friend and enjoy the show. Those two lions aren’t going anywhere, they’ve got everything they need right there. Food, water, and a whole lot of time to kill, so hang on a minute and let’s take it all in. Easy for him to say, he wasn’t a 23 year old young man on his first African safari, hoping against hope to get a lion! After what seemed to me like an eternity, Neil uttered the words I was dying to hear, “Alright my boy, go ahead and let him have it”. Seeing as how they were basically twins, picking one out was simple as taking the one that offered the best shot! “Boom”, the crack on my .340 Weatherby echoed through the blind, and my “trophy of a lifetime”, was down!
That was 13 years, 13 lion hunts, and 10 trophy lions ago. Now, at the age of 36 I look back at the time, and dedication I gave to my lifelong pursuit of hunting and conserving the African Lion, and hope like hell that it’s not all been for not! However as January 2010 approaches we as hunters, conservationists, and international sportsmen, face the greatest threat to the African hunting heritage, and Lion hunting in particular, that we have EVER seen! Now, Kenya along with huge support from the longtime non-hunting country and anti-hunting community is pushing hard to have the Lion listed on Appendix 1 of CITES. This is an obvious and apparent ploy by both parties to simply put a stop to lion hunting throughout the entire continent. Of course their claims are weak at best, but never the less, it’s a real threat that we must stand up to at once. Not only a threat, but a clever move that most hunters may miss, if they do not pay careful attention! For years now species such as the Leopard have been Appendix 1 CITES animals, and hunting of the leopard is as safe as ever. So, even though lion may go on the Appendix 1 listing, many sportsman think the worst that will happen is the United States Fish & Wildlife Service will simply put an importation “quota” on the lion, and hunting of this great animal will continue as normal. No, no, no my friends, we all need to look a little closer. Now, the wonderful anti-hunting activities of the U.S. government are rearing their ugly heads once again. Leaders of the Service have adopted and want to implement NEW regulations. The regulations make importation of any newly Appendix 1 animal to CITES, almost impossible. A regulation that would obviously be a mighty blow, to not only lion hunting, but all future sport hunting in general. Give an inch, they take a mile! If we let this most harmful precedent get started, get out of the way, cause the trains gonna roll!
With a stop put to importation of the lion into the U.S., desire to hunt the great cat by Americans will likely diminish immensely! Not to mention, as the U.S. makes this official, the EU (European Union) will likely follow suit. With lion importation blocked throughout the majority of the hunting community, sport hunting desires will drop to almost non-existent levels. As we know, when this happens the funding generated throughout most of Africa for the protection of the lion, through lion hunting, will cease to exist as well! Even so, how does this actually affect not only hunting, but the entire existence of the lion in general you ask? Consider this, many of the local communities and tribes that co-exist with the lion have learned to appreciate the value of the beast through the many benefits gained by the legal sport hunting of Simba. Funding for schools, churches, and many thousands of dollars, just to mention a few, are funneled to the locals, through lion hunting. Not to mention, hunting, hunters and PH’s all over the great continent of Africa, are the ONLY supporters both financially and physically of the ANTI poaching movement that is almost solely responsible for the longevity of many African species throughout much of the continent. Take those benefits away however, and watch the lion’s value fall dramatically in the eyes of the locals. In times not so long ago, the lion was considered by many as nothing more than a pest. A large, aggressive beast, that too often spent it’s time killing livestock or generally causing havoc that was simply not to be tolerated. But, as hunters and PH’s throughout much of Africa brought a positive value to the lion, many of them learned to not only tolerate, but to protect the king. Once again, that very protection is again threatened more so than ever before. Locals in Africa live only for the now and not a second longer. Take away the lion’s value to them and watch as he becomes expendable!! Survival is their only thought process, and only the strong survive. The Lion may be “King of the Jungle”, but man is the king of the planet. Species such as Simba will always take a back seat to human survival, especially in a place where survival is all that’s considered!!
Many of you know him and many more of you know of his tireless work in the protection of hunting throughout the world. I am speaking of John Jackson III, the face of Conservation Force (www.conservationforce.org) and the absolute leader in the fight against this senseless attempt to bring the lion to the brink of extinction. Mr. Jackson has made it his mission to fight and defeat this unbelievable act of hunting terrorism, but he can’t do it alone! According to him, this is the impending doom of African Lion hunting, if we the hunter do not take immediate action. Further, he advises that listing the lion as an Appendix 1 animal, would spell the end to lion hunting forever! Preventing this from happening is only possible by the creation of country-by-country action plans to conserve the lion. Now, the situation has become even more desperate. Mr. Jackson has been able to arrange for the experts and government cooperation to conduct the needed field studies, but necessary funding is extremely lacking, and time is running short. He adds, if we cannot present a hard-core conservation plan which opposes the Appendix 1 listing at the 15th Conference of CITES in January 2010, hunting the African lion will be a thing of the past! “When it’s over, it’s over,” he says!
What does he need you ask, money and lots more of it! A need for roughly $250,000.00 is immediate, and an additional $750,000.00 will be necessary over the next 3 years. Because of current economic conditions, donations have fallen drastically short for Conservation Force as of late. However, this could be the last opportunity to save the lion, and stop the needless CITES listing. So as far as Jackson is concerned, money cannot stand in the way. How will it be used, another valid question? Funding will help with preparation, collection and analysis of field data in each country. Then they will hold a workshop to draft the most effective action plan necessary to conserve Simba at the level which must be met. Regional plans created in 2005 & 2006 at the West-Central Africa workshop and the South-Eastern workshop will help to provide a model, but the actual plan for conservation needs to be taken by wildlife authorities on a country-by-country basis. This unprecedented effort will require an enormous amount of funding, but all money received will be dedicated ONLY to the National Lion Conservation Plan Initiative, and nothing will be deducted for expenses or overhead. Conservation Force is asking for individual as well as organizational support, and it’s needed well before the January 2010 Conference of CITES.
Conservation Force has helped create more lion conservation projects in more countries than any other conservation group in the world. Board members serve on the African Lion Working Group and the IUCN Cat Specialist Group as well. The organization helped to develop the Hunter’s Guide to Aging Lions in Eastern and Southern Africa, which I have a copy. Plus, they also completed the Chardonnet Lion Study, which is widely recognized as the most comprehensive review of the Lion throughout the African continent. Folks, it’s time for the hunting community to step up to the plate and take action, before it’s too late. Mr. Jackson has already contracted the necessary commitments throughout Africa, the lion wouldn’t wait! Now he needs your help paying for it. Conservation Force is a 501(C) (3) public foundation, all donations are completely tax deductable. They are asking for “Legacy Level” contributions from hunters who care! In other words, contributing as much as you possibly can has never been more important.
As I sit here writing this article, I can’t help but think back on all the Lion Hunts I have participated in over the years. From my first Zimbabwe hunt all those years ago, to some of my most recent and memorable ones! In 2002 I took a huge black-maned lion in Zim, in 2005 I shot my 5th. In 2007 finally I got the chance of a lifetime, an opportunity to hunt lion in Botswana. Fortunately I took one of the very last, legally sport-hunted lions from that country before the October 2007 closing. Lastly, I completed a life-long goal to shoot 10 lions in my lifetime, a goal I completed just this past September in Tanzania. Now, as I reflect on my experiences lion hunting has allowed me to have, sadness overcomes me. Sadness in thinking that perhaps it’s all coming to an end, not only for me, but for every sportsman that has ever dreamed of such an experience. Think it can’t happen, ask the wonderful guys operating hunts throughout Botswana! The threat is real and it’s now, and now’s the time to act. Losing lion hunting is not just the loss of the sport, but very likely the loss of the species! Something as hunters, we simply cannot tolerate to go peacefully into the night. Allowing this precedent to get started, will only allow the precedent to continue! Please help not only those of us that hold the lion sacred, but help all of us, including yourself to protect your hunting heritage!
Contact: Conservation Force and earmark your donation for the Lion Action Plans Initiative.
Conservation Force
P.O. Box 278
Metairie, LA. 70004-0278 USA
504-837-1233
www.conservationforce.org
Contact: Aaron Neilson at his website for additional info (www.globalhuntingresources.com)

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ALF = Animal Liberation Front = domestic terrorist organization per the FBI

Curious choice of name, no?

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
But assuming blindly that hunters conserve or guides and outfitters are conservationsists is simply not true, they are consumers first and foremost and unless the products or gains from their involvement are utilized in conservation it is all for naught!

Honestly, I have to disagree with you. I am a conservasionist first and a hunter in second place, and I believe that all true hunters are exactly the same.

We, hunters, enjoy, protect and love wildlife as few any other people on Earth. PERIOD.

Cheers

Lorenzo

/

Alf - If you were going to give, you would have already!!

LionHunter - That's a good one!!!

Aaron

Does anyone know to what extent TB has spread in the SA lion population? At one point in some areas it was really hammering them. It was not nice to see emasciated lions and apparently entire prides were getting wiped out by it and there appeared to be very little resistance to it.

What are the hunters doing?

Paying enormous dayrates ($2000 per day) for 21 day hunts and trophy fees ranging from $6500 to $50,000 per lion. Some are buying the priviledge at auctions for up to $135000 per lion.

What else do you suggest?

The hunter is doing his part. The guys controlling the resource need to step up also.

quote:

Paying enormous dayrates ($2000 per day) for 21 day hunts and trophy fees ranging from $6500 to $50,000 per lion. Some are buying the priviledge at auctions for up to $135000 per lion.

What else do you suggest?

The hunter is doing his part. The guys controlling the resource need to step up also.

Bulldog, I think you have nailed it! Who controls the resources? We have had lion hunting for quite some time now, but we still seem to be having a problem with lion populations. So, who gets the money? I suspect the hunt broker, outfitter, PH, staff etc. etc. Somewhere along the line the guy who poisons the lion should see that "Hey, if I just get these guys to shoot it for me, I can make some money and the lion is still dead". Is that happening? I am just a simpleton however. Aaron's article talks about what would happen if we stop lion hunting, but this does not prove the opposite, namely that hunting somehow benefits the lion!
Peter.

/

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I suggest anyone intereted in this issue send some money to John Jackson.

He is the only one I trust to do something about it.

Thanks ALF, I presume prides that often target buff would be hardest hit. I have heard that different prides often have different hunting tastes and what species they hunt most often is determined by what they were brought up to catch by their parent(s).

Alf.Iam not saing the system is perfect.In many countries the lion quota is far to high and alot of outfitters shoot young lion to fill their quota to pay for their consession.But i really beleive that if the correct quota was given and strict guidlines were given on what kind of lion has to be shot like they did in botswana 2 years ago.With very harsh penelties for those who do not comply.The lion population will do far better than if left to goverments and communities

quote:

But i really beleive that if the correct quota was given and strict guidlines were given on what kind of lion has to be shot like they did in botswana 2 years ago.With very harsh penelties for those who do not comply.The lion population will do far better than if left to goverments and communities

Jimmara, agreed! Now who would set these quotas and enforce the guidelines and penalties? Is it not normally the government and/or the communities? Is the outfitter going to enforce them? The classic success stories of wildlife management are management of deer in the USA. States strictly manage quotas, size etc. and you know what? Even as they enjoy the benefits, many hunters hate this. They accuse the PA. Wildlife workers of, guess what, being "greenies", yet, it seems to work! States are trying to control "wasting disease". Who else is doing this? Timot says: "Most true hunters know that hunting pays for conservation."
All I am asking for is to be shown where in the money chain this happens. If this cannot be shown then the claim is wishful thinking. Surely a "true hunter" can also be concerned with facts? A program that seems to work would be the PAC elephant program. A similar program for lions would be more difficult but perhaps could be expanded? I believe that Vaughan Fulton participates in such a program, with limited success.
Peter.

Alf - I agree with Timot, you and Peter obviously are not hunters! See A paragraph below from my article! Do you see the corelation between HUNTING and CONSERVATION??? What do you think funds the ANTI-POACHING PROGRAMS that are run exclusively by outfitters in ALL of AFRICA, HUNTING my friend! If you have been on the ground with these outfitters in places like Zambia, Tanzania, etc, etc, like I have, seeing what goes into it, and seeing who is the one paying for it, maybe you would have a different opinion??? I have personally been with outfitters and their staff on two different occasions as we raided commercial poaching operations, IN THE FIELD! THE outfitters are the one's running these operations, funding these operations, and the ONLY ones doing anything about it!! Where do you think they get the funding to do that?????? From hunters, paying for the safaris! Man, what part of this do you NOT UNDERSTAND??? The locals in these areas have learned to PROTECT the game, as now it has a value to them! Have you seen them BEAT THE SHIT out of poachers they catch on their lands, I have!!! Because now the game is valuable to them, that is EXACTLY why Kenya's game population is in trouble, in particular the LION, because now the Masai have no use for the LION, he is simply a pest!!! I have hunted LION in Masailand of Tanzania, just across the border from Kenya, the MASAI there feel a whole lot different about the LION, why you ask, because to them and their community, he has a VALUE, a VALUE because of hunting and no other reason!!! Once again, had you ever actually experienced any of this yourself, instead of playing arm-chair quarterback from half a world away, you would be MORE INFORMED as to the facts, not speculation! It's about survival in Africa, nothing else. All of this is possible because the safari hunting industry in PAYING the bill, no one else!! The lion benefits greatly from this too, take away the rest of the game, as uncontrolable poaching certainly would do, and then you take away the lion's ability to survive!! No game to eat, no LION!! The communities benefit greatly from the money generated by the Safari Operators, food, schools, bore holes, etc, etc, but of course you would know ALL OF THIS, if you were there participating!!!

quote:

Even so, how does this actually affect not only hunting, but the entire existence of the lion in general you ask? Consider this, many of the local communities and tribes that co-exist with the lion have learned to appreciate the value of the beast through the many benefits gained by the legal sport hunting of Simba. Funding for schools, churches, and many thousands of dollars, just to mention a few, are funneled to the locals, through lion hunting. Not to mention, hunting, hunters and PH’s all over the great continent of Africa, are the ONLY supporters both financially and physically of the ANTI poaching movement that is almost solely responsible for the longevity of many African species throughout much of the continent. Take those benefits away however, and watch the lion’s value fall dramatically in the eyes of the locals. In times not so long ago, the lion was considered by many as nothing more than a pest. A large, aggressive beast, that too often spent it’s time killing livestock or generally causing havoc that was simply not to be tolerated. But, as hunters and PH’s throughout much of Africa brought a positive value to the lion, many of them learned to not only tolerate, but to protect the king. Once again, that very protection is again threatened more so than ever before. Locals in Africa live only for the now and not a second longer. Take away the lion’s value to them and watch as he becomes expendable!! Survival is their only thought process, and only the strong survive. The Lion may be “King of the Jungle”, but man is the king of the planet. Species such as Simba will always take a back seat to human survival, especially in a place where survival is all that’s considered!!

Aaron Neilson

Peter.I know most countries are supposed to put the money they get from trophy fees or anti poaching fees back into conservation.Some do and some dont and some should but dont.But last year i hunted a area in zim.The outfitters ph told me when he got to the area na few years ago the first year he was there they pulld out of there area 4500 snares.He showed me pics of a mountain of wire.When i waas there in 18 days we pulled out about 15 snares.He runs about 15 anti poaching guys there and game can be readily seen now not like when they first started.They couldnt see a thing.While i was there we found a snare that had a wild dogs foot in it.It was impossible for lion to live in this area and now its become possible.Without hunting they really dont stand a chance

jimarra that is an excellent example of hunting dollars being put to work, resulting in good hunting and conservation. Thank you.
Peter.

Peter - Jimmara's example is happening and has happened ALL over eastern & southern Africa in many hunting communities and concessions!! Hunters, PH's and outfitters have renewed and brought back numerous areas from demise, simply because they care, and they have the financial ability to do so, because of the dollars raised from the hunting operations they conduct!!

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:
Here's something AR members might find interesting. Having worked with John Jackson III on this issue a bit over the past 6 months, we have become acquaintances. I get insider emails from him periodically, updating the progress, etc, etc. I found it very interesting that one of his latest messages spoke of how SCI told CONSERVATION FORCE, sorry but because of economic hardship, we cannot give money to you to help fight the listing of LION onto CITES 1! That was it in a nutshell. What, are you kidding me???? I can also tell you this. The article Ant mentions, I sent to African Hunter, African Sporting Gazette, DSC's Game Trails, and to Steve Comus, the editor at SCI. Not only is SCI the ONLY one of the four not printing the article, they did not even respond to me!!!!

Aaron

So does this mean than SCI is doing nothing to lobby against the CITES listing??

Matt

Barbara Crown, Editor
The Hunting Report
9200 S. Dadeland Blvd., Suite 523
Miami, FL 33156, USA

To the Editor:

John Jackson’s recent call for assistance on lion conservation has increased awareness of the need for hunter-conservationists to be involved in this issue. Safari Club International Foundation (SCIF) thought it appropriate to update you and your readership on the history and current status of this issue.

In 2004, the conservation status of the African lion was brought to prominence at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora in Thailand. It was Kenya who proposed listing the African lion as an “endangered,” or “Appendix I” species, which would have banned commercial international trade in lions. Kenya withdrew its proposal after it was generally agreed that commercial international trade was not the problem for lion conservation and a group of African lion range states proposed to host a series of workshops to develop regional strategies for lion conservation and management. After the lion listing proposal was dropped, the southern African countries asked the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) to help produce the workshops. The SCIF was instrumental in developing and promoting the workshop strategy and became a major private funder of the workshops.

Two workshops were held to develop regional conservation strategies for the African lion. The first workshop brought together 14 West and Central African lion range states to a workshop in Douala, Cameroon, in October, 2005. The second workshop brought together 15 lion range states from Eastern and Southern Africa to a workshop that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa in January, 2006. As you can see by examining the documents in the attached links (http://www.catsg.org/catsgportal/bulletin-board/05_strategies/Lion%20Conserv%20Strat%20E&S%20Africa%202006.pdf, and http://www.catsg.org/catsgport...20Afric_2006_E.pdf), many organizations have contributed to the development of final regional plans.

The regional strategies included objectives formulated to address the leading threats to lions and a number of specific actions were recommended. The chief of these actions was to develop a “stepped-down” strategy to the national level for each lion range state. Once each range state had a tangible plan to conserve and manage lions, they would focus on implementing the plan with their available resources.

The SCIF has an extensive history and commitment in wildlife conservation in southern Africa and considers the development and implementation of the national lion management plans in all range states a top priority. Although some countries have management plans that include lions, such as Botswana, several countries do not. Since the conclusion of the regional workshops, SCIF has sponsored meetings in Zimbabwe and Namibia for the production of national-level lion management plans, and Zambia recently held their own workshop. SCIF has secured funding to assist Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi in holding workshops to develop their national plans. In addition, SCIF has funded a lion survey in Mozambique this year. SCIF has supported Dr. Paula White in her efforts to provide the necessary scientific research about the physical characteristics of lions in Zambia (nose color, mane development, etc) related to age to refine the sustainable use of this species. Finally, the past November SCIF co-hosted our 7th African Wildlife Consultative Forum in Namibia, a meeting where lion conservation and human-lion conflict were the two dominant topics.

Funding is essential to assist the range states completion and implementation of their national lion plans. We commend the Conservation Force initiative in central and western Africa, and SCIF plans to continue our work in the Southern Africa (SADC) region to build a scientific basis for lion management.

Since inception, Safari Club International (SCI) has become a significant global organization. Our approximately 190 chapters provide us with a way to make and gather with friends, our Convention is a place to celebrate and enjoy our hunting heritage, and our Foundation is recognized as a world leader in wildlife conservation and education programs. SCI has provided nearly $300 million USD on hunter advocacy and wildlife conservation since inception. Since 2000, the SCIF has provided $47 million USD on conservation, wildlife education, and humanitarian programs around the world.

Sincerely,

Joseph H. Hosmer
Vice President, Safari Club International & Safari Club International Foundation
Chairman – SCI Foundation Conservation Committee

That letter is fradulent. SCI has never spent that kind of monies for the betterment of hunting and conservation. Just ask Saeed and Steve they have all the facts regarding this matter.

Please note - I am not posting this stuff here to cause any shit. I am just doing a bit of research on this - I dont know hardly anything about the lion business doesnt greatly interest me directly (you know what I mean!) but SCI does, as I give them a whole shit-load of money and in-kind services every year. I mean a ...SHIT LOAD... I would like to know that it is being wisely spent.

I do know that a great deal of it is spent in the USA and that is fine too because that is where there membership is and US hunting and conservation is probably just as important to their membership as international hunting.

Africa is only one of the continents where funds are allocated.

Anyhow - just my thoughts

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Money is tight right now for my family, and has been so since May 2008. However I did just go to the Conservation Force website and performed an online donation of a box of ammunition and a dinner towards the lion study – actually the $ equivalent.

Market-hunters – read that to mean individuals who hunt solely for profit gain with zero regard for the health of the targeted species had depleted or eradicated many game species inclusive of fowl from many states or large regions of the USA by 1915.

Did government entities or the “touchy-feely” individuals contribute monies to recover the depleted game species? Absolutely not.

It is only through the monies that sports-hunters contribute through their sport annually that has lead to the revival of virtually every depleted game species in the USA inclusive of their “reintroduction” into previously areas from which they’d been eradicated.

I don’t imagine that African game depend any less on sports-hunter money any less than do American game. I’m sure the lions in the long run will appreciate it; especially faced with the potential alternative.

So instead of bickering over whether CITES I Listing is a good thing or not, why not pony up a meal and a box of ammo so that those individuals who are actively working to support the sport-hunter in this issue have their chance to be heard.

What’s the alternative your say…oh I don’t know…but if you live in the USA, or depend upon monies garnered from USA sport hunters, “can you say USFWS and polar bear in the same though without guessing the potential alternative”!

Jim

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Matt - No, I am not saying SCI has done nothing regarding the CITES listing of lion, I am simply passing on the info that was provided to me directly by John Jackson!!

Alf - First off, it's amazing to see the low level at which you hold Outfitter's and PH's in "YOUR AFRICA", it's pathetic!!! Guys who are fighting for the very cause you claim to be supporting! I too have been to the Klaserie, the Timbavati, the Balule, numerous times, and in fact the Balule and the Timbavati in particluar DO BENEFIT greatly from hunting!! I spent several hours in 2006 face to face with the CURRENT ranger for the Balule, in his own home! He told how much the reserve is benefitting from the hunting, and how much he felt the NECESSITY to keep, and even increase the hunting in the reserve, to the huge benefit of the wildlife. He stated, they were getting a much needed benefit from the revenue generated, for the entire good of the wildlife within the reserve, and even felt they should be allowed to HUNT LION!!! Revenue and benefits, he said were NOT coming from other sources, like those people like to claim they are!!!!! Just what he told me, but hey, since you live in Africa I'm sure you know best!!

Now, you think that NON-HUNTING entities can handle and pay for the ANTI-POACHING throughout east and south AFRICA, which is a complete JOKE! Plus, raise equal money generated for communities, and the locals, through the hunting which takes place, and gives them a reason to protect the wildlife? I suggest you and your non-hunting companions get to it!!! If you guys werw willing and capable, you would be doing it already. Have you ever been to some of the WILD hunting concessions in Zambia or Tanzania??? I'm going to guess not, cause if you had, you would realize what a rediculous comparison it is when talking about Some PRIVATE RESERVE in SA compared to the Kafue blocks in Zambia for example! They are in the middle of nowhere, full of Tsetsse flies, and a long way from SA and the GREATER KRUGER infrastructure! HUNTING and the benefits it brings is what keeps the wildlife and the communities in these areas thriving!! Take away the hunting, and let's see how long it takes for YOUR PRIVATE RESERVES to swoop in and save the day, NEVER!!!!! Try comparing apples to apples!!!!

Aaron