https://allafrica.com/stories/202006040647.html



Zimbabwe: Professional Hunter Guns Down Killer Binga Lion


4 JUNE 2020
New Zimbabwe (London)


In a similar fashion to the way Cecil the Lion was baited and killed in July 2015 by American dentist Walter Palmer, a local professional hunter on Tuesday shot and killed a lion that had terrorised the community killing cattle and goats since the start of the year.

While Cecil the Lion, which made global headlines in 2015, was not a problem animal, the Tuesday killing was triggered by that the big cat, together with two others still at large, had troubled Binga villagers.

In 2015, Palmer was assisted by a local professional hunter Theodor Albert Christian Bronkhorst as he shot the collared lion with a bow and arrow before finishing it off with a gun after luring it out of its protected area with another animal's carcass.



Bronkhorst was a year later found not guilty of killing a protected animal after a long court battle.

On Tuesday Lodzi Hunters' professional hunter Thys de Vries became a hero in Binga when he gunned down a male lion that had become a menace to the community.

Thys, son to well-known wildlife conservation and safari hunter Buck De Vries, has, since April been tracking the male lion in the company of rangers from Zimbabwe National Parks (Zimparks) and Tuesday managed to put it down after luring itt.

The Vries family owns Lodzi Hunters Zimbabwe which operates in Tsholotsho and Lusulu in Binga.

The lion is one of the three big cats that had been giving villagers under Chief Sikalenge area just outside Binga centre, a tough time.

Vries and the rangers baited it around 6 pm with the lion showing up at 8 pm and Vries shot it with one bullet some five minutes later.

Chief Sikalenge said villagers were relieved although two other lions were still on the loose.

"The rangers killed a male lion last night at Musenampongo after it had caused a lot of havoc. People are a bit relieved but they want the other two to be killed," said Chief Sikalenge.

The Zimparks confirmed the hunt was on for the other two lions.

Acting Binga District Development Coordinator said his office had received reports about the problem lions in Donga, Chilia and Musenampongo areas, all under Chief Sikalenge.

quote:

On Tuesday Lodzi Hunters' professional hunter Thys de Vries became a hero in Binga when he gunned down a male lion that had become a menace to the community.

Wow, 'gunned down'! Sounds like "12 O'clock High" or "Tombstone". And then to even try to compare it to the Cecil the lion incident-shit head journalism at its very best.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

On Tuesday Lodzi Hunters' professional hunter Thys de Vries became a hero in Binga when he gunned down a male lion that had become a menace to the community.

Wow, 'gunned down'! Sounds like "12 O'clock High" or "Tombstone". And then to even try to compare it to the Cecil the lion incident-shit head journalism at its very best.

Yes.

And everyone mentioned has a very big question mark against his past performance!

Wasn’t Thys got kicked out of the professional hunters association in the past?

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

On Tuesday Lodzi Hunters' professional hunter Thys de Vries became a hero in Binga when he gunned down a male lion that had become a menace to the community.

Wow, 'gunned down'! Sounds like "12 O'clock High" or "Tombstone". And then to even try to compare it to the Cecil the lion incident-shit head journalism at its very best.

Yes.

And everyone mentioned has a very big question mark against his past performance!

Wasn’t Thys got kicked out of the professional hunters association in the past?

I might be wrong but I thought he had a good reputation?

This one won't get any traction. The lion didn't have a name.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

On Tuesday Lodzi Hunters' professional hunter Thys de Vries became a hero in Binga when he gunned down a male lion that had become a menace to the community.

Wow, 'gunned down'! Sounds like "12 O'clock High" or "Tombstone". And then to even try to compare it to the Cecil the lion incident-shit head journalism at its very best.

Yes.

And everyone mentioned has a very big question mark against his past performance!

Wasn’t Thys got kicked out of the professional hunters association in the past?

I might be wrong but I thought he had a good reputation?

Thys is a class guy all the way. I would never believe anything bad about him on internet.

Why the constant "Cecil" references?
Some low-life journalist trying to make an attempt at sensationalism.
The saddest part is, that without hunters and conservation dollars, this will likely be the end of the story for many more lions. I guess it wouldn't have appeared such a happy ending if it was a paying customer addressing a problem lion.

What havoc?

I hunted in Binga District in 2008. Lions were basically extinct there. In fact, the only large game in any abundance was elephant and buffalo, too big to be snared. We found and destroyed 35 snares. Natives were wandering around everywhere. My understanding is that safaris stopped being held there soon after, due to all the natives in the bush.