https://www.sapeople.com/2021/...ng-vulnerable-pride/

LINK HAS PHOTO OF LION.



BREAKING: Well-Known Lion Mopane Killed by Hunters in Zimbabwe, Leaving Vulnerable Pride

By SAPeople -Aug 6, 2021



A well-known male lion in Zimbabwe, named Mopane (or Mopani), is confirmed to have been killed by a hunter who, according to unconfirmed reports, may have been South African. Conservationists had petitioned over the last few years for Mopane to be protected from hunters.

There has been an outcry today as Mopane’s pride, the Somadada Pride, are now apparently left unprotected and vulnerable. According to Drew Abrahamson, owner and founder of Captured in Africa (CIA) Foundation, the remaining pride consists of two adult females and six sub-adults of about 16 to 18 months of age.

“This time is uncertain for them now as they are still at a vulnerable age and relied on Mopane as well as the females for protection. The females are now going to have a very tough time in protecting the pride as they are. Only time will tell as there is now a huge void which will be sought after by other males.”

Abrahamson confirmed the news on Friday afternoon, after first raising the alarm on Thursday that sources on the ground had informed her that the popular lion had been “injured and possibly killed in a bow hunt after being baited in a hunting area on the outskirts of Hwange.”


Hwange Park, in northwestern Zimbabwe, made world headlines in mid-2015 when another of its well known lions, named by research scientists as Cecil, was lured out of the Park and killed by an American hunter.



Locals were concerned that hunters were now targeting Mopane who was apparently as big and impressive as #CecilTheLion. Lions of Hwange National Park asked back in May 2019 that people “keep a watch on” Mopane and his male companion Sidhule, as they were worried about the oncoming hunting season. Mopane, they said, had become more docile since teaming up with Sidhule and “fathering offspring with the Busters Sisters and the Nyamandhlovu Prides”.

A petition was also launched to try keep Mopane and Sidhule safe from hunters, who were allegedly setting up bait sites to try and lure them out of Hwange Park, where photographic concessions kept them protected.

Tragically, a few months later, Sidule was killed on World Lion Day, 10 August 2019, in Zimbabwe.

At the time Abrahamson pointed out that each time a male it taken out of a pride comes the loss of either lionesses or cubs dying in the change-over or conflict it causes.

Supporters of hunting claim that the sport’s focus is on sustainability, and that the areas in which hunting takes place are not suitable for photographic safaris, and that therefore by using them for hunting it generates revenue to maintain these wild habitats.

“But how are you protecting the wildlife if you are taking out males from prides who frequent the National Park?” Abrahamson asked. These lions traverse the park, contradicting the hunters’ philosophies.

She has called for an independent scientific study on the sustainability of the numbers taken from this region, and the impact these losses are having on the lion pride dynamics, as well as the knock-on affect to communities in these areas.

According to Abrahamson, these are healthy lions being taken out of the gene pool, and lions which are still breeding and actively part of a healthy pride.

Last night Abrahamson, posted screenshots showing “distressing” evidence online that Big Game Safaris International was “openly advertising and targeting Mopane in Dec 2020”. The promotion boasted that Mopani was one of the oldest and most aggressive lions in their hunting block, and admitted that Mopani travelled between their block and Hwange Game Reserve.

“Do you want the chance to take a big free roaming lion? Book a hunt with us!” said the advert. See images below (this appears to have now been removed from their Instagram page):

Mopani-lion-hunters-safari-hunt-advert
Screenshots supplied to Drew Abrahamson, Captured in Africa Foundation
Abrahamson said:

“These hunting outfitters on the outskirts of Hwange need to be taken to task on their ethics!! It is just unacceptable!!!”



The conservationists are currently compiling a document to be sent to the Zimbabwean government to stop all big-cat hunting on the Hwange border, Abrahamson told SAPeople.

https://www.facebook.com/Hwang...er/1064069630442956/


Link has photos of the lion.



Mopane is getting around. Usually frequenting areas around Sikumi Estate, together with his coalition partner Sidhule, he’s been recently seen at The Hide as pictured below. We are concerned about him and his partner as we go into hunting season, they are never too far from each other.
Guides in Hwange National Park are quoting Mopane to be as big and impressive as #cecilthelion. His was known to be more aggressive, chasing vehicles and as such, posts at Main Camp were placed warning visitors to be aware of him. Since being with Sidhule and fathering offspring with the Busters Sisters and the Nyamandhlovu Prides, he’s become much more docile.
Let’s keep a watch on #Mopane and #Sidhule


The Hide, Zimbabwe Safari Lodge
May 22, 2019 ·
Our guests enjoyed an early morning once in a lifetime experience just before breakfast outside Tent 5 and 6 as Mopani the lion devoured his kill as the guests watched. A few minutes later he dragged it off to the bushes opposite the camp where a female soon joined him. No cameras where ready so this picture was captured on a cellphone! #TheHideSafariCamp #wildlifeWednesday #lion

And not a word from the clueless idiots about the child7killed by lions!

The problem when people start giving them names.

My only concern is the report indicates the lion had dependent cubs. At his age being 12, I accept he would be dispose, and the dependent cubs killed sooner than later.

He would have fathered many litters at 12.

One reason I always thought 3-4 year males wo prides were better to target or truly out cast males only. The critical factor in taking a lion should be whether the lion has dependent cubs not so much age or “trophy quality”. Such things are just speculation in my part.

Agsin, how much money did this hunt generate for the park that saw him live and father liters until 12 years old. My speculation wo any hard numbers is hunting kept the ecosystem in place that allowed a 12 year old male lion to hold a pride and father cubs.

Finally. I underscore, if we as hunters are going to have any kind of effective counter argument we must no specifically down to the penny hoe this lion’s death was a net gain to the Park and lions.

Just saying lion hunting pays for the park or buffets to keep humans from entering the park is not sufficient. That is a conclusion and not an argument.

The headlines are about the lion killed legally by a hunter. What didn't make headlines is the lion that killed and ate three children from the same family and injured another in Ngorongoro. And the greenies are going to "re-locate" the offending lion. He ate children. He'll do it again.

And how long do you think it will take him to find his way home. And how many children do you think he will eat on the way home?

Cats find their way home. Years ago, my parents had a stray cat adopt them. They did not want a cat. They gave it a friend about 60 miles away who needed a barn cat. She showed up after about 3 or four months having crossed a lot of ranch country. This one will too, but crossing that unfamiliar territory alone, he'll take the easiest meals he can find. Guess who?

At 12 years old isn't he getting a bit long in the tooth to be a pride male. I tried researching wild lion life expectancy and depending upon the source it was 8 - 10 or 10 - 15. If seemed that the sites that stated 10 - 15 were averaging male and female lions and the females live longer. All seemed to agree that 10 was on the high end for pride males.

I read reports that Cecil's researchers had driven off other males to protect their meal ticket. I wonder if that is the case here.

There's a few things that don't make sense with this story and you hit on the age thing. Also, the reference to him forming a coalition with another male. I'm aware of situations where a coalition took a pride, but not aware of a situation where a pride male took on a partner to hold a pride. Not saying it's never happened, just saying I haven't heard of it.

Still have a problem about why this is a bigger story than a man-eater that the tree-huggers want to re-locate.

https://nypost.com/2021/08/16/...-by-american-hunter/



Several news agencies are alleging it was an American bowhunter.

https://africageographic.com/s...-hwange-lion-mopane/


This site lists the hunters name and hometown.

The ignorance.

The sentimentality.

The stupidity.

Never ends!

Pride lion for two prides? Wow!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Pride lion for two prides? Wow!

He is very well known.

He roams the country and makes any pride he comes across his!

Just like certain areas of LA

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Pride lion for two prides? Wow!

Reminds me of my younger days

When asked about Mopane's death, his family said:

"We told him not to go over there. We just knew something bad was going to happen. But he kept walking in that swaggering way he had. When he reached the edge of the park we yelled at him PLEASE DON'T GO, COME BACK! Don't you remember CECIL?! He stopped for a second, looked over his shoulder and said, 'Who the f&%k is Cecil?' and kept walking. That was the last time we saw him..."

https://www.the-sun.com/news/3...oting-mopane-lion-2/



Activists have posted the hunters photo, job, and other personal information.

This should be against the law!

Are we supposed to take the law into our own hands?

I actually agree posting people’s pics/info should be illegal. Doxxing, as they call it here, is done to intimidate, threaten or harass.

The outfitter must be pretty darn good to pull 'named' lions out of the park. I am surprised the greenies don't start feeding them to keep them inside the park. Anyone who has the cajones to kill a lion with a bow has my respect. Certainly a great accomplishment.
Wonder how long it will take for a $hitstorm to start over this one with politicians?

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I actually agree posting people’s pics/info should be illegal. Doxxing, as they call it here, is done to intimidate, threaten or harass.

If copyright laws were to be applied the author could sue the poster/s ..... maybe they would then think very carefully before publicizing photos.

Our legal friends might offer their views.

DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

quote:

Originally posted by MNR:
DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

Good response and well narrated. But really the named research Lions of Hwange should be off-limits only because of the damage that the rest of us have to endure due to the media fallout.

I hear what you're saying Andrew. The flip side of the coin is that if this becomes the rule then there will be a huge drive for the anti hunters to name every male lion out there under the blanket immunity of research. We already see this happening on Elephants via the collaring and naming process.
Feeding the crocodile in the hope it will eat you last is never a good idea.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MNR:
DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

Good response and well narrated. But really the named research Lions of Hwange should be off-limits only because of the damage that the rest of us have to endure due to the media fallout.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MNR:
DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

Good response and well narrated. But really the named research Lions of Hwange should be off-limits only because of the damage that the rest of us have to endure due to the media fallout.

No wild lion, elephant, or other animal should ever be off-limits in a legal hunting area - collared or not! Any real scientist will tell you that, and agree!!! To do otherwise, is to skew real - time research / data...nothing more! If the lion's fate is to be killed legally by hunters, in a hunting area...any true scientist would expect just that to happen!

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MNR:
DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

Good response and well narrated. But really the named research Lions of Hwange should be off-limits only because of the damage that the rest of us have to endure due to the media fallout.

No wild lion, elephant, or other animal should ever be off-limits in a legal hunting area - collared or not! Any real scientist will tell you that, and agree!!! To do otherwise, is to skew real - time research / data...nothing more! If the lion's fate is to be killed legally by hunters, in a hunting area...any true scientist would expect just that to happen!

Totally agree but anything related to Cecil ultimately backfires on the rest of us mate.

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Neilson:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:

quote:

Originally posted by MNR:
DSC's video response.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2vG0ItpWKM

Good response and well narrated. But really the named research Lions of Hwange should be off-limits only because of the damage that the rest of us have to endure due to the media fallout.

No wild lion, elephant, or other animal should ever be off-limits in a legal hunting area - collared or not! Any real scientist will tell you that, and agree!!! To do otherwise, is to skew real - time research / data...nothing more! If the lion's fate is to be killed legally by hunters, in a hunting area...any true scientist would expect just that to happen!

You are absolutely right.

But, out of personal preferences, I would not shoot a collared animal today.

Until governments stand up for what is a legal activity, and shut up the irresponsible idiots who get sick media mad, it is the best thing to do.

We have a customer who shot a collared lion. On the collar was a telephone number the PH called and two guys showed up the next day to pick up the collar.
He said the researchers were cool about the lion being shot, like Aaron said it part of life. They asked for pictures and videos for their records and final report. They showed him the GPS tracking and the lion had been hanging around near villages at night and was probably going to become a "problem".

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Clark:
We have a customer who shot a collared lion. On the collar was a telephone number the PH called and two guys showed up the next day to pick up the collar.
He said the researchers were cool about the lion being shot, like Aaron said it part of life. They asked for pictures and videos for their records and final report. They showed him the GPS tracking and the lion had been hanging around near villages at night and was probably going to become a "problem".

I totally agree with both you and Aaron.

The research is supposed to find out what the animals gets up to.

And wondering out to a hunting area is his bad luck.

But, due to the current climate of no one cares about us, creating a controversy is not a good idea.

It is my own personal choice.

If I see a collar, I will not shoot, regardless of the size or age of the animal.

Kevin Robertson related a very interesting story about how the much-vaunted Cecil the lion was treated by the researchers.

Maybe he’ll chime in.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

If I see a collar, I will not shoot, regardless of the size or age of the animal.

+1

quote:

…the remaining pride consists of two adult females and six sub-adults of about 16 to 18 months of age.

Is that an indicator that he was beyond breeding ability?