Just had a wonderful encounter with our lovely Himba squatters around Etosha. A few days ago a lion or lions tagged three of their cattle. Little wonder since they do not bother to corral them at night like responsible humans. So they break out the poison and dose all three caucuses with it with the hopes of killing the resident pride - eight in all.

Fortunately, it was reported and the community members intervened but not before three spotted Hinayana were killed.

Over 80 lion (best guess because NO ONE IS TRACKING THE ACTUAL NUMBERS) have been either shot or poisoned around Etosha so far this year and the anti's have the balls to blame hunters for the decline in the lion population.

Once again, if the facts were actually told, we hunters might have a chance.

Another great idea would be to return the Himba to the north where they belong, but the European tourist just love the Himba and the government is not doing a damn thing about it.

This is no way to run a roller coaster.

Opus1:

Thanks for reporting. I find it ghastly that so many lions have been sent to never, never land in just one year.

I also want to commend you for making the public aware of the underbelly of illicit and unsavory *( Expletive deleted ).

How can we help. What do you suggest ?

It takes time. The wheels of justice grind exceedingly slowly but also exceedingly fine.

Sorry that I just don't have the dollars to throw at the problem but if moral support counts you have it in spades.

Don't drop this matter. Keep hammering it.

Data, data, data is what is needed. Unfortunately all the feel good organizations around here who have funds are not too interested in doing anything about data collection on the actual numbers and methods of lion killings.

The only real solution so far has been improving Conservancy game scout training, communication capabilities and numbers. They have no legal authority to intervene, but at least they are monitoring and reporting the encounters.

No one really sees lions as an asset around here because most everyone has cattle. As the numbers of prides increase, the cattle and human encounters increase. And the lion and a lot of other animals pay the price.

And there are lots of other senseless killings. One last week was a lion that was protecting a kill that was close to a lodge. So everyone freaks out and another adult lion is killed.

With data, it would be easy to show who and how lion prides are being impacted. But no one is taking the initiative. And I really do not believe the antis want the truth told. It is soo much more useful for them to blame the evil hunters...

quote:

And I really do not believe the antis want the truth told. It is soo much more useful for them to blame the evil hunters...

This is sadly true.


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Smithsonian Magazine. Just received my latest issue.

There is a lion on the cover and the cover story is about lions in South Africa. Featured is Lion Whisperer, Kevin Richardson.

https://subscription.smithsoni...zq5sUCFVY0aQodKJ4AZA


https://www.google.com/search?..........0._0v1qSiVxAA

Lots of data.

50 years ago there were an estimated 100,000 to 400,000 lions in South Africa. Today an estimated 32,000 a 2/3rd decline.

185 concessionaires game farms raising lions. A male $40,000 a female $8,000. They are kept in fenced enclosures. Some are drugged to make them easier to shoot. Estimated 6,000 lions in captivity. Most live in breeding farms.

The practice is big business in South Africa where it brings in nearly a hundred million dollars a year. Up to 1,000 lions are killed annually in "canned hunts"
__________________________________________

June 15 article.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/...erer-roar-180955290/