From the African Indaba

Lion Campaign Kicks Off in the Nick of Time
John J Jackson, Conservation Force

There can be no pretense to save African lion without adoption of national action plans. Hunters should rightfully have a seat in the workshops to develop those plans and be partners in their implementation. The campaign to complete those action plans in all four regions of Africa announced in the November World Conservation Bulletin has not fared well. Although action plans are finally being adopted over much of Southern and Eastern Africa (at least in draft form), not one has been even drafted in Central or Western Africa. That is a big enough hole to sink the whole ship at the next CITES Conference of the Parties, CoP 15, next January, 2010. Worse, the non-consumptive action plan adopted by Kenya (apparently the very first plan drafted) is being touted as the model to follow in critical countries.

The necessary field studies in Central and Western Africa had to commence in the January-February dry season else they could not be completed this year. Had we not commenced those field studies and instigated others, the hunting community would be going into the next CITES CoP with too little product after the time span of two CoPs.

A month late, in the last drop-dead point in time in the last week of January, Conservation Force resorted to pleading and begging. Five lion conservation heroes from the safari hunting industry reached into their pockets and wired sixty-thousand ($60,000.00) dollars to Conservation Force. Imagine this in light of the state of the economy!

The heroes in the order they donated are Eric Pasanisi for Tanganyika Safaris in the amount of $20,000.00, Michel Mantheakis for Miombo Safaris in the amount of $10,000.00, Danny McCallum for Danny McCallum Safaris Tanzania in the amount of $10,000.00, and Raoul Ramoni in the amount of $15,000.00. We were still $5,000.00 short to commence the fieldwork in at least three of the four chosen countries. The International Professional Hunters Association, IPHA, came through with that $5,000.00 after only days before providing Conservation Force with its annual $5,000.00 supporting contribution for necessary operating/survival costs. That extra $5,000.00 left IPHA practically no balance in their own operating account! These leaders and stewards of the hunting world reacted!

Within 24 hours the directors of wildlife of the respective countries and lion authorities were informed and the work was initiated. The groundwork had months before been approved by the respective wildlife authorities, but everyone including them had nearly given up as Kenya and protectionists started filling the vacuum.

Now we are getting worried as we have launched the whole project, have hired the experts and vehicles in three countries and will need at least $200,000.00 more by April. Approximately $40,000.00 more has come in or is promised in sums of $50.00 to $5,000.00. Conservation Force has taken nothing for itself, no out-of-pocket costs, no fees, nothing. This is a true crisis that must be addressed. In these lean times it must be done purposefully and smartly.

The lion authorities and conservation community have taken note of the extreme effort and importance of the initiative. The recognition of the safari hunting industry is having a positive effect that may save more than the African lion. If this was not such a serious crisis, it could be seen as an opportunity to demonstrate the caring role of the hunter. We thank you all so very much. You are indeed the heroes of African lion conservation!----


Seloushunter