https://www.newera.com.na/2017...unt-of-problem-lion/


NAPHA defends hunt of problem lion
August 2, 2017078



Staff Reporter

Windhoek-The Namibia Professional Hunters Association (NAPHA) has explained the rationale behind the recent killing of a “problem lion” at Sesfontein Conservancy that was authorised by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).
In a statement issued on Tuesday NAPHA expressed disappointment with what it terms an ill-informed public outcry towards a NAPHA member and outfitter regarding the marketing of a trophy lion, as per letter issued to Sesfontein Conservancy by the MET for a human-wildlife conflict lion.

“This last resort effort was made by the MET in order to manage human-wildlife conflict and in part reimburse those affected by this conflict. This seems to strike at the heart of the general misunderstanding about the role of conservancies, as well as protected areas and a general ignorance of landscape ecology overall.

“It seems that the public thinks of these areas as something akin to large zoos, offering absolute protection to every single individual animal, rather than conserving populations and balancing land-use for all Namibians,” said NAPHA president Danene van der Westhuyzen.

“Due to these ill-informed and unfounded facts being distributed widely through various social and media platforms, blame is being placed on all the wrong parties,” van der Westhuyzen further stated.

“NAPHA holds a very good relationship with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, justifiably by being an organisation which stands on firm principles and beliefs and by actively participating in strategic planning and mitigation.

The Ministry of Environment has justly followed its mandate and instructions, as per our national Constitution in trying to manage human-wildlife conflict in a way that recognizes the rights and development needs of local communities, recognises the need to promote biodiversity conservation, as well as self-reliance and ensuring that decision-making is quick, efficient and based on the best available information, he said.

The MET and NAPHA also recognize that it will never be possible to eradicate all human-wildlife conflict, but that conflict has to be managed in the most effective and efficient way possible.

“It should also be recognized that people and wildlife live in an interconnected and dynamic environment, that land-use patterns are changing and that wildlife distribution patterns equally are changing, as animal populations recover and recolonise former parts of their distribution areas,” he stated.

“The claims that this specific male lion is the ‘last male desert lion’, is factually not correct. Furthermore, various communities have been threatening to poison or shoot the remaining lions in the affected areas, should actions not be taken to interrupt this problem.

“As stipulated in the letter issued to the conservancy, all possible measures were taken to prevent conflict. MET was, however, requested to deliberate again regarding this matter and will revert… to NAPHA shortly.

“It is rather a shame that the Namibian public, by choice, would preferably support one animal instead of its national policy in encouraging balanced land-use for all Namibians.

“It is in nobody’s interest to eradicate any species in Namibia and ultimately we all have the same goal at heart – conserving our valuable wildlife through sustainable use,” he concluded.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/...illed-trophy-hunters


Link has a photo of the lion.



Namibia's 'last lion' at risk of being KILLED by trophy hunters

ONE OF the last remaining desert lions in Namibia is at risk of being killed by trophy hunters.

By JAMES FIELDING
PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sun, Jul 30, 2017


The male, known as Kebbel, is thought to be the only one left of his kind left at the 650,000 acre Sesfontein Conservancy.

A big game hunting company has apparently advertised a £50,000 hunt using three zebras as bait.

Kebbel has been deemed a “problem animal” after being accused of killing livestock and so a permit has been issued allowing him to be hunted.


However animal rights activists have reacted with fury because Kebbel is collared and monitored by the Desert Lion Project and thought to be the only male lion in the area.

Will Travers OBE, president of the Born Free Foundation, said it was particularly horrifying coming so soon after the death of Xanda, son of Cecil the lion shot dead by hunters in Zimbabwe, met the same fate as his father earlier this month.

Mr Travers said: “First Cecil, then Xanda, now yet another lion in the cross hairs. A ‘problem lion’, according to some, but one of the last desert-adapted lions in Namibia.


“There are perhaps 20,000 lions in all of Africa; trophy hunting – the killing of wild animals for ‘sport’ – is increasingly in the spotlight; the conservation benefits claimed by the trophy hunting industry are rarely substantiated and; an analysis of the financial benefits to local communities from trophy hunting indicate that only about 3 per cent of the costs of the hunt actually help meet local development needs.

“Seriously, in a country the size of Namibia, with such a low human population, isn’t it possible to find a non-lethal way of dealing with this animal that will allow him to live a free and natural life and continue to contribute to the survival of his species in the wild which, as each day passes, grows more uncertain.”


A company called Leopard Legend Hunting Safaris was understood to be offering to hunt the lion but has taken down its online advert.


The ad read: “Lion trophy opportunity as this area has not had any lion tags for 10 years."

https://africageographic.com/b...amibian-conservancy/


Link has hunt advertisement and photos of the lion.

Where is SCI etc on this bogus propaganda? Out to a 3-Martini lunch?

https://africageographic.com/b...s-namibian-minister/



No hunting permit for Kebbel the lion, says Namibian minister

Posted on 2 August, 2017 by Africa Geographic Editorial in Hunting, News, Wildlife and the News Desk post series.


Posted: August 2, 2017



Amidst international and local pressure, Namibian Minister of the Environment and Tourism (MET) Pohamba Shifeta has stated to the Republikein newspaper that he has not issued a permit to trophy hunt Kebbel, the last remaining adult lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy in Namibia.


He also stated that even if a permit was issued, he would withdraw it. This, despite the ‘problem animal’ permit being confirmed last week by Sesfontein officials because Kebbel the lion supposedly killed two donkeys in June. Read our post from last week about the background to the situation.

British anti-hunting activist group Spots & Stripes yesterday delivered a petition to the Namibian Embassy in London, requesting that Kebbel the lion not be hunted. The petition was signed by more than 8,000 people. It is believed that this, and other pressure, convinced the minister to change his mind.

Reacting to the minister’s decision, the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) President Danene van der Westhuysen released a stinging rebuke of the decision on Facebook, labeling the public ‘ill-informed’, ‘factually incorrect’ and referring to what she terms ‘a general ignorance of landscape ecology’. In a rather bizarre finale to her diatribe she suggested ‘In this case, please blame the donkey’.

The lion is going to die one way or the other, soon. Probably from poison. You want the $50,000 or not?