Lion Killer to Be Charged
Denver Kisting
7 May 2010

From The Namibian



THE trophy hunter who admitted that he shot and killed a protected lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy recently might be in for a surprise when he returns to Namibia next week.

Criminal charges were laid against Keith Wright on Monday following a high-profile investigation by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism into the killing of the collared lion known as Leonardo.

The Deputy Director: Parks and Wildlife Management in the ministry, Colgar Sikopo, yesterday confirmed that the Police had opened a case of illegal hunting of a protected species.

Wright had a permit to shoot a lioness in the Anabeb Conservancy Area but had no authorisation from the Ministry to hunt a lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy Area, Ben Beytell, Director: Parks and Wildlife Management, told The Namibian last week.

Wright last week admitted that he was "the guy" who had shot Leonardo. According to him, he had "a permit for the area from the people" and that he could not see that the animal was radio-collared because of its thick mane.

The trophy hunter added that he would be out of the country for two weeks and is thus expected to return next week. Before his departure he claimed that "bad blood by somebody" was responsible for the "rubbish" allegations against him.


Sikopo added that investigations by the Ministry in conjunction with the Police were continuing.

On his website, conservationist Flip Stander writes: "Trophy hunting and the shooting of lions by local people is the major cause of mortality amongst adult and sub-adult lions. The indiscriminate selection of male lions for trophy hunting has resulted in an alarming decline in the ratio of adult males to adult females."

Stander has not been reachable by phone for the past week.

Leonardo had been collared barely a month before he was killed. The radio collars are reportedly worth N$60 000 each.

The killing of this protected lion has sparked a public outcry from animal lovers and conservationists alike.

Here's the direct link to the Desert Lion Research website:
http://www.desertlion.info/news.html

Some of the best Lion pictures I have seen in a long time, well worth a look

Leonardo Killing Seen As a Turning Point By Stander
Denver Kisting
11 May 2010

THERE is no way that Keith Wright, who recently admitted having shot the collared lion Leonardo, could not have seen the collar around the lion's neck.

So says lion researcher Flip Stander, who has been busy with research into Namibia's endangered desert lions for more than two decades.

According to Stander, the "moment was too big" to resist, prompting Wright to shoot the six-year-old lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy at the end of last month.

Leonardo, who had been successfully leading a pack of lions for the past three and a half years, was to turn seven years old in July.

Moreover, Stander blames himself for having taken away Leonardo's "survival skills" by spending "thousands of hours" to make the lion used to cars and cameras. As a result, Leonardo would not have run away when Wright came close to him.

Furthermore, Stander told The Namibian, "a lot of money is involved for [shooting] a lion of his standard - easily between US$50 000 and US$60 000".

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism laid criminal charges against Wright last week in connection with Leonardo's killing.

The Deputy Director of Parks and Wildlife Management in the ministry, Colgar Sikopo, on Thursday confirmed that a Police case of illegal hunting of a protected species had been opened.

Stander said although Leonardo's killing was a setback to the threatened adult male population in the desert, he hoped "that we will look back at this event and see it as a turning point and that, in a funny manner, it will be worthwhile".


"The uncontrolled shooting of male lions should be stopped absolutely."

He said the built-in GPS in the collar had made it possible for him to keep track of Leonardo's every move.

"That is how I could see that it was at Didimala Safaris [Wright's camp]."

Stander said he would like to see a moratorium on the hunting of all adult male lions in the country following the death of Leonardo - who was named after Leonardo da Vinci at the suggestion of a 10-year-old girl.

Ben Beytell, Director of Parks and Wildlife Management, said earlier that Wright had a permit to shoot a lioness in the Anabeb Conservancy but had no authorisation from the Ministry to hunt a lion in the Sesfontein Conservancy.

Just what the anti's needed- and served on a silver platter. Shame.

Okay, I am terribly confused or totally ignorant here, but, was the guy that shot the lion hunting on his own or hunting with a PH during a paid safari?

If the guy was on his own, why?

If the guy was hunting with a PH, why didn't the professional stop him from shooting?

Very shameful and embarassing to say the very least.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
Okay, I am terribly confused or totally ignorant here, but, was the guy that shot the lion hunting on his own or hunting with a PH during a paid safari?

If the guy was on his own, why?

If the guy was hunting with a PH, why didn't the professional stop him from shooting?

i wondered the same thing. i believe Didimala Safaris is a Namibian company but who is Keith Wright?

Leonardo's Trophy Given to His Killer
Denver Kisting
29 June 2010


THE criminal investigation into the killing of a lion in a conservancy area in April may have been dealt a serious blow with the return of the trophy to the suspect.

Colgar Sikopo, Deputy Director: Parks and Wildlife Management in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, yesterday confirmed that the trophy had been given to Keith Wright "just to keep".

Sikopo was reluctant to disclose more information out of fear that the investigation would be jeopardised. He said: "As I said, it is not for the general public. There are reasons for that (why the trophy was given to Wright)."

According to him, the trophy had been given to the hunter on the condition that he was not allowed to export it. This condition was monitored directly by the ministry, as they were responsible for issuing export permits, Sikopo said.

Asked how evidence in a criminal investigation could be handed to an accused, Sikopo said: "The case could go in any direction. If it goes in favour of him (Wright), it is his. There is no problem in him keeping it."


A huge outcry erupted following the alleged illegal killing of the six-year-old protected lion, Leonardo, in April. A virtual storm has been brewing on Facebook ever since where people have called for Wright's hunting licence to be withdrawn. Apart from this, Wright told The Namibian last week that his family had received death threats. He maintained that he had a permit to shoot the lion.

Sikopo yesterday said the criminal investigation would be wrapped up soon "so that we can finalise the case".

Last week, it was reported that the Namibia Professional Hunters' Association (NAPHA) had also launched an investigation into the matter. Its disciplinary committee chairperson, Rainer Ling, said the hearing was expected to take place within the next month when Wright will have to explain what had led to the collared lion's killing.

Should Wright be found guilty by the regulator body, he could be kicked out of the association, Ling said.

Orruption with a capital C