SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe

The ‘ugly face’ of Zimbabwe’s animal tourism market

By Alex Bell
21 July 2010

Animal welfare groups in Zimbabwe are up in arms over the number of lions being kept in captivity across the country, especially in the wake of lion attacks this year.

The organisation Veterinarians for Animal Welfare in Zimbabwe (VAWZ), has revealed after a shock survey that well over 300 lions are being held in captivity, often in poor conditions, in what is being described as the ‘ugly face’ of Zimbabwe’s animal tourism market. Meryl Harrison, an inspector for VAWZ, told SW Radio Africa on Wednesday that game park authorities and other independent tourism groups have been removing lion cubs from the wild over the years to provide “cute and cuddly” experiences for tourists.

But Harrison explained that the practice is unsafe and inhumane, as the lion cubs quickly become too large and dangerous to be around people. Harrison said lion attacks on people, which statistically occur mostly in sanctuaries and at games lodges, are a direct result of animals being kept in captivity.

“When they reach about 18 months they become unsafe,” Harrison said. “At the end of the day, even if they have been hand reared, they are wild animals that should be appreciated in the wild.”

The VAWZ survey on lion captivity came in the aftermath of two recent attacks by lions this year. In May, Education Minister David Coltart’s eight year old daughter had to be hospitalised after she was attacked by a ‘breeding’ lion. The little girl was apparently stroking the animal through the bars of its pen when it attacked her, mauling her arm.

Just weeks later, a volunteer at Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage was attacked by a lion after the pen the animal was being kept in was left open. The volunteer, a 26 year old woman from South Africa, later died in hospital as a result of her injuries.

Harrison continued that the welfare of the lions is also at risk as the animals are rarely successfully reintroduced into the wild. She explained that the animals have never been taught how to hunt, which often results in other game being maimed and left to suffer after they’ve been attacked by inexperienced juvenile lions.

VAWZ and National Parks authorities are now trying to control the situation by proposing a “code of practice.” Harrison explained that the code will help ensure that animal welfare takes precedence over tourism, by controlling the numbers of animals in captivity.

How long before some of these are quietly wheeled out to be shot?

From antelope park and chipengali...never- Antilope park (where the first incident occured) is running a programme to teach cubs to hunt and releasing them once they reach about 4 years old...google up ALERT - totaly greenie organisation.There are two thother breeders who have been supplying both the south African market and the very quiet Zim 'Canned lion' one.

However- this organisation consists of two Vets (anti Hunting) and the biggest anti hunting crusadr in Zim (Merrly Harrison)...

What is the ZPHGA's stance on the canned lion hunting going on in Zim?

quote:

From antelope park and chipengali...never- Antilope park (where the first incident occured) is running a programme to teach cubs to hunt and releasing them once they reach about 4 years old...google up ALERT - totaly greenie organisation.There are two thother breeders who have been supplying both the south African market and the very quiet Zim 'Canned lion' one.

However- this organisation consists of two Vets (anti Hunting) and the biggest anti hunting crusadr in Zim (Merrly Harrison)...

Ganyana,
Can you PM me the veterinarian names?

quote:

Originally posted by Milo Shanghai:
How long before some of these are quietly wheeled out to be shot?

It's very surprising how far a tin of canned lion can roll once it gets on a downhill stretch: http://www.shakariconnection.c...-and-wild-lions.html

I'm sorry, but I thought good ole Bobby Mu was the 'ugly face' of Zimbabwe's animal toursim...

Jeff

Canned hunting is illegal in zim...always has been. ZPHGA has never had to 'debate' the issue because it is illegal and nobody is going to try and change that.

It doesn't stop it hppening...even once in a national parks concession (drugged lion was bought in over night and dropped at a bait next to the road...Client snuck into blind before dawn and shot a new no 1 lion as it was waking up...) Funny that the concession holder was the ministers sister-in-law....

quote:

Originally posted by Ganyana:
Canned hunting is illegal in zim...always has been. ZPHGA has never had to 'debate' the issue because it is illegal and nobody is going to try and change that.

It doesn't stop it hppening...even once in a national parks concession (drugged lion was bought in over night and dropped at a bait next to the road...Client snuck into blind before dawn and shot a new no 1 lion as it was waking up...) Funny that the concession holder was the ministers sister-in-law....

Well, I guess it is their country. If they want to screw it further into the ground by shafting one of the few industries still functioning that's their call.

But when stuff like this hits the press it is not the local big wig that gets lambasted, it is the hunter and hunting that suffers another blow.