The artist/conservationist John Banovich recently hosted a Lion Conservation Symposium preceeding the 2012 SCI convention.

Aaron Neilson and I were invited to represent the LCTF and were in attendance.

Others represented there were Robin Hurt, TGTS by George Hartley, Jeff Rann, John Jackson of Conservation Force, Craig Packer as keynote speaker on "The State of the Lion", Paula White of the Paw Carnivore Project, Gray Thorton, Irvin Barnhart, Joe Homer, Mike Mahoney, Raoul Romoni, Mike Simpson, Dr. Kevin Robertson, Bob Hitchcock, and Eric Pasanisi.

It was a very positive interaction between Science, Hunting Industry, and Hunting Organization. Hopefully it will lead the way for a bright future for the lion.

Craig Packer, Mike Mahoney, and Paula White had wonderful dialogue with some of the industries' greats with very little negativity.

Many idea's were discussed including the LCTF's initiative to define the Huntable Male Lion.

Lane - If you can, elaborate on Mr. Mahoney's position and his opinion as a NON-NUNTER, scientist/conservationist, who has worked in Kenya for almost 40 yrs.

I honestly thought he would provided to most valuable, non-involved, descriptive input of all! He was very interesting.

You are exactly right Aaron. Mr. Mahoney, a researcher/conservationist from Kenya who's major life work has been around Amboseli National Park in Kenya, could be a "poster-person" for hunting as a conservation tool.

The first words out of his mouth were that he was NOT a hunter and had no experience with hunting except in its abscence. He went on to expound on how the once game-rich country of Kenya has lost 90+% of its wild-life to poaching and human encroachment when it banned hunting. He went on to add that after watching Kenya implode...he, as a NON-hunter, was totally convinced that if wildlife is to exist in wilderness places...hunters MUST be there to support and protect the game...otherwise it would be poached to extinction.

Add anything I left out Aaron.

Lane, Aaron,
Do you remember the name of the projects/research Mahoney was involved in around Amboseli, Kenya?