Lion Hunting in Africa
Outrage over the killing of Cecil the lion in June has led to calls to ban trophy hunting in Africa. Adam Hart asks if hunting could in fact be a good thing for lion conservation.
In June 2015 the death of Cecil the lion was international news and a social media sensation. Yet trophy hunting of lions and other species is common in Africa. Foreigners pay big money to adorn their walls with heads and skins. Many find it abhorrent, angry that it exists at all. Hunters claim it is vital, providing money to fund conservation. With hunters claiming that a ban would be "catastrophic" for wildlife, what is the truth? Biologist professor Adam Hart explores this explosively controversial subject, talking to hunters, conservationists, lion experts and those opposed to hunting.
Trophy hunting does work in places where regular tourists are few and far between. It works too in South Africa. Private ownership and fencing, which protects wildlife from people and people from wildlife, mean that hunting and tourism generate the cash needed to maintain huge numbers of animals. Wildlife thrives because "it pays it stays".
But in Tanzania lion populations are rapidly declining. Craig Packer, a world expert on lions, says "it takes $2000 annually to maintain 1km2 of lion habitat; 300000km2 of hunting blocks need $600million. Trophy hunting pays $20million with 10-15% used for conservation". It's the only source of income but it is far too little, only slightly slowing the inevitable.
Hunting pitches emotion against evidence and sentimentality against practicality. Adam's travels reveal a complex and sometimes unpalatable tale of economics, ecology and conservation with implications that affect everyone that cares about African wildlife.
(Photo: A lion sitting on a rock)
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Could big game hunting actually save lions?
Duration: 01:56
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- Mon 26 Oct 2015 20:32GMT麻豆社 World Service UK DAB/Freeview, Europe and the Middle East, Online & Americas and the Caribbean only
- Mon 26 Oct 2015 21:32GMT麻豆社 World Service West and Central Africa, South Asia, East Asia & Australasia only
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 02:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 03:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Online, East Asia, Europe and the Middle East & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 04:32GMT麻豆社 World Service South Asia
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 05:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Australasia
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 07:32GMT麻豆社 World Service East and Southern Africa & Europe and the Middle East only
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 13:32GMT麻豆社 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 27 Oct 2015 14:32GMT麻豆社 World Service except Online, Americas and the Caribbean, Australasia & UK DAB/Freeview
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