Trophy Hunting In Africa: Lions

Trophy hunting is hunting selected animals for their body parts. Hunters then claim their “prize” of the animals’ body part(s) and take it back home to display and show off.There are many restrictions associated with trophy hunting such as which species can be hunted, where and when you are allowed to hunt and the weapons you are allowed to use. Trophy hunters need to have a permit in order to legally kill the animal.

Population: 20 000

Range: lions currently live in the Sahara desert, and other parts of southern and eastern Africa.

Risk Status: Declared Vulnerable

Lions are at a high risk of becoming endangered in the wild.

Brings in a lot of money into the economy. which can help sustain local communities and develop the cities (ex. building new roads, water wells, etc).

The money from trophy hunting can go toward protecting and saving the rest of the lion population.

Lions disrupt local families lives. They are deadly animals that inflict terror upon others and kills families’ livestock (ex. chickens, goats, etc). By having less lions surrounding the villages, locals can breathe easier and don’t have to worry about them or their children being attacked by a lion.

There are more important problems going than the trophy hunters hunting lions. (Trophy hunting isn't the biggest issue we should be focusing on). For example:

Put more money / attention toward the people dying of malnourishment, disease and political violence.

Increase funding to save the forests that are being destroyed

Not used for subsistence, but only for bragging rights or for display. The animal did not die for good reason

The lions that are being hunted is essentially wasted because the trophy hunters are only interested in a small portion of the animals’ body. The rest of the animal’s body is just discarded and wasted.

Hunters may not properly kill the lion, which then leaves it to suffer a slow and painful death.

There can be too much trophy hunting on a specific species. This can lead to the species becoming endangered and potentially extinct.

90% of the lion population in Africa has declined

Population has decreased by 43% within 20 years

Their habitat is being destroyed due to trophy hunting. Lions no longer feel safe in their own habitat because they are constantly hunted.

Link to my references:

Ban trophy hunting – save the lions! (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2019, from https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1077/ban-trophy-hunting-save-the-lions
Banning trophy hunting. (2019). Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/banning-trophy-hunting
Basic facts about lions. (2019). Retrieved May 1, 2019, from https://defenders.org/lion/basic-facts
Carwardine, M. (2019). An introduction to trophy hunting. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/an-introduction-to-trophy-hunting/
I trophy hunt. (2017). Retrieved May 2, 2019, from http://www.itrophyhunt.com/
Mortillaro, N. (2016, October 3). Trophy hunting aids in the conservation of lions: Study. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://globalnews.ca/news/2979154/trophy-hunting-aids-in-the-conservation-of-lions-study/
Nzou, G. (2015, August 4). In Zimbabwe, we don’t cry for lions. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/05/opinion/in-zimbabwe-we-dont-cry-for-lions.html?_r=0
Tan, A. (2015, July 31). Beyond cecil the lion: Trophy-hunting industry in Africa explained. Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/cecil-lion-trophy-hunting-industry-africa-explained/story?id=32785057
This majestic cat’s populations are rapidly declining. (n.d.). Retrieved May 2, 2019, from https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/lion

Yes. I believe that trophy hunting lions should be banned for a number of reasons. Lions are being wrongfully killed and are suffering for no good reason. They are being killed for selfish reasons, all for humans to show off their dead body as a “prize” or a decoration. The lions are essentially wasted because poachers are only killing the lions for a small portion of their body and is discarded to suffer and die without hesitation.Trophy hunting is also significantly decreasing the lion population to the point where it might become endangered in the future. Lions as well as other animals need to be protected and treated like other animals, not prize possessions. Although trophy hunters bring in a lot of money into the economy, would you really feel satisfied that the money you made was at the cost of another living animal that was healthy and happy? There are many other ways for people to make money that is in good faith and harms no animals. Lions don’t deserve this treatment and should be protected at all costs. In conclusion, I believe that trophy hunting lions should be banned.