Zimbabwe: Parks Takes Steps to Protect Lions
The Herald (Harare)

May 5, 2006
Harare

LION hunting remains Zimbabwe's cash cow in the safari hunting sector, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has said.

As a result, the authority has taken steps to protect the most prestigious species especially in Matabeleland North where the organisation was undertaking research projects on lion behaviour to monitor its population. Parks public relations manager Retired Major Edward Mbewe said while hunting was still taking place as evidenced by the allocation of hunting quotas on other game species in Matabeleland North province, lions were put on a moratorium. In a bid to save the population of the big cats in the areas where the lion population was fast declining, the Government banned the hunting of lions.

"An internal report entitled 2004 hunting season private land quotas for approval: Matabeleland North province confirmed the reduction in the hunting quota of lions for the 2004 season. "Based on the results of some of these projects, hunting quotas on lions alone were reduced by 50 percent in the 2004. "However, further reductions are anticipated until the trophy satisfactorily impr oves," said Rtd Maj Mbewe.

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