African lions and the trophy hunting dilemma

Christian Kiffner1,2 Abstract In Tanzania, ~26% of the land surface area is set aside for trophy hunting of wildlife; these 250000 km² are protected against land use conversion and 1Department of Forest Zool- represent adequate habitat for large wildlife populations. African lions (Pan- ogy and Forest Conservation, thera leo) are crucially important for the economic viability of these hunting Büsgen-Institute, Georg-Au- blocks. However, meta-analyses and case studies from East and Southern gust-Universität Göttingen, African countries where lion trophy hunting is practiced indicate that trophy Büsgenweg 3, 37077 Göttingen, Germany, [email protected] hunting contributed to the estimated continent wide decline of lions. The detrimental impact of shooting male lions on the entire lion population is mainly a function of infanticide following pride take-over by new male lions. 2Department of Conservation This negative effect of trophy hunting on the viability of lion populations can Biology, Centre for Nature theoretically be avoided by an age restricted offtake, that aims at removing Conservation, Georg-August- Universität Göttingen, Von- only male lions≥6 years. However, short term interests of hunting outfitters Siebold-Strasse 2, 37075 Göt- and trophy hunters, persistence of the arbitrary trophy system by the Tanza- tingen, Germany nian Wildlife Division, and possibly hunter inability of correctly ageing lions poses a dilemma for current lion hunting. In order to establish sustainable trophy hunting of lions in practice, the quota system should be abandoned. Certification of hunting outfitters (commitment to good hunting practices), independent age control of lion trophies, and hunting bans in areas ≤5km from National Park borders are possible means to minimize the negative ef- fects of trophy hunting on lion populations in hunting areas and neighboring National Parks.

Trophy hunting of African lions In Tanzania, trophy hunting is a multi-million dollar industry which gener- ates considerable income for private enterprises and government (Whitman 2002, Lindsey et al 2007a). Among the 53 mammal species or species constel- lations legally hunted in Tanzania (Caro et al 2009), African lions (Panthera leo) are a crucially important species for both direct and indirect income gen- eration (Creel and Creel 1997, Whitman 2002). Among East and Southern Af- rican countries which allow trophy hunting, Tanzania dedicates the largest share of its surface area (250000 km² or 26.4%) to this land use (Lindsey et al 2007a) and actively protects it from conversion to other land use forms such as agriculture. These vast areas support notably large wildlife populations (e.g. Caro 1999, Waltert et al 2008) and therefore contribute significantly to the conservation of Tanzania’s impressive megafauna. The principle of this strategy is to sacrifice a few individual lions (and individuals of other tro-

Vol. 25 No. 1 2008 Endangered Species UPDATE 2