Image via Pexels
The lion, well loved and known to local tour guides as Mopane, has been shot and killed sparking memories of Cecil’s untimely death.
Image via Pexels
A wild lion named Mopane has allegedly killed by an American hunter outside the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe recently.
Mopane’s death has sparked international outcry, with details surrounding his killing similar to those of Cecil the lion, slaughtered in 2015 in the same area. Mopane was well-known to local tour guides and international tourists visiting the area to catch a glimpse of him. It was reported that the approximately 12-year-old Mopane was possibly lured out of the national park with bait.
The Humane Society International/Africa this week condemned the killing.
“With only approximately 20000 mature African lions left in the wild, and a population decline of 43% in the last three generations, this species is under severe threat. When coupled with unscrupulous and possibly illegal actions such as baiting and luring out of protected areas – as was allegedly the case with this iconic male – these lions are even further imperilled. We must do all that we can on a local, regional and international level to preserve the species and keep protected areas functioning,” Humane Society International/Africa wildlife director, Dr Audrey Delsink said.
Kitty Block, CEO of Humane Society International (HSI) and president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) said: “Mopane was a father and played a significant role in his pride. Without him, his pride is now vulnerable to takeover by another male or group of males, which may lead to the killing of the cubs and females in his pride. Yet, as with Cecil six years ago, the perverse pleasure some people derive from killing iconic animals brought this noble lion’s life to a tragic end. Another trophy hunter spending tens of thousands of dollars on a globe-trotting thrill-to-kill escapade shows humanity at its worst. It is shameful that the U.S. has the distinction of being the world’s biggest importer of hunting trophies. Enough is enough.”
Between 2009 and 2018, 7 667 lion trophies were traded internationally, including into the U.S. and the European Union. In addition to advocating to eliminate the import of lion trophies into the U.S., HSI is working in South Africa to prohibit the export of lion trophies; and in the U.K. and European Union to prohibit the import of imperilled species trophies.
Here are a few more sad facts of the devastating impact lion hunting has on prides: