Friday, March 29, 2024

How allowing trophy hunters to kill Zambia’s lions and leopards may impact our ecosystem

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Lions and leopards play a key part in the maintaining of ecosystems and weather patterns beyond what we and specifically our elected officials in government can comprehend.

Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth,” a review paper that was published on July 15, 2011, in the journal Science, concluded that the decline of large predators and herbivores in all regions of the world is causing substantial changes to Earth’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The paper claims that the loss of apex consumers(big cats wolves etc) from ecosystems “may be humankind’s most pervasive influence on nature.”

This paper documents some of the negative effects that the widespread loss of these animals has already had on Earth’s biosphere, climate, biodiversity, and vegetation.

Of relevance to Zambia is the papers’ finding that the reduction of lions and leopards from areas of sub-Saharan Africa caused the baboon population to swell. This unexpectedly increased transmission of intestinal parasites from baboons to humans as the primates were forced to forage closer to human settlements.

The following video shows how the re-introduction on wolves had an impact on the rivers in the Yellowstone national park in the US.

By Concerned Zambian

24 COMMENTS

  1. It is just absurd that Jean Kapata an enrolled nurse and PF Cabinet Minister could make a decision to allow hunting of Lions and Leopards. The buck however, stops at the President

    • It just sows that Ministers are there just to occupy the seats in cabinet and there ministerial offices. Three ministers in one ministry in the last 3 to 4 years. Lungu has held about four posts prior to becoming president in the last four years. Zambia should hire one of those top CEO’s in the world, someone should come in and put up some structures on how the country should run. Lungu or who ever will still be president but should stay far away from anything to do with money, planning and administration. Him and his ministers can just tour the country and just chill out.

    • @ 2 cycle mata: Yes PF should hear Zambians if not we will take the law to our hands. they will not bring our country backward. It’s we the Young Zambians to protect and bring a debate about this nonsense of Trophy Hunting Lions.

      We can not just sit and wait. we should all act and bring this matter forward. PF ministers are so dull that they don’t see the bad, only what can bring more money in their pockets.

      It will not happen, A move to stop this in on its way..

      Lions are for Zambians and no Hunting will happen..

  2. Only dulllll minister would lift a ban of hunting lions and leapards.I’ve never seen such a use—-less statement before.i think Lungu should consider putting an intelligent person at the ministry of tourism otherwise our species will never be there in future.let him choose somebody who loves nature and animals.I don’t think Kapata can even keep a dog or a cat at her place.She has shown me that she is not gud and caring woman at all.Please God save our animals from these corrupt ministers and may you give wisdom Edger Lungu so that he puts right pipo in the ministries.We love PF but some ministers are bad for the country.We can’t afford to finish our animals in Zambia.Why hunting lions and leopards?we know there is money in killing lions and leopards.God help us!

  3. How I wish we had visionary leaders who could see beyond this YES BWANA, MUZUNGU ani konde mentality… Y should we sure my dear Zambia allow these white foreigners kill our cherished heritage…
    let’s organize an online petition my fellow bloggers to stop this move by the government… Please help me people!!!

  4. The problem is that as an electorate we are so ill informed & so docile that we worship the elected. For as long as we are not standing up for what we believe in, the ‘powerful’ will continue to tread upon us.

  5. The first thing Michael Sata (RIP) did once elected President was to withdraw funding to ZAWA and legalise poaching. He claimed there was no way his Government could protect animals above human beings. Sorry to say, but Lungu is right in Sata’s footsteps. Most lawyers no nothing outside law. Lungu cant even pronounce the word ‘ecosystem’.

  6. Government is dull, and simply making a quick buck. Why not use the presence of these animals for long income from tourism. In Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa they make millions each year as a result of advertising their national park. Kill all the predators and you think people will come to places like kafue national park just to see antelopes? Once again the world moves right but Zambia must choose to go in a completely different direction. I call on government to provide us with verified numbers of these animals, and how many will be die naturally, how many are expected to be born and how many licences will be issued and indeed how the licences will be issued. Government do not own the animals

  7. The big cats are they edible or they will be killing them for funny? Or their skin will cost their life?

  8. Most of you commenting here love to do so may be because you do not have any thing better to do. In some parts of South Africa elephants are being moved because their populations have grown to such an extent that they threatening the eco system due to elephants’ consumption patterns.
    Are you aware that the population of lions, especially in the South Luangwa National park has grown exponentially when compared to the population of other animals that lions depend on for food? What will happen when most of the herbivores have been killed by large predators?
    We will never have a problem with baboons in Zambia, Bembas will sort them out.
    I understand UpDn supporters are in the habit of criticizing what ever the PF government is doing BUT please do a bit of research before going on your…

  9. Zambia is a Wildlife Wonderland but unfortunately people in these positions lack skills and education. Trophy Hunting is not sustainable practices. Sustainable Tourism takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities. At the same time ensuring future generations of tourist and the local people will have an opportunity to enjoy those resources. Killing a healthy male lion for $68,000 resulting in extinction which stops us from generating revenue, jobs are affected and management pockets the money. Let wildlife outlive their lives and not use them as a means to an end. Finding the right people to promote and market tourism can be a solution. https://www.youtube

  10. *****
    We have a “Wildlife Wonderland” in Zambia but unfortunately people managing tourism lack what it takes to promote tourism. We need infrastructure to get us to the many attractions we have. Having our own airline can benefit us greatly and lessens time spent on transfers making tourists exhausted but the time they reach us. If you don’t market everyday through websites or partner up with international hotel brands or advertise on international tourism site you lose out on the benefits. The Victoria Falls cannot market itself and we need to tell the world it exists in Zambia as many think its in South Africa. Jean Kapata and Steven Mwansa really need to focus their efforts on marketing Zambia as a tourist destination. Tourism can work in…

  11. EVEN BUILDING PALACES FOR CHIEFS FROM THE PROCEEDS OF HUNTING WOULD BE A SIN ACCORDING TO UPND. TAKING RELIEF FOOD TO LIUWA PLAINS FOR THE PEOPLE WHOSE CROPS WERE DESTROYED WILL BE VIEWED AS A SIN BY HH AND HIS PEOPLE.

    TOURISM IS A DYNAMIC PRODUCT, ITS ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOURIST PRODUCTS: SCENIC SUCH AS WATERFALLS, GAME PARKS (VIEWING AND HUNTING) TRADITIONAL CUISINES, CULTURAL TRADITIONS, WATER RELATED TOURISM ACTIVITIES, MEDICAL TOURISM AND THE LIST IS ENDLESS SO DO NOT BLAME THE GOVERNMENT’S MOVE.

    PA BWATO!!!!!!!

  12. What can you expect from a nurse? Yes nurses are dumb,we all know, but to expect something posititve from an ugly one, probably the ugliest on earth is asking too much.

  13. The economic justification for this action is ludicrous and unfounded!

    1. Kapata is not qualified to make such a judgement having no background in such sensitive and important issues.

    2. The consulted experts need to come forward with their evidence and research so they can face the review and scientific scrutiny of the global scientific and economic community.

    3. Slavery made perfect economic sense at the time and made a Heck of a lot more money than “Trophy Hunting” but that didn’t make it right then or now! No matter how you spin it.
    How many slave owners and communities suffered economically (GLOBALLY) then?
    They had to move into new areas that befitted their experience and learn new ways of revenue creation

    This endemic problem is solvable through innovation not…

  14. …outdated ways of generating a GDP!
    THE WORLD IS WATCHING AND THEY ARE NOT IMPRESSED –
    Janet Kapata – the economic and political ramifications will soon follow that I’m certain of.

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