Washington, D.C. — Following the tragic and reportedly illegal killing of Cecil the lion, Born Free Foundation and Born Free USA today called on the U.S. government and European Union to take urgent steps to end the import of lion trophies and for an international moratorium on lion hunting.[teaserbreak]
The global outcry following Cecil’s death has sent shock waves across the world and has further ignited the political and public debate on the plight of wild lions and the inhumane actions of sport hunters.
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron have made very public declarations to stop the illegal wildlife trade. Born Free is concerned that this may not be implemented fast enough. Current estimates suggest there are barely more than 30,000 lions remaining across Africa, and localized or regionalized extinctions in the next decade are a real possibility.
President of the Born Free Foundation, Will Travers OBE, has publicly called on the hunters to lay down their weapons of mass destruction. “Cecil’s story has sickened and saddened us all. We can no longer accept that hunting magnificent wild animals for ‘sport’ can be deemed acceptable. Cecil’s death was brutal and it showed no respect for this iconic symbol of Africa. Trophy hunting is no sport; it is merely a disguise for killing to massage an ego.”
Born Free is calling on the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to release its Final Rule on the petition to list the lion as ‘endangered’ under the United States Endangered Species Act (ESA), first submitted by Born Free and others in March 2011. Listing under the ESA would prohibit wounding, harming, harassing, killing, or trading in lions, except under certain very limited conditions, and would add significant protection for lions across their range.
Further, Born Free is calling on U.S. government prosecutors to explore whether legal action against Walter Palmer (the hunter who killed Cecil) is warranted under the Lacey Act, which prohibits transport of wildlife specimens if they were taken illegally in their place of origin.
According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free Foundation and Born Free USA, “The U.S. government has a responsibility to take decisive action to prevent another incident such as this from ever happening again. For four years, we have waited for a final decision on our petition to list the lion. There is no more time to wait.”
Roberts addressed the issue of trophy hunting specifically, saying, “The figures don’t stack up. The value to Africa’s economy from wildlife tourism vastly outpaces any sum accrued from hunting. Trophy hunting is an elitist activity practiced by very wealthy people, with the income benefiting a small number of stakeholders. The future is in conserving Africa’s wildlife, not destroying it.”
There is very little evidence that the proceeds of trophy hunting benefit conservation or local communities in the hunting areas, with as little as 3% or less of the revenue generated trickling down. Lions and other charismatic wildlife are worth far more alive than dead to Zimbabwe’s tourism industry. In Zimbabwe, it is estimated that trophy hunting generates only 3.2% of total tourism revenue.
As further details emerged as to Palmer’s callous actions and how this proud, dominant male lion was dismembered, the brutal reality of the business of lion hunting was graphically exposed to the world. The practices of canned hunting operations have also been thrown under the spotlight, with allegations that lions are often drugged and baited to make them easier prey. Fuelled by their sensational appetite for trophies, the demography of hunters, who mainly stem from the U.S., pay thousands of dollars for a single kill.
Across Africa, lion populations have reduced by more than 50% since 1980, and in much of their range, the declines have been far higher. Lions have disappeared altogether from at least 12 African countries, and possibly as many as 16 in recent years, and only inhabit a fragmented 8% of their historic range.
Cecil was collared and was being monitored as part of a conservation study by WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation and Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford)—a group supported by Born Free. All the evidence shows that Cecil was illegally pulled out of a national park, where he lived a protected existence, to an area where he could be shot. This illegal act was paid for by Palmer. This lion was left in severe pain for many hours before he was finally shot.
Virginia McKenna OBE, a name synonymous with lions and star of the classic wildlife film, Born Free, summed up the feelings of millions around the world: “This whole story is like some terrible nightmare. The power of money, the ego of man, the lack of compassion for and real understanding of wild creatures, the concept of hunting as a “sport.” I thought we tried to instill kindness and respect in our children. Perhaps Mr. Palmer thinks differently. But, if what I heard today is true—that, after killing Cecil, he asked if they could find him an elephant—the future he faces is bleak, indeed.”
The Born Free Foundation is a dynamic international wildlife charity, devoted to compassionate conservation and animal welfare. Born Free takes action worldwide to protect threatened species and stop individual animal suffering. Born Free believes wildlife belongs in the wild and works to phase out zoos. We rescue animals from lives of misery in tiny cages and give them lifetime care. Born Free protects lions, elephants, tigers, gorillas, wolves, polar bears, dolphins, marine turtles, and many more species in their natural habitats, working with local communities to help people and wildlife live together without conflict. Our high-profile campaigns change public attitudes, persuade decision-makers, and get results. Every year, Born Free helps hundreds of thousands of animals worldwide. For more information about Born Free, please visit www.bornfree.org.uk.
Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Through litigation, legislation, and public education, Born Free USA leads vital campaigns against animals in entertainment, exotic “pets,” trapping and fur, and the destructive international wildlife trade. Born Free USA brings to America the message of “compassionate conservation”—the vision of the U.K.-based Born Free Foundation, established in 1984 by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, stars of the iconic film Born Free, along with their son Will Travers. Born Free’s mission is to end suffering of wild animals in captivity, conserve threatened and endangered species, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. More at www.bornfreeusa.org, www.twitter.com/bornfreeusa, and www.facebook.com/bornfreeusa.
Media Contact: Rodi Rosensweig, 203/270-8929, therodicompany@gmail.com