Lion Hunting and Trophy Quality Records in Zambia for the Period 1967-2000: Will the Trends in Trophy Size Drop as Lion Population Declines?

Chansa Chomba,Ramadhani Senzota,Vincent Nyirenda,Harry Chabwela

doi:10.4236/oje.2014.44019

Chansa Chomba, Ramadhani Senzota + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/oje.2014.44019

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Abstract

Data on lion skull measurements taken were collected and analyzed to determine trends in trophy size as an indicator of population size, and area of origin among the concessioned hunting areas in Zambia for the period 1967-2000. A comparison of trophy quality was also made with Tanzania and Zimbabwe which were the other two key sources of lion trophies in Africa. It was assumed that a comprehensive analysis of lion trophy sizes obtained from trophy hunting would be used as an indicator of hunting pressure on lion populations in Zambia. This approach was used because trophy size is an index of abundance particularly for species such as lion which are difficult to count using conventional census methods. Record lion trophies from Safari Club International rating were also collected and assessed to compare trophy quality obtained from Zambia and those of Tanzania and Zimbabwe for the same period 1967-2000 (33 years). Results obtained suggested that Zambia’s contribution to the record trophies under Safari Club International did not decline in the intervening period 1967-2000 and could not be used as an effective indicator of lion population in Zambia. At regional level, Zambia had second highest 24%, after Tanzania 56%, while Zimbabwe was third, 20%. It was found that the size of skulls could not be used as an effective indicator of population size as the record trophies did not decline while the population was alleged to have declined on the continent. Other factors, such as genetic, low prey densities, snaring, poisoning and problem animal control needed to be investigated to determine their impact on the lion population status.

Highlights

The African lion (Panthera leo) has recently emerged as a species of global conservation concern [1]
Such population estimates have been disputed by many scientists who claim that this would be a gross underestimate and the conservation of the African lion has continued in an environment of inadequate and unreliable data regarding the current status of the species throughout its range
Contrary to the popular view, the results showed that the lion record trophy contribution to Safari Club International (SCI) list of record trophies did not decline for the period 1967-2000 both in Zambia and at sub regional level

Summary

Introduction

The African lion (Panthera leo) has recently emerged as a species of global conservation concern [1]. 20,000 [2] to 40,000 individuals [3]; a precipitous decline from population estimates as high as 100,000 lions less than ten years ago [4] This early estimate has been questioned, lions are widely believed to have declined drastically over much of their former range [3] [5] (Figure 1(a)). The nearly two-fold discrepancy in the recent estimates underscores the lack of reliable data regarding current status of the species throughout its range Such population estimates have been disputed by many scientists who claim that this would be a gross underestimate and the conservation of the African lion has continued in an environment of inadequate and unreliable data regarding the current status of the species throughout its range. In 2002 [2] an estimated number of 1500 ± 500 individuals was provided whilst another estimate gave a higher figure of 3575 [3] which despite being higher than the earlier estimate [2] was still said to be an underestimate [3] given the lion’s wide distribution in the country (Figure 1(b))

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