If the country wants to close hunting, that is their prerogative, but don't blame it on over-harvesting.

Reducing a population of 3500 lions by only 55 each year (1.6%) is not going to hurt them at all. In fact it might actually have positive biological benefits for the lions, to say nothing of the economic boost (jobs, tourism, donated food, etc) to a developing country.

This is a good idea. Big cats are magnificent animals and hunting them is a bad idea. Tigers are already endangered.

there is no need for some money bags to go to Africa and shoot a lion to begin with

Looks like more liberal nonsense...because ignoring the problem, always solves the problem.

everyone who has commented thus far is a softheaded idot.kenya banned all big and small game hunting and look what happened. strong decrease! as a matter of fact there are countries that have realized what they have done and seen the decrease in their wild life so they have reopened to hunting. and the fact that they said it was due to legal hunters is just going to add fire to the peta prick's fuel.

Big cats are big meat eaters, this conflicts with human encroachment. I question the three million revenue figure, feel it is much larger. Taking cats requires a minimum 21 day hunt which camp costs alone will run a couple thousand per day per hunter and certainly no guarantee of a cat leopard or lion. Additional trophy fees will probably run 7 to 9 thousand per feline. Plus other costs in country. In my experience Zambia will not attract tourists who will spentd that kind of dough, when they can vist Tanzania or South Africa's Kruger, andmore readily see cats. Lots of brush in most of Zambia cat country.
Issue of hunting versus non hunting is an entirely different issue. Additional bit of cat trivia. The biggest lion killer is other lion.
Chad, you asked if anyone had hunted Zambia or Botzwana. Excluding travel have spent 100 plus days on the ground in each country.

I think i was misunderstood up above. Trophy hunting is the only future these big cats have. If you take away hunting they become nothing more than a nuisance to the local population and will be killed for their conflicts. The only way we are going to keep them around is by keeping them valuable. Hunting is the only way to keep them valuable.

Adding to Buckhunters on the picture of the lion, which I am sure was just picked at random. The huge mane is a give away , it is a pen raised feline. In the wild an animal old enough to grow that much hair,would be lean, mean with scars on his face and body. Not fat and unblemished and relaxing next to tire tracks

In all honesty, I do not hunt things I cannot eat, so I would never go hunting big cats. However, I have no problem with people who hunt for sport and trophies though. But in fairness, I am not sure it is financially the right move for African countries who are constantly on the brink of financial ruin. I guess time will tell.

Hey guys.

I have never hunted big game in africa. I watch some of the big game shows on cable. I've seen how the hunters have helped the situation by providing meat to the villagers, the influx of cash to support local economies and provide the means to sustain sound conservation.

I have seen locally what well intentioned hunting laws have done to deer populations. Some of you should see the pictures of starving animals from over-population.

IMHO - Whatever any county decides to do with their hunting laws is no business of mine. Other forces are at work destroying wildlife world over. ie - loss of habitat, corrupt officials, Gov. red tape, Poaching, Changing weather patterns....etc.

I agree 100% with buckhunter, drobe2 and Happy Myles who show an insight to the situation and their posts. resonate with me. Also agree with hhack, bounty1, dneaster3 and Ontario Honker. You guys make some make good points.

Personally I don't shoot what I don't eat...but that's my business - I don't put down others who have the resources and the dream to hunt big game in a responsible manner.

E_Blair and Storm Hall: Sorry guys - I disagree for all the reasons I posted above.

mayoaaron, with all due respect sir - your the worthless scumbag here. Your comments are totally inappropriate and prove your a troll . Go post on a site with topics your familar with...