AFRICAN INDABA

17     Trophy Lion Guidelines & Age Minimums – Zambia Project

Dr. Paula White, Director, Zambia Lion Project, Center for Tropical Research, University of California

e-mail: paw@carnivoreconservation.com

As many of you know, Tanzania has recently announced a new regulation that all trophy lions hunted in that country must be a minimum of 6 years old. The details of how age will be determined and consequences of shooting underage lions are still being worked out by the Tanzanian authorities, scientists, and safari operators, but there is general agreement that the industry must be pro-active and become more self-policing in the future in order to defend the claim that lion hunting is being conducted on both an ethical and sustainable basis.

 Operators in the Niassa area of Northern Mozambique have been participating in an age-based trophy selection program for the past few years. While scientists and hunters alike agree that determining the exact age of a wild lion is not possible, assigning individuals to broader age categories is more straightforward and in Niassa consist of the following:

1. 4 years old or less

2. between 4 and 6 years old

3. 6 years or older

 The Niassa system assigns “points” to each trophy based upon the age category into which it falls. Age is determined by combined examination of tooth wear, tooth x-ray, and trophy photographs. The total number of points determines whether or not the quota in a given block will increase, decrease, or stay the same in the next year. Trophy lions deemed to be 4 years of age or less may be confiscated and/or fines imposed. Within the 4-6 years age category, the first lion taken receives a ‘warning’, but if a second lion falls into this category, it results in loss of quota. If all trophies fall into the 6 years or older category, the quota is increased for the next year. While the specifics may vary slightly, it is likely that Tanzania will adopt a program similar to Niassa’s.

 Support for age minimums of trophy lions is widespread; Zambia Lion Project has been proposing for several years that a mandatory sampling program be established with minimum target age of 5 years or older. However, given the ever-increasing international pressure to close lion hunting entirely, it would be in Zambia’s best interest to standardize its performance and to strive for a 6 years or older minimum in the near future.

A Regional Guide to Aging Lions in Zambia

Zambia Lion Project appreciates the constructive comments that were received following distribution last year of the first draft of this guide. The goal was to produce an expanded guide (more trophies, with greater detail of the methods used to age trophies) for 2011. Unfortunately, not enough quality photographs were received from the 2010 season to accomplish a revision. With your help, I would like to revise the guide for next year. Therefore, I am kindly requesting your help in obtaining standardized photographs of each trophy lion taken in 2011. Please see the samples of the eight-photo series I require.

The goal of the regional aging guide is to compare a lions’ physical characteristics with the best available age estimates as obtained from tooth x-rays and tooth wear. Standardized photographs are an integral part of improving and updating Zambia’s regional aging guide which in turns allows us to better monitor the progress of the age-based trophy selection program. The continued cooperation of the Zambian hunting fraternity helps to demonstrate the industry’s commitment to ethical and sustainable hunting practices, and on a broader scale, helps to ensure the future of lion hunting in Zambia and beyond.

Zambia Lion Project extends its deepest thanks to the Professional Hunters Association of Zambia for their generous donation from last year’s end of season dinner dance. This level of support means more than words can say. Thanks to all contributors for your kind assistance, cooperation, and support.