TITLE:
Lion Hunting and Trophy Quality Records in Zambia for the Period 1967-2000: Will the Trends in Trophy Size Drop as Lion Population Declines?
AUTHORS:
Chansa Chomba, Ramadhani Senzota, Harry Chabwela, Vincent Nyirenda
KEYWORDS:
Lion; Trophy; Measurement; Trend; Decline; Population Size
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.4 No.4,
March
28,
2014
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.