Off the wire
• China, Russia end joint naval exercises  • Urgent: Gold falls on better-than-expected U.S. data  • U.S. spaceship returns to Earth in Pacific Ocean splashdown  • Estonia's cultural festivals on finest list in Europe  • 2 killed, 11 injured as protests continue in Burundi  • American, Chinese researchers identify gene that makes mosquitoes male  • Microsoft partners IICD to support Ghana's job creation programs  • Spanish stock market rises 0.18 pct, closes at 11,595 points  • Russia, Iraq mull deeper cooperation, joint fight against terrorism  • New method helps identify stem cell for heart repair: study  
You are here: 　 Home

Activists petition Zambia over lifting ban on hunting of big cats

Xinhua, May 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Activists in Zambia have launched a petition against the government's decision to lift a ban on hunting of big cats.

The petition, "Save the Lions from Licensed hunters" which has so far gotten over 250 signatures, has been placed on Change.Org, a website that enables anyone to start a petition and mobilize support, was launched on Wednesday.

According to a brief statement from the activists, the government's decision to lift the ban on the hunting of big cats was wrong and should be reversed.

"We need the lions in the national parks and bushes of Zambia. It is better tourists come to Zambia to see the lions and pay tourism fees than come to kill the animals. I future, all the lions would be killed. Let us stop these licensed poachers from wiping out our lions from our jungles," the statement said.

Last week, Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata lifted the ban on hunting of big cats in the country's game parks.

She said the hunting of lions will resume in the 2016/2017 season while that of leopards will start in the 2015/2016 season.

The Zambian minister said safari hunting was the most profitable and good for off-take of wildlife which could benefit all citizens if properly handled.

The government banned the hunting of lions and other big cats in 2013 because of decreasing numbers.

According to figures, Zambia's lion population stands between 2, 500 and 4,700 as of 2013 but the numbers have been declining due to increased poaching activities and activists fear that the population will be depleted if hunting is allowed. Endi