Actual Info from Zimbabwe about Cecil

colour86 · #1 08-04-2015, 12:30 PM

***Here is a email from Zimbabwe from the camp Mr. Palmer was in. Paints a bit of a different picture then what is plastered over the news. We have been getting emails regularly since it happened because we import African Trophies regularly and were asked to share this***

Many of you have read or heard the news of the collared lion that has been
shot here in Africa. Greg and I are in Zimbabwe, hunting with clients, at
the camp of the very man that is being accused of "slaughtering a protected
lion".

I would just like to clarify a few facts. Firstly, yes, the lion was
collared but that does not mean protected the hunting concession we are on
borders the park-- no fences, no gates, no wires.

These animals are free to roam and cross into
the areas surrounding the park at will. It is a given
that when any animal is out of the designated boundaries of the park and in
a hunting concession, it is fair game.

Collared animals are shot by hunters once in a while and
the law states that nothing has been done illegally,
just that the collar is to be returned to the National Parks office.

Secondly, this lion was not lured out of the park by guts being dragged or
calls being made. There was an elephant carcass, that died of natural
causes, 2 1/2 km out of the parks boundary. The Professional Hunter (PH) and
his hunter had seen a lion on the carcass so set up a blind to hunt that
evening.

The collared lion was the one that came in. No one realized the
animal was collared until after it was harvested.
The collar was returned to Parks, as is the procedure.
It is unfortunate that this lion is a frequently
photographed one in the parks as I believe that is why it has made national
news. That, and the fact that it has a name..... Cecil.

Theo Bronkhorst has been threatened and dragged over the coals on this
one. His family is being harassed and the Facebook comments have been
horrendous. Our own fb page has had a few. One in particular. "let me
guess...this fed a village".

Here's where I'd like to explain something. Feeding the village is a
phrase that is always taken in the literal sense. Yes, the meat of any
animal is shared with the people but it's more than that. Here's how it
works.

Every hunting concession has a native game scout appointed. This scout
must accompany the PH and his hunters to be sure that nothing is shot that
is not on quota.....quota meaning that only so many of one species can be
taken during the year. This is recorded very officially in a ledger. Every
animal has a trophy fee. This is divided up to the outfitter, the village
and the government. The village gets their share of the meat. Now this is
where Theo makes a difference.
With the money, he has helped the people dig
wells, pipe water and supplied tanks to their houses so they don't have to
walk long distances to carry it. They have larger gardens now because of it,
not to mention running water. He has built schools. He's helped put in solar
panels so they have power. I have seen satellite dishes on some homes so I
know they have tv. It is all this that is included in the phrase ' feed the village'.

I believe so many people do not understand hunting. They only see killing.
Without hunting there is no conservation. Theo and his family are
conservationists. They are not poachers. Everything done in the taking of
this lion was done with professionalism. The hunter was legally licensed,
the outfitter/PH, Theo, was licensed to legally hunt in that area. The lion
had a GPS collar and if anyone is to blame, it should be the authorities
who's job was to track him.

It is disgusting to me how there is so much to-do about this one lion but
nothing is said about the man who was killed just 2 nights ago by an
elephant in the village of the scout who rides in the truck with us
everyday. A human life was taken and it is not mentioned. We should be more
concerned about Masugo and his family than Cecil. It is unfair that no one
feels sorry for Masugo....nor for the hunter and PH that have been falsely
accused of a crime they did not commit.

Please share this with as many people as you can so the real story also
gets revealed.

It surprises us that organizations like Dallas Club and
Safari Club International (SCI), who's slogan is 'first for hunters', have
not become involved to investigate and stand behind a fellow hunter. Let us
all, as hunters, stand together.

~Debby & the Ndn

Deer Hunter · #2 08-04-2015, 12:38 PM

Quote:

It surprises us that organizations like Dallas Club and
Safari Club International (SCI), who's slogan is 'first for hunters', have
not become involved to investigate and stand behind a fellow hunter. Let us
all, as hunters, stand together.

They were the first to turn tail.
Its bad business for them. And that's really all they are, a big business, especially SCI imo.

Shouldn't have been surprised.

Ive been to Zimbabwe and killing this lion is the least of that countries concerns. Just a big social media stink for people who need a cause.

elkhunter11 · #3 08-04-2015, 12:43 PM

Quote:

The hunter was legally licensed,
the outfitter/PH, Theo, was licensed to legally hunt in that area.

But was there was a lion quota for the area?

Luxor · #4 08-04-2015, 12:51 PM

This is the kind of article that should be focused on

Torkdiesel · #5 08-04-2015, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

But was there was a lion quota for the area?

From the guys there on the ground it was a quota swap. Neighbouring property had quota and they planned on using it. I have "experienced" this first hand and was told it was 100% legal. The parks department now says it's 100% not. The Zim government has also shut down all lion, leopard and elephant hunting in the concessions around Hwange. Including those people currently there hunting as we speak.
This is a huge Fack up !!! Nothing good will come of this.

Even the airlines are jumping on the bandwagon

Deer Hunter · #6 08-04-2015, 01:05 PM

Quota transfers and swaps occurred regularly in Zimbabwe. Until now where it is apparently illegal. But still being approved and happening... Don't try to make sense of this situation as there is none to be had.

bloody arrow · #7 08-04-2015, 02:56 PM

here is an article published in Biological conservation in 2006. if you have to defend African hunting, you will find good arguments in the article. ("Trophy hunting is a major industry in parts of Africa, creating incentives for wildlife conservation over vast areas which otherwise might be used for alternative and less conservation friendly land uses.")

http://www.africanwildlifeconservati...gnificance.pdf

Grizzly Adams · #8 08-04-2015, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torkdiesel

From the guys there on the ground it was a quota swap. Neighbouring property had quota and they planned on using it. I have "experienced" this first hand and was told it was 100% legal. The parks department now says it's 100% not. The Zim government has also shut down all lion, leopard and elephant hunting in the concessions around Hwange. Including those people currently there hunting as we speak.
This is a huge Fack up !!! Nothing good will come of this.

Even the airlines are jumping on the bandwagon

I wouldn't believe the Zimbabwe government if they claimed the sun will rise tomorrow, rampant corruption from bottom to top.

Grizz

H380 · #9 08-04-2015, 05:20 PM

Did any one know that almost 25% of the young children in Zimbabwe die each year from starvation ? And people are worried about a lion ?

huntinstuff · #10 08-04-2015, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H380

Did any one know that almost 25% of the young children in Zimbabwe die each year from starvation ? And people are worried about a lion ?

Exactly

Fact: when a kid dies in Africa, none of these maggots care. None.

Run over a cat and it makes the National News.

Luxor · #11 08-04-2015, 08:00 PM

I find it strange funny that this thread of facts gets less attention than the other threads of speculation and personal heartfelt responses.

Hmmmmm
very interesting

score · #12 08-04-2015, 08:51 PM

The loons won't listen to reason or fact. Ironically enough, I believe many of the so-called caring people wake up each morning hoping things like this happen, by mistake or otherwise. They are radical lunatics and can be very dangerous in many different ways.

Everything is goofy as hell these days and it's getting worse.

Bushrat · #13 08-04-2015, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H380

Did any one know that almost 25% of the young children in Zimbabwe die each year from starvation ? And people are worried about a lion ?

Actually the figure is 9% that die by the age of 5 years. They are not dying of starvation, they are dying mostly of Aids and many other diseases due to the lack of vaccinations and medical facilities..

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.DYN.MORT

albertabighorn · #14 08-04-2015, 09:07 PM

Fact is as legal as it may or may not have been it has "severely damaged" us as hunters with all the negative exposure

Springer · #15 08-04-2015, 09:40 PM

Like Torkdiesel said the airlines are getting involved now.

The future for African Hunts appear to be in a downward spiral from here on in..Those that have been there and back will have memories of the hunt that hang on the wall..The rest of the People that had the dream of going one day may just have to look at everyone else's and wonder what the hunts could have been like.

Luxor · #16 08-04-2015, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springer

Like Torkdiesel said the airlines are getting involved now.

The future for African Hunts appear to be in a downward spiral from here on in..Those that have been there and back will have memories of the hunt that hang on the wall..The rest of the People that had the dream of going one day may just have to look at everyone else's and wonder what the hunts could have been like.

Settle down Jerry.....may I call you Jerry ?

Read read and read beyond these posts.

flyguyd · #17 08-04-2015, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Springer

Like Torkdiesel said the airlines are getting involved now.

The future for African Hunts appear to be in a downward spiral from here on in..Those that have been there and back will have memories of the hunt that hang on the wall..The rest of the People that had the dream of going one day may just have to look at everyone else's and wonder what the hunts could have been like.

Mite bring the prices down some .... They are getting guite ridiculous

Luxor · #18 08-04-2015, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyguyd

Mite bring the prices down some .... They are getting guite ridiculous

I wish

But more restrictions equals higher prices.

And more black market value.

Simple economics baby

amosfella · #19 08-04-2015, 10:43 PM

get a bunch of guys together and get a shipping container... Or rent a private plane...

H380 · #20 08-05-2015, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Actually the figure is 9% that die by the age of 5 years. They are not dying of starvation, they are dying mostly of Aids and many other diseases due to the lack of vaccinations and medical facilities..

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.DYN.MORT

Sorry , I was told this by a friend on another forum .. Seemed hi to me , the AIDS problem makes more sense .Still , people put a critter ahead of a kid .