Hwange – Zimbabwe wildlife authorities has defended the killing of a collared lion in Hwange national park by trophy hunters saying the hunt was legal.
The lion named Blondie was killed in June by trophy hunters in Hwange, West of Zimbabwe recently.
Blondie, a well known lion was being studied by the University of Oxford.
The cat was about five years old.
”Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) confirms that a recent hunt of a collared lion in Hwange National Park was legally conducted, with the necessary approvals and having fully complied with all regulations,” said Tinashe Farawo, ZimParks spokesman in a statement.
”Contrary to ongoing speculation, there was no illegality in this hunt.”
Farawo said nothing exempts collared lions from being hunted.
”While collared animals are marked for research purposes, this does not exempt them from being legally hunted under regulated circumstances,” he said.
Trophy hunters pay anything above US$30 000 to kill a lion or an elephant in Zimbabwe.
Wildlife conservationists that are against trophy hunting have condemned the killing of Blondie.
In 2015, a well known lion known as Cecil was killed in Hwange national park by an American dentist.
The killing of Cecil was condemned across the world.
Zimbabwe says killing of collared lion by trophy hunters legal
