Outrage after Kruger iconic lion shot by trophy hunter in national reserve

10
23
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Animal advocates continue to express outrage after reports of an iconic male lion was baited and killed by an American trophy hunter on Friday in Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, located on the boundary of Kruger National Park in South Africa. There are no fences between the private reserves and Kruger National Park.

Unconfirmed reports state the lion killed was the pack leader of the Western Pride named Skye and revered by tourists around the world. If  Syke was killed, it will mean his cubs will be killed by another male taking over the pride. According to LowaeVelder, there had been an approval to hunt an elderly lion “that often encroached into the north-eastern region of Umbabat from the Kruger, was in the cross-hairs,” and Skye was not the target.

The lion had been lured out of Kruger Park with bait from an elephant hunted and killed just days before. The American hunter is said to have paid more than $76,000 to kill the lion. The authority to hunt and kill the lion was allegedly legal according to the governing authority Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.

Just before the hunt, the EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading, sent a Cease and Desist warning to the CEO of Kruger Park Glen Philips and related agencies. The hunting quota included 4,467 animals including elephants, buffalo, hippos, leopards, hyena, giraffes and impalas. Hunting a lion was expressly excluded, however someone circumvented the rules and obtained a license to kill the lion.

The AfricaGeographic reports the lion that was shot met the requirements of the Greater Kruger lion hunting protocol, and hunting is permitted to pay for ongoing reserve management and security costs. Most people, however do not agree, and shiver at the facts that a few wealthy people can pay their way to kill iconic animals when there are viable alternatives to conservation funding.

Umbabat has been under scrutiny in the past when another well-known lion was shot. Time for South Africans to stand up and fight for the rights of the animals and their national heritage.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. Has to be some rich, unfeeling American business owner. Publish his name so that people who care can boycott his company.

    • I totally agree! People who pay to kill animals in a National Park or private reserve are no better than poachers! Boycott companies who’s owners, CEO’s or anyone with big bucks, murder animals in the name of hunting!

    • It was Jared Whitworth, from Kentucky! Whitworth Tool Inc, 114 Industrial Park Drive, Hardinsburg KY 40143 USA. Phone 270 756 0098 fax 270 756 0095 http://www.whittool.com. This was the person named on social media and in mainstream media as the hunter.

  2. Okay, time to call attention to the name of the filthy American POS who did this! This creature does NOT deserve to have his identity hidden! He does not deserve to have any privacy for his evil deed! If he’s a businessman, he should have his livelihood ruined, and, God willing, find no peace or quiet anywhere in this country!

    He’s no better than a POACHER! It’s disgusting that people with money can grease the wheels and get away with anything they want, but there you have it. Corrupt officials in a corrupt government equals ruining a huge tourist attraction with impunity.

    No wonder so many of these animals are disappearing at such an alarming rate.

    • Totally agree with you! Murdering animals by luring them with bait is not hunting! Post the name of this murderer so that those that oppose this behavior can boycott his company and take away his money so he won’t be able to do this anymore!

  3. This hunter is a true coward.He baits and lures a lion then kills it. Next time try facing one without weapons and baiting and luring and see who wins !

  4. Hunting is so cowardly. This person who paid that money…..what a heartless and empty soul to try and get their excitement in killing another living being.

  5. I hope “karma” takes care of the hunters in a “very special” way until they arrive at their “very special” place in HELL!

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