Steve Brine is backing a new charity specifically focused on the conservation of an iconic species that is in serious decline all over Africa.
Over the past 50 years, lion populations have declined from 200,000 to less than 20,000 today. While the latter number might still seem to represent a significant population, it is largely composed of small and non-viable remnants scattered across the continent.
The reasons for the decline in lion numbers are numerous and persistent, and can largely be attributed to conflict between large predator, human and livestock populations.
However, a significant number of lions (over 4,000 between 2002 and 2008) are exported as hunting trophies. This added source of mortality, especially as it targets a small section of the population (adult and even sub-adult males), greatly impacts the possibility of a future existence of this species.
New charity LionAid is convinced that lion trophy hunting must cease.
A spokesman said: “A species in free-fall decline cannot be exposed to additive mortality to satisfy “sport hunting” for entertainment of foreign clients. Some African nations have instituted their own bans on lion hunting, but others defer their decisions to international organizations like CITES and the IUCN.
“Both those organizations are considerably influenced by professional trophy hunting lobbying groups, and therefore can and have been distracted from evident conservation priorities.”
LionAid has proposed a UK import ban for any lion trophy, and it has been backed by a number of MPs.
Steve commented: “With lion numbers having fallen so drastically, it’s a no-brainer for me that we now impose a ban similar to that which we already have on elephant ivory.
“I know my colleague Andrew Turner MP is heavily involved in this campaign, and it has my full support.”
Pictured; Lion numbers have fallen from 200,000 in 1950 to less than 20,000 today
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Find out more by visiting http://www.lionaid.org/