Research lion killed in ‘unethical’ alleged trophy hunt taking pictures

A widely known lion studied by University of Oxford lecturers has allegedly been killed by trophy hunters.

Blondie, who was believed to be five-years-old and the dominant male in his delight, is believed to have been killed on the week commencing 29 June simply exterior of Hwange National Park, in Zimbabwe.

The lion had been carrying a collar utilized by a college crew to review its actions and assist long-term conservation efforts.

Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic, a safari firm that sponsored the collar, mentioned he was “dismayed and angered”.

He mentioned in a press release: “That Blondie’s prominent collar did not prevent him from being offered to a hunting client, confirms the stark reality that no lion is safe from trophy hunting guns.”

“He was a breeding male in his prime, making a mockery of the… repeated claims that trophy hunters only target old, non-breeding males.”

Africa Geographic allege that the lion was “lured out” of his regular habitat and shot, in what the corporate mentioned was a “deeply unethical hunt”.

But, the corporate added that sources advised the hunt happened legally, with all required permits in place.

In a press release to Associated Press, Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe parks company, defended the hunt and mentioned they typically occurred at evening, which means the collar on Blondie might not have been seen.

He mentioned he had no info on Blondie being lured out of the park with bait, however mentioned there “is nothing unethical or illegal about that for anyone who knows how lions are hunted – this is how people hunt”.

“Our rangers were present. All paperwork was in order. Collars are for research purposes, but they don’t make the animal immune to hunting,” Mr Farawo mentioned.

He declined to call the hunter.

In a text message to The Times, Mike Blignaut, co-owner of Victoria Falls Safari Services, who allegedly helped organise the hunt, mentioned: “I cannot comment on anything. This is under instruction from ZPGA (the Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association).”

But he added: “I do wanna assure you, though, that the hunt was legal and conducted ethically.”

The BBC has additionally contacted Mr Blignaut for a remark.

Blondie is alleged to have led a delight of three females and ten cubs.

Responding to the lion’s alleged dying, conservation charity Born Free mentioned it was “shocked and saddened that yet another magnificent male lion has been brutally and callously slaughtered by a trophy hunter”.

The charity in contrast Blondie’s destiny to that of Cecil the lion, who was killed in related circumstances in Zimbabwe in 2015.

An American dentist had paid $50,000 (£32,000) to shoot Cecil – which led many to name for the southern African nation to tighten up its trophy looking legal guidelines.

Born Free’s head of coverage Dr Mark Jones mentioned “little has been learned since Cecil’s death”.

“This irresponsible activity has no place in the modern world, when wildlife needs all the help it can get just to survive. Trophy hunting must be consigned to history,” he added.

The examine had been led by Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, who haven’t responded to a BBC request to remark.