RIP Unnamed Research Lion, Laikipia Kenya

[Spock]

https://www.lionlandscapes.org/single-p ... erspective

Oh, is there another research lion that people are talking about today? I see the internet is suddenly full of experts on lion pride dynamics again. Don't worry, I might have a little to say about that lion too.

However, the lion(s) above deserve to be considered in the wider picture as far more indicative of the lion situation across Africa. Obviously, Jimmy Kimmel is not going to cry over the Laikipia lions and Ricky Gervais and company are not going to mention them.

I am not going to pull quote the article as it is fairly long, but very interesting and far more educational than morally preening over trophy hunting.

[Spock]

I had just found that lion landscapes blog a few days ago so I am catching up as I go.

The land invasions in questions appear to be by the Samburu and Pokot people.

Other earlier readings on the Samburu indicate that they are very tough on wildlife and don't put up with lions.

In theory, the Masai can live with lions and other wildlife (It is getting harder as their population and herds increase).

However, it doesn't work with the Samburu, they tend to turn the land into desert and wipe out the game.

[Spock]

https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa ... -killings/

This is not good. We are seeing (in real time) the destruction of one of the few great wildlife areas left in Kenya and the loss of the second most important wildlife tourist area in Kenya.

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article ... ng-tourism

[jarnon]

I just saw A United Kingdom, a great movie about Botswana. At the end it says that the hero, Seretse Khama, a local king who

Spoiler

gave up his royal title after marrying an Englishwoman,

became the first president of independent, democratic Botswana. I wanted to know more, so I looked him up. He funneled mining profits into the nation's beef industry; Botswana is now a major beef exporter. That may be why they don't hunt for food. And unlike its neighbors, Botswana is a stable democracy with little corruption.

[Spock]

I just saw A United Kingdom, a great movie about Botswana. At the end it says that the hero, Seretse Khama, a local king who

Spoiler

gave up his royal title after marrying an Englishwoman,

became the first president of independent, democratic Botswana. I wanted to know more, so I looked him up. He funneled mining profits into the nation's beef industry; Botswana is now a major beef exporter. That may be why they don't hunt for food. And unlike its neighbors, Botswana is a stable democracy with little corruption.

Botswana closed legal hunting around 2013 or so. However, it is pretty broad to say that don't hunt for food.

A recent report says that the expanding bushmeat trade in the Okavango Delta is posing an increasing threat to wildlife there.

http://www.traveller24.com/Explore/Gree ... a-20170529

One way to think of it, is that all the hunting concessionaires who have a vested interest in stopping indiscriminant poaching have been removed from the landscape.