President Obama’s mid-December move to protect African lions as endangered species will effectively end “canned” hunts for the king of the forest since nearly nine of every 10 killed is taken by an American, according to new data released by the Humane Society of the United States.
The analysis found the trophies of 719 African lions were imported into the United States in 2014. Of those, 620 came from South Africa, and of those, well more than half, 366, were killed in captive hunts.
AP Photo
Overall, HSUS said, 425 trophies from captive hunts were taken in 2014, meaning nearly 90 percent were taken by Americans.
The new analysis provided to Secrets by the Humane Society of the United States focused only on lions killed in so-called “canned hunts,” where the hunt takes place in huge, fenced-in parks for up to $20,000. But it also gives a good indication of the percentage of Americans versus others involved in wild hunting.
The administration on December 21 listed lions in central and West Africa as endangered. Under that rule, virtually no lion or lion part from that region can be imported. Hunters in other regions will have to prove that they killed legally.
Conservation groups like HSUS have long fought canned hunts and baiting by hunters.
As part of the endangered species ruling, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service indicated that it would ban canned hunts, one of several pro-animal victories HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle can crow about this year.
“The federal action to place African lions on the list of threatened and endangered species could and should cripple the canned lion hunting industry in South Africa, given that American account for nearly 9 of every 10 kills at these despicable, deplorable facilities,” he said.
More than half of the lion trophy imports from Africa into the United States are from canned hunts, according to the International Humane Society.
The administration’s action came after Minnesota dentist Walter J. Palmer killed a noted lion named Cecil in the wild in Africa. A national uproar followed, helping to galvanize the issue.
“If you thought Walter Palmer’s behavior was deplorable, what happens to lions at these facilities is even more appalling and unsporting,” said Pacelle.
There are about 6,000 lions held captive. A documentary called “Blood Lions” [trailer above] has raised awareness to the issue, and even one top hunting group has come out against canned hunts.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
