Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/769056
improvements. Additionally, the game meat generated from safaris often goes to local villagers, providing an essential source of protein in areas all too deficient in it. T he hunting in Africa is beyond imagination, but the education provided by the people on the ground there is also life-changing. Too many Americans believe that one more hunter- killed lion means the simple math of one less lion on the planet. This thinking could not possibly be further from the truth. The hard-learned lessons speak for themselves: Where hunting bans have been imposed on species that were traditionally hunted, things have not ended well for those species—or for humans. It is time for emotion to be set aside when it comes to wildlife conservation, especially in Africa. It might sound cold and callous, but the old line I first read in The Perfect Shot is the immutable truth. Regulated hunting in North America saved wildlife here, and the same can be the savior in Africa—even if the motivations are different. n the not-so-complicated economic and safety decision to kill all of the lions on their properties. A similar story is told in Africa's central countries. Without sporthunting, the popular sentiment is that the only good lion is a dead one. The big cats are not seen as the cute, cuddly critters depicted in Hollywood blockbusters. They are a danger and often prey on cattle, goats, and sheep. Some indigenous populations poison lions to remove them from the picture. The math is not complicated in Africa's villages: Humans are more important than animals— no ethical calculator necessary. When hunting is allowed and encouraged (in other words, when no importation bans are in place), the locals experience enormous societal pressures not to eradicate lions. Healthy, huntable lion populations bring real money into local economies by creating jobs for trackers and hunting camp staff, as well as payment of government hunting fees. The latter are often directed toward conservation efforts and village infrastructure efforts, is being radically discouraged by social pressures and government regulations. Rhinos have stayed because they paid, but this successful model is being turned on its head by the emotional and uneducated who believe they are doing good. The Tams also explained the new crisis that lions will face as a result of action taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For all intents and purposes, the importation of legally hunted lion trophies into the United States has been halted. Since roughly 80 percent of the licensed lion hunters in Africa are Americans, nearly all of this hunting will come to an end because of the importation ban. Consequently, lions will be seen by landowners as nothing but a liability. Not only are they dangerous, they eat all of the other high-dollar species, such as roan and sable, that can still be hunted. The new regulation has destroyed the landowner incentive to accommodate lions. Sadly, because of the ban, there is nothing to stop landowners from making 176 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S