A collared male lion named Blondie, who was part of a pride studied by Oxford University scientists in Zimbabwe, was allegedly shot by a trophy hunter who lured him out of his protected reserve with bait.
Africa Geographic, a company focused on providing ethical safaris, revealed the five-year-old was killed last month, leaving behind young cubs.
The company reported the big cat was lured out of a photographic concession area near Hwange, despite being part of a scientific study. Blondie had only been fitted with a GPS satellite collar by researchers from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit a few months before.
Blondie’s killing is “expected to cause turmoil for the pride”
OWEN GROBLER/SEARCHING FOR SPOTS
OWEN GROBLER/SEARCHING FOR SPOTS
The research collar was “fitted to track free-roaming lions, prevent human-wildlife conflict and support long-term conservation,” it said. The Oxford team was contacted for comment.
Simon Espley, chief executive of Africa Geographic, said: “As the sponsor of Blondie’s research collar, we are dismayed and angered by this development. 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.”
Africa Geographic said: “His sudden loss is expected to cause turmoil for the pride, with a high likelihood that incoming rival males will kill his youngest cubs.” This is common behaviour among prides, it noted.
The company said the hunt had been conducted by a professional hunter who was a member of the Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association (ZPGA). The association did not reply to a request for comment. Under Zimbabwean law, lions under six years of age are not allowed to be hunted.
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Mike Blignaut, co-owner of Victoria Falls Safari Services, who allegedly helped organise the hunt, told The Times in a text message: “I cannot comment on anything. This is under instruction from ZPGA.”
But he added: “I do wanna assure you, though, that the hunt was legal and conducted ethically.” He did not respond to follow-up questions.
LionExpose, an activist website that exposes trophy hunters, named the alleged hunter on X.
The American is being criticised on social media, but denies killing Blondie.
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He appears to be an avid hunter, however, and enjoys riling up the people trolling him. Last week, he posted on Facebook: “You all know that if I killed a lion it would be my cover photo.
“I have never hunted a lion, but I do know a few outfitters that offer lion hunts. Due to recent events I am going to start helping them book lion hunts. Send me a pm [personal message] if interested!! For those of you doubting this post. It is real, let’s kill some lions!!”
In comments under the posts, strangers tell him they hope he will be killed by a lion as karma. He responds to one saying he did not kill Blondie but “if I had the money I would’ve shot that lion in the face”.
Last month opponents of lion hunting marked the tenth anniversary of the killing of Cecil, a lion that was beloved by tourists, by an American dentist, also in Zimbabwe.