Following international media pressure after the killing of Cecil the lion in 2015, The United States has banned the importation of the African lion, a decision that is likely to cripple the local hunting sector which derives 75 percent of its clients from that country.
The ban will be effective in about two weeks time.
The US is also pushing to have the lion uplifted to Appendix One at the forthcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to be held in Durban, South Africa, later this year.
The local hunting sector says the US’ move will not benefit the country but rather cripple conservation efforts that the country has been initiating through trading in lions.
Washington will only allow the importation of the African lion on condition that the hunting must qualify that other species of wildlife must benefit.