Minister Of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata has lifted the ban on hunting in the 19 hunting blocks with immediate effect. Ms Kapata made the announcement at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Tourism head office in Lusaka this morning.
She however said that the hunting will be conducted under laid down conditions and strict supervision from ZAWA. But that the ban on big Cats still stands. Hunting in the said blocks was suspended in 2013 due to inability to select outfitters in these blocks arising from a flawed process in the tender.
Hunting of Lions and other cats was banned on understanding that their populations were depleted to such low levels that it was not sustainable to hunt them.
She has also appealed to everyone to assist government and ZAWA in the conservation of the wildlife and its habitat in Zambia. She said that Zambia prides itself in having arguably the richest bio-diversity on the continent, which we all should guard against depletion..
Article by: The Zambia Wildlife Authority
Please note that we are not the Zambia Tourism Board and don’t make these policy decisions. We are a private organization dedicated to providing information about travel and tourism in Zambia.
UPDATE: Here is ZAWA’s response to this press release: https://www.zambiatourism.com/zawa-explains-hunting-ban-lift
I am speechless about this decision. How can Zambia lift the ban on hunting if the whole world knows that elephants and rhinos are highly endangered!!! It can only be greed which is behind such a decision. I will definitely not visit Zambia before they do not install the hunting ban again.
Get with the times – ever hopeful that this decision is not based on greed for money – at the expense of our beautiful heritage – give the elephants those guns – let them hunt you down and kill you – FAIR
Get with the times – ever hopeful that this decision is not based on greed for money – at the expense of our beautiful heritage !!!!! x
I think this should not be allowed!!!! This is wrong andits animal cruelty!!! God made these precious animals an they are going extinct an they shouldn’t beallowed to hunt down an killed!! That’s idiotic and stupid!!!! You all should be ashamed of yourself!!!! I am totally against this!!!
This is non ethical! Sports hunting has NO merit, only financial gain which is poisonous! I oppose this decition from the borrow of my heart and soul!
Ms Kapata I am deeply saddened that you have lifted the ban on wildlife hunting. The elephants and rhino’s of Africa are in danger of becoming extinct and this action is not going to help the situation. I do believe that there is good in everyone and I am asking you to find the compassion in you heart and soul to end the killing of wildlife. It is a great mistake to “be killing the golden goose”. If it is money that drives your decision dead animals will be just that in a very short time and then there will be no reason for people to visit Africa ecologically and ethically this is a huge mistake please reverse your decision on allowing hunting to continue.
I am disgusted with this decision clearly your Minister has not done her homework for conservation on elephants etc, our Prince William is doing great work to stop hunting and poaching and educating people in the UK and you do this all for MONEY. I for one will not being visiting your country now. Lets hope your tourism suffers because of this unbelievable decision SHAME ON YOU
Are you seriously allowing for innocent animals to be killed. How much money have you been given for this decision? How can you sleep at night. Please don\\’t do this. The whole world is trying to teach conservation apart from a minority with a sickness for killing innocent creatures. What will this say to future generations. Just because these majestic animals don\\’t communicate in our language doesn\\’t give anyone the right to end their life. Please rethink this.
I will never go to or support anything related to Zambia, a country run by short-sighted, corrupt individuals who cannot see the need to STOP the killing of elephants and abusing the land, the People, and creatures who live in a country now run by those who are about greed not public good or morality.
PLEASE seriously consider the negative impact on Zambia, her tourism, her most valuable asset her wildlife and the elephants (dear me the elephants) if you lift the ban on hunting. NO HUNTING equates with great tourism, more money, a nation perceived as caring and protecting…hunting brings very little revenue 1.5%? (as opposed to tourism and tourists who bring ONLY cameras 75%+ and DO NOT LIKE being in places where animals are stressed, shy, skittish and afraid because they are hunted.) The damage to your tourism will be HUGE and the damage to the VERY FRAGILE elephant population will be enormous….PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE re-consider this. We are duty bound to protect this very endangered species…thank you.
Not that this comment or all the others will others will make a difference because money talk. Someone will be getting a big bonus this year I guess. Disgusting. You Minster have brought shame onto your country. Please don’t go on holiday to any country that allows scum of the world in to hunt for pleasure.
Disgusting decision. Shame on your country.
I\’m disgusted that someone with obviously such poor understanding of conservation, endangered animal populations& the actions necessary to support them, is in the role of ConservationsMinister in Zambia.What hope do the animals have?!I would suggest that the minister has some financial sweetener for allowing hunting to continue!Much proof exists that animals are more profitable through tourism set up to watch them than through their murder for \’sport\’ (thank god they don\’t have the \’sport\’ of hunting in theOlympics!) & also that there is a direct psychological link between hurting/killing animals &doing the same to humans.Zambia has a wonderful diverse natural world & should protect it
This is a very sad development. I will certainly discourage family and friends from spending their tourism dollars in Zambia. Will you not be happy until the last elephant or rhino is slaughtered?
I can’t believe that when elephants are facing extinction hunting of them will be allowed.
Zambia, may your tourism become extinct with such a vile decision to allow hunting of your most treasured elephants. The world is watching. We hope you reverse your decision.
I can’t believe the short sighted, inhumane, despicable action this is! Very sad… Does Zambia not value it’s wildlife?
Why on earth is it good , necessary or desirable to kill these animals? Base your tourism on live animals.
I am beyond angry that you are even considering hunting elephants. Do you have no idea that these animals are facing extinction??? Do you seriously think this will help tourism at all? What right do you have to kill these magnificent creatures for fun. I ask you to reconsider your decision and have some compassion.
This is so short-sighted. Strict supervision is irrelevant for animals facing extinction in the very near future. Elephants as well as lions need protection. A study just released by the US National Academies of Sciences proves beyond doubt that more elephants are being poached than born: 100,000 elephants in just three years. (See http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140818-elephants-africa-poaching-cites-census/.) Other studies have shown how important elephants are to the ecosystem as well as public health.
I’ve been planning a trip Africa, especially to visit elephant habitats. Zambia is now off my list (as is Namibia). It’s hard to believe your government is willing to destroy its future for short-term gain.