Death of Cecil: Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife responds

Bow hunting suspended

Press Statement by the Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority on Measures to Improve the Administration of Hunting in the Country

Following the illegal killing of an iconic lion,  Cecil,  outside the HwangeNational Park on Antoinette farm in Gwayi River Conservancy on the 1st of July 2015,  it has become necessary that the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority further tightens hunting regulations in all areas outside the Parks Estate.

The Authority working with other law enforcement agencies has launched a crackdown to weed out any undesirable elements.  To date our law enforcement agencies are following up on all found or reported cases and they have since arrested another culprit,  Headman Sibanda,  on allegations of breaching hunting regulations.  He is currently assisting police with investigations.

Measures to be implemented immediately

Further to that crackdown the following measures are going to be implemented immediately;

1. Hunting of lions,  leopards and elephant in areas outside of Hwange National Parks has been suspended with immediate effect.  All such hunts will only be conducted if confirmed and authorized in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority,  and only if accompanied by parks staff whose costs will be met by the landowner.

2. Bow hunting has been suspended with immediate effect and no such hunting will be conducted unless it has been confirmed and authorized in writing by the Director-General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.

3. Members of the hunting fraternity are being reminded that it is illegal for quotas to be transferred from one hunting area to another. Any case of quota transfer is regarded as poaching. The Authority will not hesitate to arrest,  prosecute,  and ban for life any persons including professional hunters, clients and land ownerswho are caught on the wrong side of the law.

All players in the hunting industry are being reminded to familiarize themselves with the relevant statutes governing the wildlife industry.  Further,  the Authority would like to appeal to all members of the public that they should report any suspected illegal wildlife activities to the nearest offices of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority,  Zimbabwe Republic Police and other Government law enforcement agencies.

––E. Chidziya,  Director General

Zimbabwe Parks & Wildlife Management Authority