The Cecil story has stirred some strong memories. For me, it brings back vivid memories of a holiday Trudi and I enjoyed many years ago to Zimbabwe. It was Trudi’s first time to Africa and we started in Victoria Falls before heading to a private safari camp to a place called Matetsi, located between Vic Falls and Hwange (where Cecil lived).
The camp was empty with the exception of the General Manager and his family who were amazing hosts and we have a very special time there.
Sadly however, the game drives were fairly unsuccessful and we struggled to find much life other than the odd impala! We soon discovered this lodge bordered a “hunting concession”. We were totally naive to this “sport”. With no clear divide, an animal could enjoy its safety on a private safari lodge, but should it cross this invisible border, it was legal game and a trophy sport for rich hunters. So it became apparent that the scarce animals were either hiding for their lives or simply being depleted. Trudi and I were pretty appalled by the notion of game hunting and how someone would want to kill an animal in this way - especially with so much evidence to indicate endangered levels.
In jogging my memory for the name of the area, I just found a Facebook page which looks like its run by a hunting company:
THE HISTORY OF THE MATETSI SAFARI AREA
in the late 1960 s the Matetsi Area was privately owned by 15 land holders. The area was located in between the Victoria Falls and Hwange National Parks.
Some of the landholders were cattle ranching without much success as the mortality rate owing to Lion killing the stock was massive, and people came to realize that the losses were to high to sustain. A few of the landholders started fledgeling safari operations.
In 1974 the then government under the control of Ian Smith decided to expropriate the land in question, and join it to the two National Parks, or at least that’s the spin that was given to the public. Lengthy court battles assumed and in the end the countries Constitution had to be changed to facilitate this. The existing land holders were paid out approximately 10% of the actual land values at the time and it was then cut up into 7 Hunting Concessions.
These men were the founders of the safari industry as we know it today in Zimbabwe. The concessions are still being run today as they were then except the players have changed and a whole new crop of young Professional Hunters now hunt in the area.
Matetsi is without doubt the finest ALL ROUND hunting available in Zimbabwe today. Qoutas are small and consequently trophy quality and concentration of game is outstanding. It has the finest Sable in the country and without doubt the finest Lion available in Zimbabwe. Along with these species the are good numbers of Buffalo, Kudu, Waterbuck. Eland, Leopard, Elephant, Impala, Warthog, Giraffe and a host of smaller game. Furthermore it has no local people resident in the area and poaching is at a minimum.
On this Facebook page, there were several comments from Cecil like hunters who clearly revel in this type of experience.
I suspect, if I researched it, the land and lodge we stayed was likely to be one of the same owners as the hunting concession.
Zimbabwe is one of my favourite countries in the world and I was very excited to be taking my wife to Africa for the first time. I am lucky enough to have made some great friends there and I am sure they are more qualified to comment on this issue from their close quarters.
The media focus, from the little I have been able to follow, are mostly focused on seeking punishment to the Dentist. I know the Zimbabwean authorities are keen to prosecute. However, I need to understand the argument for legalised hunting concessions in the first place and that must fall on the Zimbabwean authorities. As we all know, authority in Zimbabwe is not where it should be.
This post includes a few lion photos I took a couple of years ago. One of natures most beautiful creatures enjoying freedom and safety. We talk about the ‘Circle of Life’ but I don’t think nature intended for sickening acts of human greed and perversion to get a kick out of shooting such animals for a trophy.
I really do hope something good comes from this story. The pessimist in me, I suspect the media will move on and life will continue as before. Sadly.
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