Zambia wants to ban foreign hobby hunters

Sources within the Zambian government say that the authorities will announce a ban on trophy hunting in order to favour the Kenyan model of photographic tourism, which generates greater revenues.

Kenya's tourism industry grew exponentially when the country banned hobby hunting.

Legal disputes over hunting concessions

The Zambian government is embroiled in seemingly endless legal disputes before the courts over hunting concessions, with local hunting businesses largely belonging to a cartel of two families from Nyimba who import big-game hunters from overseas. Approximately 90% of revenues from hunting safaris are outsourced.

Hobby hunting destroys flora and fauna

The government is committed to the protection of wildlife and their natural habitats, and regards hobby hunting as a highly harmful practice that destroys flora and fauna, as hobby hunting also burns forests to clear the terrain.

Trophy hunting generates barely any income for the local population, no benefits for wildlife, promotes violence, and generates profit primarily for the hunting industry.

The Kenyan model as a blueprint

The Kenyan model of photographic tourism is the best option and is not only a reliable means of preserving wildlife and wilderness, but also generates greater revenues. The Geneva model in Switzerland has also demonstrated since 1974 that wildlife management without hobby hunting works.

Sources further explained that commercial hobby hunting in Zambia is currently controlled and dominated by two Zambian families who have persistently engaged the courts to slow down the reorganization and reform of hunting processes, fearing that this would harm their interests.