'Trophy ban bad for lions'

South Africa's multimillion-rand lion hunting industry - and, it is claimed, the existence of wild lions - is threatened by proposed legislation in the US that would make it illegal for US hunters to take lion trophies home.

The US Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is currently considering a petition - drawn up by five wildlife organisations - calling for it to put lions on the US's endangered species list.

South African experts fear a further reduction in the lion's habitat.

"Habitat loss is by far the biggest threat to wildlife in general and if you stop [lion] hunting on these farms you could have a further decrease in suitable habitat," said Dr Paul Funston, of the big cat conservation group Panthera.

South Africa's flourishing lion-breeding and hunting industry also serves a huge market for lion bone in Vietnam and China.

"If the legal trade in lion bone is ended, the Asian traders will resort to illegal practices like poaching. It is as simple as that," said Pieter Potgieter, chairman of the SA Predator Association, which represents lion breeders.

Funston, who recently took part in a study on how the loss of habitat is reducing lion numbers in Africa, saidthe proposed US legislation could "devalue" the lion, and big-game farmers might lose the incentive to maintain land suitable as lion habitat.

Though the number of wild lions worldwide is declining, Funston found that the lion population in South Africa was stable at about 2500 in the two major SANParks reserves.

The petition sent to the US Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said an analysis of lion numbers in nations in which they range, made between 1999 and 2008, indicated that "the African lion is clearly over-utilised".

The original analysis report stated that, between 1999 and 2008, 21914 products reportedly derived from wild African lions - representing a minimum of 7445 lions - were traded internationally.

The US imported 13484 products reportedly derived from wild African lions (62% of the total) .

South Africa was the origin of most of these products - accounting for at least 2862 "wild" lions.

Adri Kitshoff, CEO of the SA Professional Hunters' Association, said the lion was a "flag species" for generating income.

There are about 175 lion-breeding farms in South Africa, holding about 5000 lions. Hunters pay up to $60000 (about R600000) for a hunt.

A 2009 study by the University of the Free State found that lion farming added about R102.5-million to the economy and created 379 full-time jobs.

Potgieter said about 700 lions are hunted in South Africa every year. More than 330 were exported to the US in 2011, said the US Wildlife Department.