‘It Was Legal’ – Zimbabwe Parks Defends Killing Of Blondie The Lion, Says Collars Don’t Grant Immunity

Zimbabwe Defends Killing Of Research Lion Blondie As “Legal”

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has defended the controversial killing of a collared lion named Blondie, saying the hunt was “legal” and conducted in accordance with national hunting regulations.

Blondie, a prominent male lion fitted with a tracking collar as part of an Oxford University research programme, was killed in June just outside the boundaries of Hwange National Park. Wildlife groups and conservationists have condemned the hunt, drawing comparisons to the 2015 killing of Cecil the Lion, which sparked international outrage.

Tinashe Farawo, spokesperson for Zimbabwe Parks, confirmed the lion had been legally hunted.

“Our rangers were present. All paperwork was in order,” said Farawo in comments published by the Associated Press.

“Collars are for research purposes, but they don’t make the animal immune to hunting.”

Accusations Of Baiting Denied

Conservationists allege that Blondie was lured out of the park using bait — a tactic seen by many as unethical. However, Zimbabwe Parks dismissed the accusation.

“I have no information on Blondie being lured with bait,” Farawo told AP.

“There is nothing unethical or illegal about that for anyone who knows how lions are hunted. This is how people hunt.”

Simon Espley, CEO of Africa Geographic — the organisation that sponsored Blondie’s collar — expressed outrage at the killing, noting that Blondie was a breeding male in his prime.

“That Blondie’s prominent collar did not prevent him from being offered to a hunting client confirms the stark reality that no lion is safe from trophy hunting guns,” Espley said.

“It makes a mockery of the ethics that hunters claim to follow.”

Legal But Controversial

Mike Blignaut of Victoria Falls Safari Services, who allegedly helped organise the hunt, declined to comment directly but messaged The Times of London saying:

“I cannot comment on anything. This is under instruction from ZPGA (Zimbabwe Professional Guides Association).”

“I do wanna assure you, though, that the hunt was legal and conducted ethically.”

Zimbabwe permits the hunting of up to 100 lions a year, with hunters — mostly from abroad — spending up to US$100,000 (around R1.8 million) per expedition. The country earns approximately US$20 million (R362 million) annually from trophy hunting, which officials say helps fund conservation.

Farawo said that hunts often take place at night, which could explain why the collar wasn’t noticed.

The death of Blondie has rekindled the debate over trophy hunting in Africa. Kenya maintains a complete ban on hunting, while Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana allow regulated hunting. Botswana lifted its ban in 2019.

Blondie’s death echoes the case of Cecil, another collared lion involved in the same Oxford University research project. He was shot with a bow in 2015 after being lured out of Hwange. Although Cecil’s killer, American dentist Walter Palmer, was never prosecuted, the backlash was intense.

Zimbabwe is home to roughly 1,500 wild lions, a third of which roam Hwange National Park. Across the continent, Africa’s lion population is estimated at 20,000, but their numbers are declining due to habitat loss and human conflict. The species is listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.