Literally as we were going to press, I received word that the Zambian Wildlife Authority has cut 2009 lion quotas drastically for many concessions. Without discussion or warning, some safari operators there were simply informed that their lion quota had been cut, in most cases by half of their original allotment. Quotas for leopard and some less demanded species, such as hyena, were increased in apparent compensation. Topping things off, ZAWA is still demanding the same concession and safari fees, regardless of the quota cut.
This is nothing new to Zambia’s Safari Operators, as ZAWA attempted a similar quota cut two years ago and was immediately hit by court actions that forced them to stick to original quotas in the lease agreements signed in 2003. These court actions are still in effect for some of the safari operators and their concessions, which makes ZAWA’s current action somewhat illegal.....
