Hunting in the National Parks

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UGANDA has been allowed to introduce leopard hunting as a sport. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) approved a proposal by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Ministry of Trade to partially lift a ban on leopard hunting. The country can now kill a maximum of 28 leopards annually. "For the exclusive purpose of sport hunting for trophies and skins for personal use," the proposal read. The organization grades animals and plants according to the degree of protection they need. Appendix one covers species threatened with extinction. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Uganda has a total of 2,700 leopards. Its executive director, Sam Mwandha, said the hunting sport would benefit the country. Each trophy hunter would be required to pay $50,000 (sh83m) per leopard killed.

Ugandan citizens may not be interested in the sport, especially with the cost, but we are expecting a lot of foreigners. It is easier to regulate the number of leopards hunted because trophy hunters want to show off their prizes. According to a survey carried out in Kiruhura district by the Lake Mburo Conservation Area Problem Animal Unit, nine leopards were killed between 2003 to March 2006.

However Sport hunting will make leopards more valuable than being poisoned or killed. It will also generate tangible economic benefits that will motivate local people to protect them instead of regarding them as vermin. Other conservationist criticized the move, arguing that CITES approved the proposal without ascertaining the population of the leopards in the country.