Zimbabwe Eyes East Asia for Trophy Hunting Exports Amid European Bans

Zimbabwe is considering exporting trophy hunting products to East Asian markets as some European countries impose bans on trophy imports. This shift comes after the European Parliament called for a ban on the import of trophies derived from species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 2022.

Countries like Belgium and the UK have already implemented these bans. Belgium banned the import of hunting trophies in February, while British lawmakers approved a ban covering 6,000 endangered species in 2023.

Fulton Mangwanya, Director General of Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife (Zimparks), stated, "We can always come up with an alternative market... We have to look for other markets from the East." Although Mangwanya did not specify which East Asian countries Zimbabwe is targeting, the move signifies a strategic pivot in response to the European bans.

Why this matters: The shift in Zimbabwe's trophy hunting exports highlights the complexities of wildlife conservation and management in the face of changing global regulations. If successful, this pivot could have significant implications for the conservation of endangered species and the livelihoods of communities dependent on wildlife tourism.

Discussions are ongoing among five Southern African countries, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, to support trophy hunting. These countries form the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), which covers 520,000 square kilometers and hosts a significant concentration of wildlife species, including the largest elephant population.

The KAZA summit held in Livingstone, Zambia, highlighted the challenges of human-wildlife conflict in the region. In Zimbabwe alone, 50 people were killed in elephant attacks in 2023. Mangwanya emphasized the need for trophy hunting to manage wildlife populations and reduce these conflicts: "We should be allowed to be hunting more so that we do the management of reducing these animals which are killing our people."

Domingos Gove, Director of Natural Resources in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, also supported trophy hunting, stating, "Hunting is a source of funding. If you close the market, how [are] we able to cater for the basic needs of these communities?"

Zimbabwe faces additional challenges with its $600 million worth of ivory stockpile, which cannot be sold in compliance with CITES regulations banning ivory trade. Mangwanya expressed frustration over this restriction, arguing that Zimbabwe should be allowed to trade ivory to support conservation efforts and manage wildlife populations.

The KAZA region, established in 2006 and implemented in 2011, aims to conserve biodiversity through integrated transboundary management. The area is home to the world's second-largest conservation area and includes 103 wildlife management areas and 85 forest reserves. Despite these efforts, the region is currently experiencing its most severe drought in three decades, further complicating conservation efforts.

Zimbabwe's consideration of East Asian markets for trophy hunting products reflects a broader strategy to circumvent the restrictions imposed by European bans. As discussions continue among Southern African countries, the future of wildlife conservation and management in the region remains a critical issue.

Key Takeaways

• Zimbabwe considers exporting trophy hunting products to East Asian markets due to European bans.
• Belgium and the UK have already implemented bans on trophy imports from endangered species.
• Zimbabwe aims to pivot to East Asian markets to maintain revenue from trophy hunting.
• Trophy hunting is seen as a means to manage wildlife populations and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Zimbabwe also seeks to trade its $600 million ivory stockpile to support conservation efforts.