Kenya may bring back hunting

KENYA may lift a three-decade ban on sport hunting as part of a broader revamp of its wildlife policies, a senior official said yesterday.

Such a move could see foreign hunters target Kenyan lion, buffalo and antelope species, but would provoke resistance from animal welfare groups.

Julius Kipng'etich, the director of Kenya Wildlife Service, said: "We started a policy review in September last year on our entire wildlife policy, looking at a range of issues. The ban on hunting is one of those up for review and discussion. Hunting is one way of utilising wildlife, but there are others.

"Much of our wildlife is outside of protected areas and local communities must get benefits from wildlife," he added.

Other options include game viewing and bird watching in protected reserves, the main route Kenya has been taking.

Kenya has long been an icon for animal welfare groups because of its ban on the hunting of animals for sport, imposed in 1977. But other African nations - including neighbouring Tanzania - have cashed in on the lucrative big game hunting industry.

Laurence Frank, a researcher with the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society, said: "Hunting is the most lucrative way of utilising wildlife and it has the least impact."

He said this is because foreign sport hunters tend to favour "trophies", which are usually older, non-breeding animals.

He added that with hunting there are fewer people and vehicles than when tourists visit game reserves, so it can be less intrusive.