Trophy hunting of wild lions (Panthera leo) is controversial - its impact on conservation has been much debated. It involves the hunting of selected individuals for sport and usually taking their body parts for display. The US recently listed the African lion on the Endangered Species Act, and the United States Fisheries and Wildlife Service (USFWS) now permits the import of lion trophies only from areas where hunting can be demonstrated to benefit conservation. The rationale is that many US lion hunters (currently the majority of lion hunters) are likely to stop hunting if they cannot take their trophies home. This threat provides a financial incentive for hunting operators to fulfil the prescribed requirements. The burden of proof is considerable – operators need to demonstrate population monitoring and ‘scientifically based management programs’; furthermore, they are required to show that local people benefit . Here, we contemplate the implications of applying consistent standards to any land use depending on wildlife.
