<p>Trophy hunting of lions may play a key role in their conservation by helping maintain important habitat for this threatened species, scientists claim.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Lions need large areas to thrive, and managing this land is expensive, researchers said.<br /><br />The study by researchers at University of Kent in the UK shows land under long-term management for trophy hunting can help fill this shortfall.<br /><br />The team noted hunting works but only when hunting companies are given long-term land management rights.<br /><br />Henry Brink and Bob Smith from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at Kent, and Professor Nigel Leader-Williams from the University of Cambridge, studied lion population trends in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve.<br /><br />This protected area is divided into blocks in which hunting rights are allocated to different companies. Their study showed that blocks under short-term allocation were over-hunted.<br /><br />In contrast, lion trophy hunting levels were sustainable in blocks owned by the same company for 10 years or more, thereby also maintaining important habitat for this threatened species.<br /><br />Brink said the research shows that those who have secured long-term use rights to natural resources are more likely to manage them sustainably.<br /><br />This is an important lesson for lion conservation, as loss of habitat means this species is increasingly restricted to protected areas, researchers said.<br /><br />Smith added that their findings may surprise the public, but most lion conservationists think trophy hunting could play a key role in conserving this species.</p>
<p>Trophy hunting of lions may play a key role in their conservation by helping maintain important habitat for this threatened species, scientists claim.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Lions need large areas to thrive, and managing this land is expensive, researchers said.<br /><br />The study by researchers at University of Kent in the UK shows land under long-term management for trophy hunting can help fill this shortfall.<br /><br />The team noted hunting works but only when hunting companies are given long-term land management rights.<br /><br />Henry Brink and Bob Smith from the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at Kent, and Professor Nigel Leader-Williams from the University of Cambridge, studied lion population trends in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve.<br /><br />This protected area is divided into blocks in which hunting rights are allocated to different companies. Their study showed that blocks under short-term allocation were over-hunted.<br /><br />In contrast, lion trophy hunting levels were sustainable in blocks owned by the same company for 10 years or more, thereby also maintaining important habitat for this threatened species.<br /><br />Brink said the research shows that those who have secured long-term use rights to natural resources are more likely to manage them sustainably.<br /><br />This is an important lesson for lion conservation, as loss of habitat means this species is increasingly restricted to protected areas, researchers said.<br /><br />Smith added that their findings may surprise the public, but most lion conservationists think trophy hunting could play a key role in conserving this species.</p>