ZimParks Sparks Trophy Hunting Debate After Collared Lion’s Death Near Hwange

HWANGE — The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has come under public scrutiny following the recent legal killing of a GPS-collared lion near Hwange National Park.

The incident, which occurred in the Gwaai/Sikumi Forest area, has sparked widespread concern over trophy hunting practices and the protection of research animals.

ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo stated that the hunt was authorized and conducted within wildlife regulations.

“Contrary to ongoing speculation, there was no illegality involved in this hunt… We urge the public to stop spreading wrong information that may cause unnecessary alarm,” he said.

The lion, part of a long-term research program by Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, was fitted with a GPS collar to track its movements and behavior.

According to Pindula, the animal was reportedly lured from a protected photographic zone and shot in a legally designated hunting area.

Conservationists have condemned the act, noting the lion was just five years old—below Zimbabwe’s recommended trophy age of six and a key breeding male.

The event has drawn parallels to the 2015 killing of Cecil the Lion and reignited calls for greater transparency in wildlife policy, with many urging authorities to better protect research-tagged animals from trophy hunting.