Lion hunting

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lion hunting is the act of hunting lions.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Assyria 1.2 Ancient Egypt 1.3 Republic of South Africa 2 Maasai Lion Hunting 2.1 Group hunting 2.2 Solo hunting 2.3 The journey 2.4 Body parts 3 Sport Hunting Methods 3.1 Spot & Stalk 3.2 Hounding 3.3 Baiting 4 References 5 See also

[edit] History

[edit] Assyria

In ancient Assyria, lion-hunting was a sport reserved for kings. These hunts were symbolic of the ruling monarch’s duty to protect and fight for his people.^[1] Reliefs found in a former palace in Nineveh dating from about 645 BC in the British Museum in London show King Ashurbanipal hunting lions.^[2]

[edit] Ancient Egypt

As with Assyria, Ancient Egyptian lion hunts were usually reserved for those in power. These hunts nearly resulted in the exterminaion of regional lion populations by 1100 BC. Commemorative artwork has been found telling of how during a single hunt, pharaoh Amenhotep III killed more than 100 lions.^[3]

[edit] Republic of South Africa

The first South African legistlation on the killing of predators was established in 1656. Six realen were awarded to those who shot or captured lions. In the 1890s, over 4000 lions were killed both inside and outside Kruger National Park in an effort to boost game populations. Between 1903 and 1927, a minimum of 1272 lions were killed by park personnel.^[4]

[edit] Maasai Lion Hunting

The maasai people have traditionally viewed the killing of lions as a right of passage. Historically, lion hunts were done by individuals, however, due to reduced lion populations, lion hunts done solo are discouraged by elders. Most hunts are now partaken by groups of 10 warriors. Group hunting, known in Maasai as olamayio, gives the lion population a chance to grow. Maasai customary laws prohibit killing a sick or infirm lion. The killing of lionesses is also prohibited unless provoked.

At the end of each age-set, usually after a decade, the warriors count all of their lion kills to compare them with those hunted by the former age-set in order to measure accomplishment.^[5]

[edit] Group hunting

Empikas (warrior delegation) plan a lion hunt in advance in secret. Only the warriors are permitted to know about the day of the hunt. The secret is considered so important that Ilbarnot (young warriors) from the same age-set are denied information regarding the hunt, due to the older warriors fearing discovery from anti-hunt groups. If a warrior is found guilty of spreading rumours, he is punished through beating. In addition, the guilty warrior will be looked down upon throughout his entire age group's cycle.^[5]

[edit] Solo hunting

Solo lion hunting requires confidence and advanced hunting skills, requiring a dedicated warrior. Unlike group hunting, solo lion hunting is usually not an organised event, sometimes occurring when a warrior is out herding cattle.^[5]

[edit] The journey

The lion hunt starts at dawn, when elders and women are still asleep. The warriors meet discreetly at a nearby landmark where they depart to predetermined areas. Before departing, the Ilmorijo (older warriors) filter out the group in order that only the bravest and strongest warriors take part. The resulting group is known as Ilmeluaya (fearless warriors). The rejected young warriors are commanded by older warriors to keep the information of the hunt confidential, until the return of their favoured colleagues. There have been cases whereby older warriors have forced warriors to give up their excess weaponry, seeing as it is considered insulting to bring more than a spear which is sufficient to kill a lion.^[5]

After a successful hunt, a one-week celebration takes place throughout the community. The warrior who struck the first blow is courted by the women and receives an Imporro, a doubled-sided beaded shoulder strap. The warrior wears this ornament during ceremonies. The community will honor Olmurani lolowuaru (the hunter) with much respect throughout his lifetime.^[5]

[edit] Body parts

The Maasai do not eat game meat, and utilise the bodies of their killed lions for three products; the mane, tail and claws. The mane is beaded by women of the community, and given back to the hunter, who wears it over his head on special occasions. After the meat ceremony, when a warrior becomes a junior elder, the mane is thrown away and greased with a mixture of sheep oil and ochre. This sacrificial event is done to avoid evil spirits.^[5]

The lion's tail is stretched and softened by the warriors, then handed over to the women for beading. The warriors keep the tail in their manyatta (warriors camp), until the end of warriorhood. The lion tail is considered the most valuable product and after graduation, the warriors must gather to pay their last special respect to the tail before it is disposed of.^[5]

[edit] Sport Hunting Methods

[edit] Spot & Stalk

This method is typically employed by sport hunters with the assistance of a P.H. (professional hunter) and at least one native tracker.

[edit] Hounding

This method involves the hunter or P.H. releasing a pack of dogs bred for this purpose in an area known for high levels of lion activity or over fresh spoor/tracks. The pack will track the lion, giving chase until it is cornered and then hold the lion at bay until the hunter can catch up and dispatch the lion at close range.

See also: Rhodesian Ridgeback

[edit] Baiting

This common method involves the hunter lying in ambush from a constructed blind about 30-50 yards off from a bait, usually an ungulate carcass, and to then hang or fasten the carcass to a tree in a likely area where a lion would occur. The bait is then checked every day until there is evidence of a hungry lion present in the area. A large spoor or long black-tipped hairs on the bait signal the building of a blind. The blind is built on the ground or in a tree nearby where the hunter will lie in wait usually from mid-afternoon or early mornings.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Tiger hunting