Mopane the lion

Remembering Mopane

Mopane the Lion - Leader of a Pride killed

One year ago we sought out the killer of Mopane. Over a three week period we relentlessly investigated the killing of Mopane and found his killer. Mopane was bowed, but only wounded, by a Trophy Hunter and then he tracked on foot and suffered for hours before he was finally killed. LionExpose published the name and address of Mopanes killer. The story of this killing was published all-over the world but journalist Christopher Bucktin led the story for LionExpose.

One year ago, Mr Phillip Smith, owner of Peak Sport & Spine and of address 4210 Phillips Farm Rd, Suit 103, Colombia Missouri 65292, paid over USD60,000 to Chattaronga Safaris in South Africa, which partnered with Dinguzula Safaris to hunt a famous black-maned lion, Mopane.

Mopane was baited out of the safe area of Hwange Park into the notorious Antoinette Farm in Gwayi Conservancy owned by Honest Ndlovu.

The trackers and teams of these two firms used a dead giraffe to bait Mopane, he was then "badly" bowed from a hide and wounded by Trophy Hunter Phillip Smith.

Suffering for over twenty hours they finally finished Mopane off with a bullet. Professional Hunter Dennis Nyankani shot him.

This brings the total number of male pride leaders hunted in this area outside of the protected area of Hwange to twenty-one at the time.

Shortly after Mopane was killed, one of the lionesses of his pride was found dead in a snare after she had tried to eat a buk caught in the snare. The lioness was tragically caught in the same snare and died.

Three young cubs and other sub-adults were left leaderless and defenseless after Mopane was slain.

At the moment of writing wild lions are being hunted outside of Matetsi.

https://pressreader.com/article/281874416598856