In Zimbabwe, a lion that participated in research was killed by poachers

• A blonde lion that participated in research was killed by a poacher.
• Poaching of lions in Zimbabwe has raised superlatives among activists and scientists.
• The population of wild lions in Africa has decreased by more than 90% over the last century.

An incident occurred in Zimbabwe that sparked international resonance. A lion named Blondie, who was part of research at Oxford University, was killed by a poacher. This incident recalls the killing of the famous lion Cecil in 2015, which also provoked great anger worldwide.

Blondie, who carried a special GPS collar, was killed in early 2025 in the Hwange National Park. According to the organization Africa Geographic, he was lured from a protected area into a poaching zone by a bait.

A representative of the Zimbabwean national parks agency stated that the poaching of Blondie was legal, as in the eyes of the poacher all necessary licenses were in place. In Zimbabwe, it is permitted to kill up to 100 lions per year, and this type of activity brings significant funds for nature conservation.

However, many activists believe that such killings are ethically wrong. The head of Africa Geographic, Simon Espley, expressed outrage by stating that a lion carrying a prominent collar became a target for poachers. They emphasized that Blondie was an important part of the research and a significant representative of his species.

It is worth noting that the population of wild lions in Africa has decreased by more than 90% over the last century. In Zimbabwe, there are approximately 1500 wild lions, of which nearly a third reside in Hwange National Park. Local organizations advocate for a ban on lion poaching, asserting that it harms their survival.

The story of Blondie once again raises questions about the ethics of lion poaching and its impact on the conservation of wild animals.

Tags: Crime/Ecology