Video News Release

____________________________________________________FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Mackenzie Jordan

Public Relations Manager 262-707-5924 jordanmh12@uww.edu

African Wildlife Foundation Demands Ban on Trophy Hunting of LionsCompetitive Trophy Hunting Endangers African Wildlife

TEASE RUNS: 04 (hunters lurking around looking at lions in an enclosure in Africa) A deeper look into the competitive trophy hunting that is endangering African

Wildlife.

INTRO: Along with other wildlife organizations, the African Wildlife Foundation actively seeks to put an end to all trophy hunting in the country. Since this is a particularly large cause to action, AWF chooses to start with the ban of lion hunting on all African soil, and hopes to increase the ban, one species at a time.

VIDEO AUDIO

Dr. Philip Muruthi talking “Given the dramatic decline of Africa’s lion population, we cannot support any human activities that contribute to lion mortalities, and that includes sport hunting,

Image of dentist with Cecil the lion (dead)

Decrease in lions (many lions shown, then just a few)

“We have reached that point where every individual counts. What the situation with Cecil the lion tells us is that even when a hunter believes he or she is participating in a legal hunt that might not always be the case. That hunter, in fact, may be unwittingly contributing to the extinction of the species.”

Hunters with guns looking for and shooting lions trapped in fenced enclosures

As of now, trophy hunting of lions in Africa is a large and LEGAL activity. In the last 21 years, the lion’s total population has declined by 42 percent, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Hunters handing money to gatekeepers and being allowed to enter enclosures

The captive lion industry is a completely new experience. This legal ‘sport’ consists of people paying big money to travel to and visit an animal enclosure where the lions are bread and held captive.

Hunters leaving with lions strapped to trucks. Gatekeepers waving goodbye

This practice is unlike that of normal hunting because the ‘hunter’ in this situation is guaranteed a trophy (lion).

Map of lions population shrinkingThese facilities breed and raise the lions in the enclosures specifically to make money on trophy hunters coming to their country to kill them.

MSNBC logo and time/date of documentary

The African Wildlife Foundation urges followers to watch the Blood Lions