Full Statement: Jericho the lion is alive

By Johnny Rodrigues

STATEMENT – I would like to sincerely apologise for my last report where I stated that Jericho had been killed. I have now discovered that he is alive and well. The cubs are also doing well.

Yesterday, I received a phone call from a journalist who had just been to Hwange National Park. He told me that Jericho had been killed.

I was completely devastated by this news and I tried to confirm it. I tried to phone the research centre in Hwange but I couldn’t get through.

I eventually got through to one of the wardens in Hwange who confirmed to me that Jericho had been killed.A couple of other people also confirmed the story.

I released the information only to find out that it was not true. I don’t know why I was given this story and I feel very embarrassed about it.

Bear in mind, I live 900km away from Hwange so I couldn’t go and check for myself so I had to trust the people on the ground.

Apparently, an illegal hunt did take place yesterday and a lion was allegedly killed but it wasn’t Jericho. It was a case of mistaken identity.

I am trying to get more information on the details of that hunt, if indeed it did take place. A man has been arrested in connection with this.

Despite this terrible mistake I made, some good has come out of the whole scenario. Yesterday, National Parks released a statement to say that all hunting of lion, leopard and elephant has been banned in Hwange National Park area.

All I am trying to achieve is to get CITES to classify endangered animals such as lion, elephant, leopard and rhino as class 1, which means they may not be hunted or traded in.

Once again, please accept my apologies. We have received a few very rude emails and I would appeal to the public to please try and understand the position I am in here. I am risking my life by reporting what is going on here. This is why nobody else does it.

Johnny Rodrigues
Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force