Effective implementation of age restrictions increases selectivity of sport hunting of the African lion

1. Sport hunting of wildlife can play a role in conservation but can also drive population declines if not managed sustainably. Previous simulation modelling found that large felid species could theoretically be hunted sustainably by restricting harvests to older individuals that have likely reproduced. Several African countries currently use age-based hunting for lions although the outcomes have yet to be evaluated in a wild population. 2. Here we provide the first empirical evidence that a system of incentives sufficiently encouraged age-based hunting and reduced offtake of a wild felid, thereby reducing the potential risk of unsustainable hunting on a threatened species. We examined long-term hunting data and the lion population trend in Niassa National Reserve, Mozambique. 3. To incentivise hunter compliance, a ‘points’ system was developed which rewards operators that harvest lions older than the 6-year minimum trophy age recommended for sustainable hunting and penalises oper...