Paula White, a wildlife biologist, was examining lion skulls to estimate the animals' ages when she noticed something strange about their teeth. Instead of just showing the normal, gradual wear that happens over time, a sharp, V-shaped notch was cut into the back edge of some of the big cats' canines.
Researchers used photos of trophy-hunted lions and leopards especially of their teeth to do forensic work evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts in Zambia.
In a hunting camp in Zambia more than a decade ago, UCLA biologist Paula White puzzled over the heavy skull of a trophy-hunted lion. Zambia permits limited hunting in certain areas to help fund its national conservation program, and White had gained
A study shows that even in a country that is considered a bastion of conservation, many big cats were severely wounded in encounters with human snare traps and shotguns.