The Zambian government has put in place new guidelines on the hunting of big cats to regulate the hunting of the animals, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata told a meeting on big cats hunting that trophy hunting could contribute significantly to wildlife conservation and to the socio-economic wellbeing of people if properly regulated.

She said the guidelines were meant to direct trophy hunters and regulate hunting of big cats.

According to the guidelines, professional hunters will only be allowed to hunt lions of six years and above, and that no female lions will be hunted.

Kapata said among the guidelines includes the setting of a cautionary quota to hunt old lions with diminished biological function.

"It is critical that we continue to follow a cautionary quota until we are satisfied that the measures we have put in place will not harm the population," said the minister.

According to the new guidelines, only 24 lions will be hunted this year.

In May last year, the government lifted the suspension on hunting in big cats.

The government had suspended the hunting of big cats in 2012 as there was no proper system in place to ensure that cat hunting was sustainable.

According to estimates, Zambia has between 2,500 and 4,700 lions.

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