Pattinson in line to land Batman role
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tions’ stand up to scrutiny.” The cull is opposed by locals and chiefs as well as conservationists and safari operators.
Isaac Banda, of Zambia’s National Association of Community Resources Boards, said: “This is purely for moneymaking. They need to call it something else, because this is not culling.
“Culling is not advertised. This is purely for trophy hunting. We call upon the government to back off, to stop this.”
Some will claim the money brought in from trophy hunting goes back into local communities and even the national parks to help fund conservation.
But Isaac and many others refute this. Isaac said: “Since 2016 to date, the money from these fees has not been invested back into the community. In 2016 the government took all the money that was supposed to go to the community.”
Daniel Foote, the US Ambassador to Zambia, said the government has failed to “show anybody the science” to support the cull. Illegal trade in hippo ivory is on the rise, with over 7.3 tons of hippo tusks and teeth traded internationally last year. Hong Kong reported imports of 60 tons of hippo teeth between 2004 and 2014.
The cull was initially announced in February, and the following month a member of the Zambian government said the slaughter along the Luangwa River would still proceed due to “contractual obligations”.
A spokeswoman for the government there claimed there are 13,000 hippos along the 168-mile stretch of the Luangwa River, above the carrying capacity which she claims is 9,000.
She said the alleged over-population has caused “considerable damage to the environment and the riverbanks and continues to threaten the sustainability of the river system”.
Zambia’s Department for National Parks and Wildlife was unavailable when approached for comment. CAPED CRUSADER Robert ROBERT Pattinson is being tipped as the next Batman in Matt Reeves’ upcoming superhero movie.
Variety say the British star is in negotiations for Ben Affleck’s old role.
The former Twilight heart-throb, 33, is the top choice to play the Caped Crusader in the Warner Bros superhero movie.
He would be the second British Batman, following Wales-born Christian Bale who starred in Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.
Pre-production is set to kick off this summer.
The news comes just a few months after reports The Lone Ranger actor Armie Hammer was in “final talks” for the role.
At that stage Pattinson was said to be in line to portray one of the villains.