As to assumptions about player nations, I think it's no worse than assuming the nation has many of the other animals we've assumed.
The biggest worry here is overlap with 1298, which is why I've played down the real life issue of this being related to ranches and farmers, and made it purely about the human loss of life, which I think is enough to make it distinct. Opinions on that welcome, however.
IRL, they opted for option 2.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-48553562
draft 3:
TITLE:
A Question of Pride
VALIDITY:
top 75% environment
DESCRIPTION:
A pride of lions has come into conflict with their human neighbours, leading to the mauling and subsequent death of a young @@MAN@@.
OPTION 1a - ZOOS NOT BANNED
"Everybody likes lions, but human life has to come first," complains village elder @@randomname@@. "Put them in a zoo for tourists to gawk at, and turn that savannah over for much needed farming and urban development. Give me a home where the buffalo roam, and I'll give you sustainable economic growth and increased local employment. Ka-ching!"
OUTCOME:
the simile "as sad as a caged lion" is used to describe depressed people
OPTION 1b - ZOOS BANNED
"Everybody likes lions, but human life has to come first," complains farmer @@randomname@@. "Back in the old days we used to have zoos to keep beasts in, till some idiot closed them all down. Reinstate zoos, and you can turn that savannah over for much needed farming and urban development. Give me a home where the buffalo roam, and I'll give you sustainable economic growth and increased local employment. Ka-ching!"
OUTCOME:
the simile "as sad as a caged lion" is used to describe depressed people
OPTION 2
"The global wild lion population is down by 80% in the last 15 years, we can't diminish that further," snaps woke city-dwelling environmentalist @@randomname@@, clutching onto a plush lion toy, and a musical theatre program for West-End smash The Lion Monarch. "There's a fenced lion reserve on the other side of @@NAME@@. Why don't we just tranq these cats, bus them over, and let them start life anew in their new homes?"
OUTCOME:
public buses sometimes smell like animal transporters
OPTION 3
"You can't combine lion populations like that!" wails walking-stereotype scientist @@randomname@@, wearing white lab coat, goggles and latex gloves. "When two male alphas meet they'll fight, and the winner will kill all the cubs of his rivals. You want that blood on your hands? The problem here is human expansion! Pull back development from the edge of the lions' territory, and give them some space. We can all coexist!"
OUTCOME:
if someone says there's plenty of living space in @@NAME@@ they're probably lyin'
OPTION 4
"Lions! They are truly worthy foes, by Crom!" roars Conan Schwarzenmomoa, a big game hunter with a preference for double-handed swords. "Stand aside and I -- with my huntsman companions -- will deal with the beasts in the only manner that is fit! I WILL CLEAVE THEIR SKULLS!"
OUTCOME:
real men are rare (mostly because real men wrestle lions)
draft 2:
DRAFT 1: