As climate change becomes a frequent topic in household discussions, the fate of animal populations all over the world has also gained much needed attention. Illegal trade of wildlife has become an increasing problem in African countries, especially since conservation efforts receive little to no funding from their governments. However, another enigma presents itself to conservationists as well; whether or not trophy hunting aids or damages endangered species’ populations. Weighing these two issues and determining a sustainable outcome is an obstacle that still faces scrutiny and much deliberation today. While a clear solution has not yet been established, the differences can be openly displayed.
Poaching has its foot in the door in most continents on Earth. From South Africa to the Artic Circle, endangered species are being illegally slaughtered and sold, generating millions in untaxed profits for poachers. Trophy hunting on the other hand, is legally and sustainably regulated in many countries. One key difference between the two is the boundaries, or lack thereof, between what animals are able to be killed and what is not. Poachers often have no regard for the age or sex of an individual, or the conservation status of it’s species. Instead, they decide what will be more profitable for them to sell illegally. Simply put, they would ruthlessly kill a pregnant female or mother just as they would kill a male. Often times, this leads to a depletion in numbers of already
Also as mentioned in Radiolab, the problem animals are often older males that pick more fights and kill the younger species (“The Rhino Hunter”). The species that are although endangered, removing the specie that is more problematic will benefit the other species more. By targeting only the animals that are problematic, often past reproductive age, it benefits the younger species. For example, the older species are more known for picking fights with other fellow endangered species. This often results in catastrophic, messy fights that can kill or severely injure both of them. By hunting the animal that is more dangerous to a species, will benefit the species more, because it increases their survival without the problematic animal to cause harm. The wildlife conservation’s goal is to preserve wildlife, but if an animal is causing harm to the other animals, it is better for the other animals if the problematic animal were to be hunted, because the money gained would go toward saving the
Hunting is a common controversial issue among people. Determining when killing an animal is necessary and ethical has mixed viewpoints. One type of hunting that generally creates feelings of animosity among people is trophy hunting. There are very few ethical theories and ideas that support trophy hunting. Trophy hunting is a form of hunting in which the hunter kills an animal with the main goal of taking a part or parts of that animal for a trophy. The majority of trophy hunting occurs in Africa, with big game as the most popular trophies, but trophy hunting also applies to non-exotic species as well. In this paper, I will start with introducing a recent incident involving the killing of a popular African lion, then outlining the main ethical issues with trophy hunting. Next I will analyze the trophy hunting from an anthropocentric, biocentric, and ecocentric viewpoint, and finally I will propose a few solutions that would make trophy hunting a more ethical activity. Trophy hunting has been said to provide many benefits to conservation and preservation of species but is ethically lacking; with some stronger laws and regulations trophy hunting has the potential to be both ethically acceptable and beneficial to the environment.
Since the European colonization of eastern Africa, trophy hunting has been a highly debatable topic. During the early days of trophy hunting, dwindling numbers of some of the world’s most unique and prized wildlife was not a problem like it is today. Wildlife conservationists and hunters continue to debate the merits of legalized hunting on the economy and on the environment. However, not all hunters value the economic benefits and have passion for the outdoors. In fact, some of these hunters are conservationists themselves, who believe that it will allow for better conservation efforts in the long run. In another perspective, trophy hunters tend to downplay the reality of the killing part. To kill is to put to death, extinguish, nullify, cancel, or destroy. There is a fine line between conservation, and senseless killing of animals involved in trophy hunting.
Laws were put in place to stop the great detriments in animal population, but the hunter ambitions overtake them and make them greedy and they use any way necessary to get their prize animal. One man who was caught Wesley Barrow said “ I did not care if I was caught I was set on my goal and I cared not what the repercussion of my action would be.” (wasser)This was said before his court date where he was found guilty of killing an animal in a protected area.At this point you're probably thinking why would a big game hunter and poacher work together. The reason they do is they're both after the same thing a big game animals even though they may have different motives like, one may be for a wall piece one while, the other before a paycheck but they're both still
Trophy hunting can be hurtful to the overall population of a species. For example, African lions are becoming an endangered species. Every year, approximately 600 lions are killed by trophy hunters. Lions, definitely adult males, are seen as prized kills because of how large and beautiful they are. When adult male lions are killed, the destabilization of the lion’s pride can cause more deaths.
Trophy Hunting is the act of killing animals to use its parts for decoration like its skin, skull, or horns. It has been around for hundreds of years, used by the French since the 1800’s. Trophy Hunting is a very controversial concept, although some think it just drives species down to extinction or endangerment, others think it helps conservation since the money from the hunts will go towards conservation efforts. Despite the idea that money from the hunts goes towards larger conservation efforts, it usually doesn’t help the population of endangered species at all; it just drives the population down more so Trophy Hunting should be banned.
Can you imagine being left to suffer for countless hours after being wounded by an unknown person? As you lie on the cold ground, feeling your life slowly fade away, wondering what you did to deserve this. And then to end it all, a gunshot to the head. Unfortunately, this is how many animals suffer due to big game, trophy hunting. I am an avid proponent that big game hunting is a merciless tactic that needs to be eradicated from society, because it’s evident it burdens the animal to endure suffering, and by slaying these exotic creatures, it increases the population’s prospect to go extinct.
The dispute of a ban on trophy hunting has always found its way to the surface. Scrolling through social media and viewing a picture of a trophy, especially of one enrolled on the endangered species list, brings outrage to those observing. Those who come across the news are quick to show their lack of agreement, for it could drive the wildlife into further extinction. Despite the fear of loss proceeds to wildlife habitats and local communities, trophy hunting should have a ban because it has been proven that species decline is a direct impact of trophy hunting.
Wildlife hunting is a big business a 2013 estimate valued the illegal poaching trade in Africa worth 17 billion dollars a year and growing. While elephant poaching between 1800’s - 1999 and 2000’s and up have some similarities they also have a wide variety of differences. Elephant poaching in 1800’s-1999 was done to meet the worldwide demands, but elephant poaching in 2000’s and above was done for sport. Elephant poaching is wrong and shouldn’t be done.
Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild game for human recreation. Every year, thousands of wild animals are killed to be obtained as a prize and to be showcased. Instead of being treated as living beings in nature, they are treated as materialistic objects by humans. Endangered species are the ones who are greatly being affected by those who are trying to obtain them. Trophy hunting is most well known for its practices in African countries and ties to North America. Since the 1800s, trophy hunting has brought about social, political, and economic issues that extend beyond the American borders.
Big game hunting is slowly lowering the population of animals. "Schelling Ameena from Hunters Say Trophy Hunting Helps Animals. Here's Why They're Wrong." says "big game hunters will argue that killing can help a species by removing older animals from the population or say that they can trust the government to set sustainable hunting quotas." Sadly, governments are more interested in how much an animal can bring in than how many they kill. The loss of these animals is not only hurting them but hurting us too, an example are elephants. When an older elephant is hunted and killed they leave their baby elephants to fend for themselves. If a baby elephant grows up with no guidance it could have a negative effect on them consequently, they could become more hostile. Hunters are not watching carefully how many animals they kill, causing the animal population to decrease.
Although poaching is an illegal act, it is still a growing problem in the world because it is making the extinction of various animals more probable. Not only it cruel, but it affects the environment and ecosystem where these animals reside. Although various people, usually trophy hunters or those uninformed, argue that it isn’t that big of a problem, there are realities to it that won’t be stopped unless we act upon it and bring awareness of the situation.
Ever since a young age, I have been a passionate animal enthusiast. I cannot image a life without a dog by my side. Animals are not just pets, or food, or part of the environment. They are intelligent creatures and deserve to be treated as such. Animals have evolved just as we have. The evolution theory even says humans evolved from primates. So why do animals not have rights? They have a brain and can learn and grow, just as we can. It can also be argued that animals have a soul. I believe animals not only have dignity, but they also have rights.
Animal poaching has a bigger price tag than the trophy sitting on the shelf. Poaching is causing iconic animals of many continents and of our oceans to become endangered or even extinct. These animals that people have come to love and fantasize over may be gone before we are (Africa). Elephants, rhinos, lions, and zebras are the animals thought of the most when it comes to animal poaching, but many animals are poached. They are killed for only one quality, like their horns or skins and the rest of the animal is left behind. Poaching is a massive business that is ran by international networks, it’s estimated to make hundreds of millions of dollars (World). Not all wildlife trade is illegal, but it becomes a crisis when an increasing amount of illegal poaching is done and it directly threatens the survival of species in the wild (World). Since 1960 97.6% of the Black Rhino population in Africa has been poached and lions are extinct in seven African countries (Africa).
With nearly millions of animals dying each year from being captive, or endangered species being hunted down and killed, we need to discover a new way of displaying that our world is full of beautiful animals and wildlife. Wild animals are suffering both physically and mentally from the lack of freedom that confinement imposes. These harmful environments are preventing animals from having the opportunity to live in, and be exposed to their natural habitats. Keeping animals imprisoned in cages and small enclosures just for the sake of human observation causes stress and frustration, which is risking animals overall health and well being. These morally unacceptable and cruel actions of retaining wild animals in captivity is certainly wrong.