The Truth About Trophy Hunting : Ethnography

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.

On the other hand, trophy hunting, which is “the selective hunting of animals for human recreation” , is a problem that can increase the risk of extinction. UK scientists confirm that hunters have the tendency to hunt the animal with the best genes. There is an intense discussion about the rightness of this activity because some argue

In recent news, it was made known that the ban on importing lion and elephant trophies into the United States was lifted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After hundreds of thousands of responses were directed at the Trump administration to stop the lift of the ban, President Trump put a hold on it in order for him to “review conservation facts.” This issue is completely controversial and while half of society believes that trophy hunting is beneficial to the conservation of certain species, the other half believes that this argument is invalid since it is completely contradictory. Although there are some benefits to trophy hunting, it is incredibly immoral and detrimental to the environment and there are better ways to implement those benefits rather than killing animals.

Trophy hunting has always been an issue in our society and still is to this day. Trophy hunting is the hunting of an animal that is usually kept and displayed by the hunter. We cannot blame Africa for the extinction of many of it’s animals, we have to blame the trophy hunters who have massacred these beautiful animals. The reason why trophy hunting should be banned is because of the risk many animals face of going extinct and because of the lack of respect it has towards animals. It is also driving us into our sixth mass extinction.

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.

Many hunters actually don't agree with Trophy hunting because it's clearly unsportsmanlike like hunting animals in fenced enclosures, baiting them, and even using dogs to chase and exhaust the

I guess the good that can come from trophy hunting is the awareness that it brings to the animals, and now people want to protect them instead of hunting them. The bad things about trophy hunting are that hunters say that they are killing the old or the weak to keep the herd or pride strong, but by killing a male lion they are also killing off his bloodline. It takes a long time for elephants to reproduce and when hunters take out the bull elephants from a herd, there is one less mate

Following the cruel death of Cecil the Lion, debate has surfaced regarding Trophy Hunting. In an opinion piece for The Herald Sun on the 3rd of August 2015, Rita Panahih argues in an outraged and dismayed fashion, that the despicable business of slaughtering wild animals must be stopped. The audience for this piece of writing seems to be animal-lovers or even people who in general care about our wildlife. This piece displays the awful ‘game’ that hunter’s play that kills hundreds of innocent, beautiful animals a year.

According to LiveScience, “Animal bones and thousands of stone tools used by ancient hominids suggest that early human ancestors were butchering and scavenging animals at least two million years ago.” Although humans were hunting animals in order to survive, trophy hunting itself became popular during the 1800s. Central and Southern Europeans hunted these animals in order to show their accomplishments. However, Northern Europeans continued this act, even though it was not a necessity in order to survive. Nonetheless, hunting in the United States is not the same as it is in Europe. For example, during the 1800s, hunting was only done in order to survive. It was primarily the only way for food. As time went on, it became a “sport.” Americans began taking advantage of being able to travel to Africa,

Trophy hunting should be increased they do more good than harm. Trophy hunting harms some animals and protects many other animals. The economic inducement in allowing hunters to pay a lot of money to get a trophy appears to work preferable to preserve species over than just banning hunting. Some of the money goes to landowners which then are motivated to protect animals on their land. Privately owning animals is another way we can protect them. For example, “...A third of rhinos live on private land, and their population has gone from just a hundred, to more than eighteen hundred… (Adam Conover)”

CNN Wire Service author Don Melvin’s newspaper article looks for an answer to whether or not conservation hunting can help wildlife, or if it has no benefit at all. He explains how the argument has become a current events issue in light of the recent hunt for a black rhino in Namibia by a hunter from Texas. The author includes scientific evidence that conservation efforts have yielded positive results, while views that trophy hunting is simply wrong are not accompanied by the necessary research. Melvin provides relevant information from reliable sources and asks logical questions. Because the author asks whether the viewpoints of those arguing that conservation hunting is wrong, is an emotional response lacking evidence, makes it an invaluable addition to my source list.

This ancient sport dates back to times when people could create cave drawings of the act. This sport, although very old, became vastly popular in the 19th century, and has affected different aspects in society, varying from economics to animal endangerment. Trophy hunting today is a highly debated topic, with many different points of views. Some people recognize this act unethical, while others view this act damaging to the ecosystem because of the sudden decline in the population of a certain species. Still, there are people, mainly hunters, who identify this act to be productive, due to the common belief that trophy hunting is helping poor communities and endangered animals through conservations. Trophy hunting in Africa should be banned, due to its increase in animal endangerment and its failure to regrow and help communities and animal populations.

Trophy hunting in Africa is a lot of people’s dream. Some people have over a

You remain quiet, hiding just beyond sight. The African Lion is as fast and ferocious animal, and one misstep could ruin the entire hunt. You aim carefully to ensure your first gun shot makes the kill, as a charging lion can be extremely dangerous and a slow death is excessively painful to the lion. You shoot, and the African Lion falls. Although this old lion has lost his life, his killing will help the other animals of his endangered species as well as the community around him live. Trophy hunting is not done to hurt a species, and that is why hunters go out of their ways to help save and protect the species that they hunt. Trophy hunting can save species from extinction and other horrible situations, and trophy hunting of threatened and endangered species should be legal.

These grotesque acts of trophy hunting can be easily stopped by the citizens of African countries, but they are too busy with the pervasive corruption that is prevalent in their country (Duckworth, 2004b) to realize it. It’s not as if South Africa has the largest hunting industry in terms of numbers of operators, visiting hunters, animals shot and revenues generated (Lindsey et al. 1997-2006), while Kenya itself lost an estimated $20-40 million a year in lost revenues when trophy hunting was banned (Elliott and Mwangi, 1998; Hurt and Ravn, 2000). While we rear our righteous head to this horrid reveal of immorality, we should lead Africa in our American ways of incorruptibility that is not at all tained by the recent trend of “ag-gag” bills that makes it impossible for activists to expose industrial animal operations via media or undercover investigation (Runyon,