In 2015, Cecil the Lion, one of Africa’s most prized lions, was unfortunately killed by a dentist from America who allegedly paid 50,000 dollars in order to gain hunting rights. Despite this incident, the dentist, Walter Palmer, did not break any laws.
In 2014, the U.S government had banned Americans from bringing back elephant remains from South Africa.
On November 14th, the US Fish and Wildlife Services announced plans to reverse that decision. This new act would have allowed Americans to bring home elephant remains from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
However, after a huge outcry from the public, President Trump put a stop to the ruling. We look at the history of trophy hunting, the impact, and the debate around it.
History of Trophy Hunting
Trophy hunting is a recreational activity in which people can hunt specific, approved animals under a government license.
When a hunt is successful, the body parts of the animal are taken and treated as “trophies” or symbols of a successful kill. Unlike poaching, trophy hunting is legal.
In 600 BC, it was common for kings to kill elephants, ostriches, lions, or other animals as a form of entertainment for the royalty and a way to show strength. Prior to the 1850s, most hunting revolved around obtaining animal products for medical uses, food, clothes, and other necessities.
It was not until the mid-1800s when more and more people began to view hunting as a sign of skill and character in a person that trophy hunting was born.
In the early 1900s, around 10 million elephants roamed around the world. Now, there are only a few hundred thousand that exist, with more and more being slain every day.
The Debate
Supporters of trophy hunting believe that it provides tourism revenue that will improve conservation efforts.
This is because people who work in the tourism industry (such as restaurant owners and hoteliers) now feel responsible for keeping the elephant population steady to encourage more visitors. They also believe that it preserves national park areas and prevents locals from killing the animals that enter their villages.
On the other hand, opposers have said that most of the revenue has been lost to corruption. They believe that reversing old decisions will only increase demand for more animal products.
Studies also show that animals that are hunted as trophies are usually the fittest -- lions with the longest manes, or elephants with larger tusks. Killing animals with "good genes" can cause the species to go extinct faster.
In countries such as Tanzania that allow trophy hunting, not enough revenue has not been raised to help the animals; instead, two-thirds of the elephant population has diminished in just four years. A more secure way to help animals is through wildlife tourism (eco-tourism) where 98% of the revenue goes towards aiding animals.
No one knows whether or not trophy hunting will do anything to help conservation efforts. However, supporting eco-tourism is a sure way to give back to the animals and prevent the eradication of species on our planet.
Sources: Biological Diversity, Washington Post, NPR, Hartford Courant, VOX, The Society Pages, USA Today
