In a post of a few weeks ago, I suggested travel destinations for seeing bears. Seeing them, not killing them. Now, I've had elk stew within the last year--and shooting non-endangered animals for meat is okay with me. But I have been sickened in recent months by boastful pics, posted on the web, of Americans standing over the carcasses of freshly-killed giraffes. Hunting just to have a mounted head/body to show off back home has no place in the 21st century. Hopefully the case of "The Lion and the Dentist" - and Walter Palmer's worldwide vilification - will drive the point home even to the most arrogant of the über-wealthy.
There's already been plenty of commentary on trophy hunting since the story of Cecil the Lion and his killer went viral, but this National Geographic column from two years ago provides the most succinct, expert perspective I've seen yet. The gist: It's unsustainable, most of the money never trickles down to the locals, and animal-watching safaris generate far more revenue that goes back into conservation efforts.
I would add that many big-game hunt organizers - and often participants - are ethically challenged, as suggested by the baiting of Cecil from just outside the perimeter of Hwange National Park. As I write these lines, I'm seeing a report that one of the guides now claims that Palmer requested they try to find him an elephant to kill (which unfortunately is still legal in many African countries, including Zimbabwe). I predict that in the next few days, we're going to start hearing a lot more in the major media about the "thin green line" between sanctioned hunts and outright poaching in Africa. (For an example, see this article.)
Now for the title feature: Masai men have a tradition of psychologically intimidating lions off their kill. Takes a lot of nerve. I'd like to see Dr. Palmer try this. Might even be an appropriate trial by fire for him & his hunting guides.
This is probably the only video footage of the Masai tradition, which may be lost in a couple of generations. So, enjoy watching some real sport. (If you want to skip to the action, go to 7:00.)
There's already been plenty of commentary on trophy hunting since the story of Cecil the Lion and his killer went viral, but this National Geographic column from two years ago provides the most succinct, expert perspective I've seen yet. The gist: It's unsustainable, most of the money never trickles down to the locals, and animal-watching safaris generate far more revenue that goes back into conservation efforts.
I would add that many big-game hunt organizers - and often participants - are ethically challenged, as suggested by the baiting of Cecil from just outside the perimeter of Hwange National Park. As I write these lines, I'm seeing a report that one of the guides now claims that Palmer requested they try to find him an elephant to kill (which unfortunately is still legal in many African countries, including Zimbabwe). I predict that in the next few days, we're going to start hearing a lot more in the major media about the "thin green line" between sanctioned hunts and outright poaching in Africa. (For an example, see this article.)
Now for the title feature: Masai men have a tradition of psychologically intimidating lions off their kill. Takes a lot of nerve. I'd like to see Dr. Palmer try this. Might even be an appropriate trial by fire for him & his hunting guides.
This is probably the only video footage of the Masai tradition, which may be lost in a couple of generations. So, enjoy watching some real sport. (If you want to skip to the action, go to 7:00.)
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