The Truth About Trophy Hunting

By Niyati Prabhu

Trophy hunting: arguably one of the most debated ecological topics in today’s world. No matter who you are, where you come from, and what your background and interests are, you probably have some opinion on the notion of trophy hunting. Personally, I can’t fathom the idea of killing animals for sport, but I understand that this may be essential to the lives of some people. Not all hunting should be placed under scrutiny, but trophy hunting is one form that should definitely be further questioned and regulated.

Most recently, Idaho fish and game commissioner Blake Fischer was caught in a scandal for posting pictures of his hunting trip to Namibia, in which he killed an entire family of chacma baboons. Disturbingly, he posed smiling next to the animal carcasses— this sparked sentiments of rage and disgust from the public. Following this event, he was forced to resign from his position due to to all the bad publicity. Though the species that Fischer killed is not part of the Red List for endangerment, many believe that his actions were inhumane and completely unnecessary. This begs the question: is trophy hunting ethical?

Trophy hunting is different from hunting for sustenance. While sustenance hunting is primarily to feed a household and utilize the game that was hunted, trophy hunting’s end goal is fur pelt or head mounted on the wall— a token of “bravery”. Some might argue that this type of hunting is good for regulating growing populations of animals, but most of these animals are endangered or threatened to begin with. Moreover, trophy hunting is expensive; packages for hunting in Africa can be very pricey for animals such as lions, leopards, and rhinos, but many people are willing to pay that price. This money is claimed to go towards conservation efforts for the hunted animals, but there are very few records to keep track of where it’s going. This alludes that the hunt money is being misused, and the animals are suffering the consequences.


In addition, it’s becoming much easier for hunters to target lesser known game animals, namely primates (such as the chacma baboon), because trophy hunting package prices can be as low as $20. This runs the risk of attracting more sport hunters to Africa, leading to the potential endangerment of previously thriving species. This would ultimately lead to expedited extinction and a great loss of biodiversity. None of the effects of trophy hunting seem to be particularly helpful...

The United States is the top importer of trophy hunt artifacts (imports almost 80 percent!), which means it has contributed the most to the growth of this industry. Moving forward, it is important to reevaluate the ethics behind this sport— it necessitates unnecessary acts of violence and doesn’t seem to agree with the goals of conservationists.

Do you think trophy hunting is unethical, and should it be banned? What are some steps that the United States could take to reduce its involvement in the trophy hunting industry? What are your opinions on trophy hunting or hunting in general, and why do you feel this way?




Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/11/wildlife-watch-news-trophy-hunting-primate-killers/

https://thefederalist.com/2018/12/21/need-talk-trophy-hunting-wrong/


Comments

Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is absolutely unethical, even if the "trophy" animal isn't endangered. I understand that many families rely on hunted game for food, but those who trophy hunt are doing it only for the thrill of the hunt. These hunters pay for the opportunity to kill exotic animals whose deaths contribute nothing toward human survival. Indeed, the loss of biodiversity trophy hunting causes within African communities may even decrease the quality of human life, as the far-reaching impacts of a disrupted food web could eventually reach human communities. Trophy hunters are simply rich thrill-seekers who want to experience "bravery" far away from their own home and don't want to deal with the consequences of their actions. Killing for purely entertainment should never be considered within the realm of morality. Additionally, the proceeds of this unethical practice are again used for human gain. While these hunters take lives from African ecosystems, their money doesn't even pay reparation.
April 6, 2019 at 1:32 PM
Anonymous said…
Hunting that is not for subsistence is unacceptable. Humans killing animals for sport is not only unethical but also disruptive to food webs and food chains. An example of an animal that has been hunted to endangerment is elephants. Many elephants are hunted for their ivory tusks which has lead to their numbers being significantly diminished. Killing another being for sport should not be allowed.
April 6, 2019 at 6:41 PM
Anonymous said…
There are methods in which the US government can certainly regulate sport and trophy hunting other than a complete, which would probably raise a huge debate about personal rights against unethical behavior. For example, the government could expand the terms of what constitutes an endangered species as defined by the US Fish and Wildlife Services in order to limit the countries where trophy hunting is allowed to only those that have shown the ability to effectively manage their wildlife. Furthermore, governmental officials and policy makers should update their review of how responsibly nations that allow trophy hunting are managing hunting practices through more comprehensive examination. While some nations do re,h on hunting revenues, it may be a potential alternative to introduce ecotourism in order to gain alternative revenue while also supporting the conservation effort. While I personally do not support trophy hunting, I believe that we all need to look at the issue from a more environmental as well as ethical perspective since unregulated trophy hunting poses extremely detrimental effects to biodiversity. (Source: https://news.stanford.edu/2015/08/03/big-game-hunting-080315/).
April 7, 2019 at 2:07 PM
Lauren Pan said…
Each year, hundreds of thousands of wild animals around the world are killed in trophy hunts, where the primary motivation is to obtain animal parts, heads, hides or claws and even the whole stuffed animal, for display and for bragging rights, but not for subsistence. Cruel and unsportsmanlike practices like baiting, hounding and trapping—also captive hunts, in which hunters pursue animals who can’t escape—ensure that animals don’t stand a chance and hunters bag an easy prize. Trophy hunting is largely an American problem. We should stand with the humane society in condemning the killing of wildlife for trophies, both in the United States and around the world. We should pledge to do what we can to end this cruel and unsportsmanlike pastime. This controversial topic should not be controversial at all. It is very clear that trophy hunting should be banned.
April 8, 2019 at 3:08 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is just wrong. People should only hunt if they need to do it to live. Hunting needs to be regulated so that only species with stable populations should be hunted such as deer. If a population gets hunted to extinction then it wont be available to the food web.\
April 8, 2019 at 3:47 PM
Anonymous said…
A practice where the primary motivation is to obtain animal parts for use other than subsistence is unacceptable. Cruel and unsportsmanlike practices like baiting, hounding, and trapping ensure that animals don’t stand a chance and hunters bag an easy prize. Conserving biodiversity is crucial, and trophy hunting makes species vulnerable to extinction.
April 9, 2019 at 5:41 PM
Anonymous said…
I believe that the practice of trophy hunting is archaic and unnecessary. It is an abomination that the United States has participated extensively in this activity. However, there are several steps that can be taken to reduce trophy hunting. For example, the government could ban trophy hunting altogether. It would be hard to implement, but banning the practice could inspire societal change. Personally, I don't believe hunting is an ethical practice but I understand that banning hunting would be an unattainable endeavour.
April 9, 2019 at 8:39 PM
Anonymous said…
It’s shocking that some people find enjoyment and sport in something that’s completely unnecessary. Trophy hunting, in my opinion, is completely unethical and should be banned. Many people aren’t even aware what animals are on the Red List and kill these animals without a thought. This results in effects that although unintended, cause a lot of damage. It is understandable if people hunt animals that are not endangered for the purpose of food and in moderation but trophy hunting to show “bravery” is outrageous. Also, the fact that these hunting packages are so cheap in some places allows more and more people to do it and to limit the amount of trophy hunting, if not completely eliminate it, these prices should be increased.
April 10, 2019 at 10:22 AM
Anonymous said…
I believe that the idea of killing for sport is completely unethical and should be banned. People who enjoy murdering animals purely for the enjoyment is completely wrong. The government could ban the idea of trophy hunting all together, or just restrict it in specific areas where wildlife thrive. Another thing that could restrict the hunting is to stop advertising it around the world. The whole reason for trophy hunting is due to people enjoyment, and what better way to do the hunting than with a group of people and going on social media and telling others? If this advertising stops, the amount of hunting would theoretically decrease.
April 10, 2019 at 12:22 PM
Anonymous said…
The concept of trophy hunting has always broken my heart. Hunting animals for sport was never part of its original intention, which was to provide food for those who looked to it as one of their only sources for it. I personally don't understand why someone would find killing an animal and hanging it in their home is fun, or in any way fulfilling . My uncle hunts with his friends and their dogs and just seeing the pictures or animals hung in his house makes me truly uncomfortable . I believe trophy hunting should be banned, and the places that sell resources for this activity should be highly restricted . The idea of trophy hunting being thought of a sport is highly inaccurate and should be strongly discouraged.
April 10, 2019 at 12:34 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is no doubt a bad thing. It is not ethical to hunt animals and dispose fo them just for the fun of it. It will no doubt lead to the loss of biodiversity to these hunters. The only real reason for hunting is to be able to survive. However you can not completely tell people to just stop hunting because it really does make up the liveliehood of some people. We have to make sure that we only hunt the correct kind of animal. For example, hunting should only be legal when killing a largely abundant animal that quickly reproduces. We have to do what is right for animals everywhere.
April 10, 2019 at 12:41 PM
Anonymous said…
The idea of killing animals for sport is absolutely unacceptable, especially since the animal isn’t being hunted for sustenance. From a biological standpoint, humans are animals too, but nobody hunts human beings for sport. If a human is killed by a human or animal, the human is sentenced to heavy fines and time in prison, while the animal might even face being put down. This reveals the injustice of sport hunting. Since we would never murder another human for sport, why would it ever be acceptable to do the same to an animal? Legislation must be drafted and enacted immediately in order to end this injustice.
April 10, 2019 at 12:44 PM
Anonymous said…
I always questioned what the point of trophy hunting was when I was growing up hearing about these stories. Food? Sustenance? Survival?No, it’s just because they can. This behavior is unacceptable to me. These poor animals don’t deserve to have certain body parts hunted for, or even just killed due to the excitement of many hunters. This leaves animals heavily crippled, or just obviously dead. This is not right just for sport and should be enforced even more as a crime.
April 10, 2019 at 12:48 PM
Anonymous said…
I have never been a fan of trophy hunting and the idea of it has always been unappealing and wrong. The idea of hunting down animals for pure sport and prides unacceptable and is a violation to the nature that surrounds us. There needs to be restrictions made at the very least and the government must become more strict when dealing with situations like these. Although it is impossible to completely get rid of trophy hunting, changes and awareness can be made in order to educate the public and lower hunting rates.
April 10, 2019 at 8:29 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is absolutely unethical and should be banned. Animals are being recklessly killed and what for? Fun? I can’t possibly fathom what is fun about killing animals. It doesn’t matter whether the animal is endangered or not. If trophy hunting continues, precious specifies will become endangered and possibly extinct. I think it’s important to bring light to the individuals that are participating in trophy hunting and expose them for their actions.
April 11, 2019 at 9:22 PM
Anonymous said…
I think trophy hunting is most definitely unethical. Not only is it disgusting, but I dont see how one could find pleasure or any fun in killing animals. Regardless if the animal is endangered or not, I think trophy hunting should be banned. These governments should enact stricter laws and be harsher with their punishments so these issues are addressed and light is brought upon such situations. It is extremely saddening to know there are animals being killed and not much is changing. I hope these practices get discouraged in the nearby future and eventually come to an end.
April 12, 2019 at 1:12 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy Hunting very unethical and wasteful. I think that by doing this we are endangering many animals and disrupting the ecosystem. Doing this should be banned or regulated because the more we do it the more harm the environment goes through. The consequences for this is long lasting and should be brought more attention to as soon as possible. Killing animals for fun should not be an option for recreation because not only is it wrong, but it is destructive.
April 12, 2019 at 1:15 PM
Jibran Khalil said…
From my perspective, trophy hunting is unethical; however, my background and culture play a large role in defining my viewpoint. People who are avid hunters, for instance, or live lives revolving within nature, may find trophy hunting natural or as some assertion of dominance. However, I disagree with this viewpoint, primarily as I see no direct benefit from the killing of animals for showboating. Stating that trophy hunting should be banned is too simplistic -- how can you define trophy hunting? People will inevitably begin to classify their kills under a different name and brand it under different reasons; sensible measures need to be taken against this ruthless act to protect animals.
April 12, 2019 at 8:03 PM
Mallory Odom said…
Trophy hunting is unethical and immoral. It disrupts food webs and by extension, disrupts ecosystems. Killing animals for fun is just despicable and wrong. I think it's important to place more regulations on recreational hunting to spare the murders of wildlife and to ensure the balance of the ecosystem is not disrupted.
April 12, 2019 at 8:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Killing animals just for the sake of fun and games is unethical as the animal has lost its life for basically no reason. I do understand that trophy hunting is embedded in the lives and cultures of many people, but people should also understand the value of a life in terms of the ecosystem. In many cases, trophy hunting has led to a major disruption of ecosystems and therefore governments should place regulations on trophy hunting.
April 14, 2019 at 5:02 PM
Anonymous said…
I completely agree with your post in that trophy hunting is completely unethical and should be banned. Although there are several people that have grown up with this as a part of their lives and childhood, with excessive reasearch that is done on the ecosystem and how delicate the food web is should definitely alter this practice. I think it is important to educate others upon this balance so they are more aware of the damage that they have cause so that they are more willing to stop.
April 15, 2019 at 10:04 AM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is unethical. I don’t believe its right to kill animals just for the fun of it. If humans kill animals it should be for food purposes only. Trophy hunting definitely needs to be regulated by the government. It has disrupted food chains, made certian species endangered, and disrupts entire ecosystems.
April 15, 2019 at 10:06 AM
Mahir Vohra said…
I think that trophy hunting is just a way for people to display their "toughness". If they can tell people, "oh, look what I killed!" they feel as if they have put themselves on a pedestal. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Trophy hunting has essentially no purpose because let's be honest, those deer heads on the wall kind of creep you out too. Even besides that, the environmental effects are not worth the "trophy" so to speak. Breaking food chains, destroying habitats, and so many more things are anthropogenic effects of trophy hunting on our environment. All of this to say, if you want a trophy, just go buy one.
April 15, 2019 at 3:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy Hunting is a unethical practice and should be banned so others cannot practice it. Killing animals for fun crosses the line, and hunting should only be done if the animal is used. For example, the practice is ethical if the animal is hunted for food purposes. Hunting needs to be regulated to ensure that people will not trophy hunt. The ecosystem is fragile, and these Trophy hunters aids in the destruction of them.
April 15, 2019 at 6:35 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is an extremely unethical recreational activity. The game that is killed serves no purpose other then to satisfy or entertain hunter. I believe the United States should do its best to withdraw from this issue. I feel this should be done by putting a limit on the number of trophy hunting products that can be imported. Additionally, it falls upon us to stop purchasing these products. As the post pointed out, there is a large difference between trophy hunting and sustenance hunting for sustainability.
April 15, 2019 at 8:19 PM
Anonymous said…
Trophy hunting is bad for the environment because emit kills animals and harms the ecosystem. Some people don’t even like eat the things they catch and they like hang the thing on their walls.
April 17, 2019 at 8:29 PM
Anonymous said…
As someone who has hunted, I cannot fully go against hunting even of big game. However, if that animal is anywhere NEAR a endangered list, you are a deplorable and despicable person who should never be able to hold a gun. Always practicing good hunting ideology’s are necessary. On the fact of the monkeys, I think its gross how people have become so cheap with nature. To me, monkeys are very different than actual big game.
April 18, 2019 at 12:10 PM
Abby Jung said…
I have hunted various times with my grandpa, and I understand that it is an enjoyed sport. But what I cannot wrap my head around is the notion of cheap hunting packages for endangered species. Another thing that irks me is the misallocation of the funds. Since there is no way to really track where all of this money went, it further promotes the perpetuation of this issue. There ought to be better regulation if such people of respected positions exploit the game.
- Abby Jung
April 24, 2019 at 11:42 AM
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