Trophy Hunting
An accountable number of species have been pushed to the brink of extinction because of hunting. In all cases, the animals fate in the hands of humans result in death but what people don’t understand is there also killing the planet. The ecosystem within every region is dependent on surrounding species to eliminate the weak and sick to ensure the balance of biodiversity. The question is, does hunting affect not only the survival of the species but also the natural environment in the process? Hunting can damage elements of species increasing the rate of endangerment by coursing the path of extinction and threatening the balance of nature which will result in the catastrophic change to the planet.
Trophy hunting and poaching are similar concepts; trophy hunting is killing for sport and poaching is killing for business in illegal trade, and are both very common in places such as Asia, Africa and South America. The devastating results from both types of hunting have caused a threatening decline in population of species such as elephants, lions, cheetahs, rhinos, tigers, bears, polar bears and many others. In third world countries like Africa, the amount and type of jobs are very limited compared to first world country. The wildlife among the safari creates a good business opportunity to provide tourist to come visit and contribute to the country’s income by killing exotic animals. Exotic animals either native to the land, raised, brought in, and purchased from individuals trafficking unwanted surplus of zoos or circuses are killed for fun. (One Green Planet, 2017). Considerable revenue comes from conservation arenas to restricting the animal’s ability to leave the hunting grounds ensuring that the client is ensured the “no-kill, no-pay” policy to confirm a kill. This type of hunting is usually a fenced in area permitting the use of dogs and supplying “feeding stations” to lure animals to the hunters. Since most recreational hunting sites are located on private land it is difficult to enforce laws to protect wildlife.
Many animals in the African safari risk being captive for exotic hunting; lions and elephants are two of the most common for trophy hunting. Male lions are valuable in the illegal trading and trophy hunting industry but they’re also crucial for the survival of the pride. The males have to mate with the females to keep the population growing. The ignorant consequences caused by hunting have utilized the wild lion population and take away young males for future reproductive pools. An article Trophy Hunting emphasizes the drastic decline from the effects of big game, statistically continent-wide lion population varies 25,000 and about 3,000 males are taken for trophy hunting; coherently, “if we estimate that 40% occur in strictly protected areas, this leaves a “huntable” total of around 1,800 male lions.” (Lion Alert, 2018). This will not only disrupt lion population but also communities, migration and hibernation patterns thus destroying other species as well. Unfortunately, these predators are seek out for the value of their bones which can be trade in Asia for up to 10,000. Approximately, 8,000 live in South Africa but 5,000 are kept in captivity to breed for hunting. Although, since lion bones are so valuable people may choose to buy illegal instead of spending thousands of dollars for poaching. In comparison, the overall effects of selling bones or recreational hunting will eventually lead to endangerment of the specie unless more regulations are considered.
In comparison, elephant population has rapidly decreased over the years and data has recorded that approximately 50,000 elephants are poached for their ivory every year. (One Green Planet, 2014). Ivory is considered valuable in legal trading between Africa and Asia; it is known to have medical properties and other treasured aspects increasing consumer demand in the black market. Illegal trade is usually connected with distribution to exotic animal trading to zoos from surplus. The governments are more focused on the alliancing business of trophy hunting conservations than the animals factor of living and connection of the ecosystem. Elephants help maintain forest and savanna ecosystems for other species, and are integrally tied to rich biodiversity. If poaching doesn’t decline, “experts believe that elephants will go extinct within the next decade if the killing continues at this rate.” (One Green Planet, 2015). Our ecosystems are sensitive and must be preserved. The economic challenges of a community from poaching, can lead to endangerment or in other cases extinction. The government needs to take a stand in big game hunting before the effects are irreversible and cause a massive disturbance in the balance of the earth.
This process is not only morally wrong but very cruel and unnecessary, most animals hunted are injured before dying and suffer a slow painful death. The laws involved with this issue are difficult to inflict usually because most of the land is private. The sport of exotic big game hunting is for the sole purpose for hunters to receive a “trophy” and therefore, an unjustly act. It is barbaric, the consequences of human’s actions to construct the destruction of the natural selection system which will destabilize the environmental cycle. This conflicts the moral compass of hunting animals for pleasure or profit and can destroy communities of species leading to change in demographic and geographic principle.
In every aspect, certain elements form a chain reaction linking all living organisms together. The stability of animal population affected by hunting like poaching, can have a major disturbance in the balance of an ecosystem. It is important to understand the codependent relationship of animals and humans maintain to ensure biodiversity. Biodiversity is the key to survival and if society doesn’t make changes fast than the effects can become permanent. Animals need our help to establish safety from threats such as trophy hunting and poaching. The ecosystems depend on prolonging for biological diversity to sustain a balanced environment. The variety of life in the world is a natural science, influenced by structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. People obtain the power to change the quality of biodiversity in the world, restricting hunting will help to achieve opposition to protection and provide welfare for animals. (1030)
Cited References
Estrada, O. (2014, January 6). The Devastating Effects of Wildlife Poaching. Retrieved May 07, 2018, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-devastating-effects-of-wildlife-poaching/
Good, K. (2014, December 31). How Capturing Wild Animals to Stock Zoos Fuels Elephant Extinction. Retrieved May 07, 2018, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/how-capturing-wild-animals-to-stock-zoos-fuels-elephant-extinction/
Henn, C. (2017, November 26). The Shocking Truth About What Happens to ‘Surplus’ Zoo Animals. Retrieved May 07, 2018, from http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-shocking-truth-about-what-happens-to-surplus-zoo-animals/
Sett. (2018). Trophy hunting. Retrieved from http://lionalert.org/page/trophy-hunting