Trophy Hunting Helps Conservation Efforts...
Killing an animal in order to save its species seems contradictory yet trophy hunters use such arguments to justify their sport. In fact, evidence does exist to support these arguments; As Goldman states in his online article, “[South Africa] saw an increase in white rhinos from fewer than one hundred individuals to more than 11,000, even while a limited number were killed as trophies.” Due to the introduction of trophy hunts on white rhinos more individuals reintroduced the species into their private land, drastically increasing the total number of rhinos in the region.
In retrospect, a large increase in a species appears beneficial in defending trophy hunting.
In retrospect, a large increase in a species appears beneficial in defending trophy hunting.
Expect there are a lot of negative side effects often hidden away. In reality, the lion population is dropping roughly two or three percent every year from trophy hunting (Schelling). So while one population of white rhinos grew, thousands of other animals are being afflicted. As Schelling and Flynn agree on in their articles, trophy hunting is threatening each species hunted by dropping their overall population. Maybe slightly. But enough that the populations are unstable, see image to the right. In addition, trophy hunters seek the largest or best looking candidate for their wall, whereas naturally only the weakest are killed off. Such killings leave prides of lions without their leader, or a parade of elephants without their eldest; thus exposing each group to threats and psychological impacts. Young are left distressed.
Another claim made to defend trophy hunting is how they supposedly pool the money back into local communities. Since each hunt auctions off for thousands of dollars, investing that back into the local area could be crucial. As Peter Flack, a South African lawyer and hunter states in his article, “Why trophy hunting helps conservation and local communities”:
According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, overseas trophy hunters spend, on average, R134,800 a hunt on daily rates and trophy fees. This excludes amounts spent on internal airfares, car hire, hotels, meals, taxidermy, gratuities and ordinary tourism before and after the hunt, which probably doubles the amount spent on the hunts. According to Satour, this compares with the less than R18,000 each tourist spends who arrives in the country by air. Given that approximately 7,500 overseas hunters visit the country each year, you would need to replace them with more than 100,000 ordinary tourists. This is not taking into account the 300,000 local hunters who each spend some R34,000 a year, or more than R1-billion, on hunting — many of whom are also trophy hunters. Plus, they all spend their money in the predominantly poor, rural areas far off the beaten tourist track
Except the truth is, very little is put back into the local government or communities. In fact, Schelling and Flynn both agree that only roughly three percent of total earnings made from trophy hunting is actually given back to local communities. Most of the money is used in order to maintain the hunts each year, as shown by the graphic blow.