Outlaw Trophy Hunting In Africa

Imagine running for your life, being in an open space with nowhere to hide. This is probably how many animals feel when they are being hunted. Cecil was a beloved African lion, who was lured out into open space to be shot for sport. After an investigation, it was reported that Cecil was killed under an illegal permit. Cecil’s killing in Africa has sparked the interest of both trophy hunters and animal-rights activists. In the hunting community, the belief that the money generated from hunting helps the communities, and it brings awareness to the endangered animals, is what justifies their hunting. On the other hand, animal activists support respect for animals that are harmed intentionally. The government must outlaw trophy hunting because …show more content…
During her research, Avianne Tan found that, “The number of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish across the globe is on average about half the size it was 40 years ago…” (2). If this continues, the majority of the animals that are hunted could become endangered. Trophy hunting can eventually lead to the extinction of wild animals. Hunting permits allow the hunter to kill older animals, and it is important to note, “[T]he removal of mature elephant males can have other, detrimental consequences on the psychological development of younger males” (Goldman 2). This strengthens the idea that young animals depend on and survive thanks to the wisdom they receive from their elders. Killing older animals exposes the younger animals to premature death, therefore, decreasing the amount of wild animals to be hunted. This indicates that over the years, trophy hunting has been a factor in decreasing the population of …show more content…
During the first half of the 20th century, “[A] mass extermination effort in the U.S.… decimated wolf populations…[which] kept other animals’ populations from growing exponentially” (Bove 2). In addition to the population growth, Jennifer Bove stated that “[The] exploding elk populations…wiped out so many willows and other riparian plants that songbirds no longer had sufficient food or cover…threatening their survival.” This suggests that species that overpopulate cannot only affect the food chain, but the environment itself. Jennifer Bove’s findings provide insight that there is a delicate balance that must be kept in order to maintain environmental stability. In the process of the animals being hunted, they suffer, “…fear and the inescapable loud noises [which] severely compromise their normal eating habits [and ability] to survive…” (Peta 1). This portrays the similarities of when humans undergo significant stress. They do not eat enough, therefore, getting sick and weak; animals also go through the same process, and end up dying as a result of their environment being disturbed. This reinforces the idea that if a predator is removed in any food chain, the prey will most likely overpopulate affecting the entire