Trophy Hunting - Hanya Awan

Hunting has not been a new concept for many countries and worldwide cultural practices. From doing it for a historical event, carrying on tradition or completing the act as nothing but a hobby, the world recognizes that hunting could be a following factor of extinction for many animals. In particular, one type of hunting that is gaining more popularity and recognition is trophy hunting. Trophy hunting is considered a hobby, sport, and achievement for many skilled hunters to fight for animal parts to gain medals and trophies in exchange for the accomplishments they have gained from killing each specific animal. Not only does the public not support this action, but it is taking many lives and leading to mass extinction from species that are already endangered and vulnerable. In the U.S, more than half of the population are against trophy hunting, with a survey of 69% of Americans being against trophy hunting. One common target for hunters in the United States is white-tailed deer. Hunting has become so popular that on a yearly average, Americans pay huge amounts of fees and payments in order to travel overseas to kill other types of animals and more than 126,000 trophies are imported every year. However, white-tailed deer are not the only target being hunted, other animals include: bears, bobcats, mountain lions, wolves, and other domestic wildlife also become victims quickly

to trophy hunters.

The government per state in the U.S still allows more than 43 states to have access and permission to such a dangerous act and hunters are continuing to hunt freely. According to the Humane Society Organization (HSO), more than 1,200 species are hunted and killed as trophies including Africa’s “big five” species that include: buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, and rhinos. More than 32 states still support the hunting of black bears in the United States. Recent research and records have stated many accidents that have occurred to both the animal and the hunter that resulted in them being both heavily injured, if not killed. Many hunters travel to dangerous areas in the world, often risking their lives in order to catch their predators, yet do not see some consequences in their actions as their safety is in question. Trophy hunting is not a new idea and has been around since the beginning of the 2000s. According to the Humane Society Internation (HSI), from 2005 to 2014, over 1.25 million trophies have been

imported to the U.S. Over 345 trophies are imported every single day and over 200,000 animals are killed each year due to trophy hunting. From eight different African countries, trophy hunters contribute at most 0.03 percent of the gross domestic product and also at most at 0.76 percent of overall tourism jobs. Most trophy hunters are American and a hunting industry group based in the United States, Safari Club International, promotes the senseless slaughter of wildlife for sport by offering its members the chance to compete for almost 50 awards for killing animals around the world. Many animals suffer from long-term injuries and are very vulnerable, especially at a young age. Researchers determined that, of the 22 white-tailed deer that were shot with "traditional archery equipment," 11 were wounded and not recovered by hunters. A total of 1,000 game preserves are located in the United States, with 5,000 "exotic ranchers" in North America. According to PETA, Ted Turner, the country's largest landowner, allows hunters to kill bison,

deer, African antelopes, and turkeys on his 2 million acres for thousands of dollars. Thus, trophy hunting is a topic that needs more recognition globally. An international difference can result in small changes that can not only impact many lives of these animals but also can save those species that are being endangered.

Works Cited

“Banning Trophy Hunting.” The Humane Society of the United States, 2000,

www.humanesociety.org/all-our-fights/banning-trophy-hunting.

Carwardine, Mark. “An Introduction to Trophy Hunting.” Discover Wildlife, Discover Wildlife,

2016, www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/an-introduction-to-trophy-hunting/.

Humane Society International. “Trophy Hunting - Humane Society International.” Humane

Society International, 2018, www.hsi.org/issues/trophy-hunting/.

Peta. “Why Sport Hunting Is Cruel and Unnecessary | PETA.” PETA, 2013,

www.peta.org/issues/wildlife/wildlife-factsheets/sport-hunting-cruel-unnecessary/.