“HUNTING LEGENDS” ABSURD!

South Africa boasts to being home to an estimated 18,000 white rhinos and 1,700 black rhinos. I can only imagine how beautiful these animals are. Seeing them in large numbers is even a greater delight. In Kenya you would see maybe one or two while on a game drive and that in itself is such a picture perfect moment. Though the killing continues, in South Africa more than 1,200 rhinos were illegally killed in 2014 which is a twenty one percent increase from the 1,004 rhinos killed in 2013.

A South African organization that goes by the name hunting legends this week quoted $35,000 to kill a male lion in his prime, $13000 for a buffalo, $8500 for a crocodile and $60,000 for a large elephant. A legend would never kill to earn his place in society. I would call that kind of hunting mediocre!

The organization might defend themselves by saying they have permits but that’s no defense murder is murder and nothing can justify it. Why not put that hunting energy into creating a device that will help stop poachers? They may only be killing crocodiles and monkeys but what makes you think they won’t start killing the rhinos and elephants? In any case an animal is an animal.

In my philosophical anthropology class, I learnt animals have dignity too. Thus we ought not to kill them, they have a soul. They may lack intellect at the human’s level but this does not make them any lesser than we are. They have a will maybe not as clearly defined as ours but it is there.  So when we hear about hunting buffalos as a sport what kind of doltishness is that?
 >>Read more on Morality in killing animals 

They even go further to create a website and document their savagery to the world. What joy do you get from shooting a buffalo? As I watched one of their videos, I could not help but cry at the inhumane act committed by the “legendary hunter” as I presume he would refer to himself after the kill.

Why hunt? If it’s about the thrill then why not try water rafting or bungee jumping, I believe the thrill in that is way more exciting than shooting a harmless animal in its natural habitat.

Let us join organizations like Africa wildlife foundation in their fight to protect and preserve Africa’s wildlife and wild lands. Let us hold events that educate the world on harms of poaching. Support the save the rhino activists, hands off our elephants initiatives and make a difference.

Next time you think hunting, I have a better option for you; go on a game drive the feeling is exquisite.

Some inspiration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWPnsaqlY4I

By Mercy Sigey

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The first time you see a giraffe is like the first time you meet “the one”. You want to name it, pet it and feed it, if only the wildlife reserve administration would allow it. They are so graceful that you feel so calm and captured in the moment. This feeling is the same feeling or even greater when you see an elephant, crocodile or deer. It is absolutely fascinating. Why else would people travel across continents to see wild animals if it wasn’t worth it?

The first time you see a dead animal is a completely different feeling, especially if it was one that you loved.  Satao, the elephant, was one of the largest tuskers in the world. As it was seen, when he fell to poachers, it was a monumental loss. Africa feels this loss everyday as it seems to be losing the war against poaching. Around 20,000 elephants are being killed annually in Africa. Countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are fighting back against poaching but overall statistics still show that the number of wild animals being killed is increasing annually.

Kenya has taken measures to fight poaching such as increasing fines for poachers. The previous legal consequences were fines of $480 and 2 years in jail. Currently, the fines are up to $120000 and 2 years in jail. After all this, poaching is still an issue because if we cannot find poachers, we cannot stop them.

The country is in a battle that is getting harder. Giving up is no option but hope tends to be smothered by unfruitful efforts.

As the world mourned the death of the Zimbabwean lion, Cecil, five elephants were killed in Kenya but Kenyans themselves barely noticed. Zimbabwe was so bothered over the death of one animal when in Kenya, for five elephants, there was barely a cry heard. Luckily two poachers were arrested for this crime but they’d already taken their hit on Kenya.

As the Wild A team, there are times we have felt like our efforts are fruitless, like it is taking too long to see results. Regardless, it is not fair to leave that innocent giraffe in the hands of cruel, selfish killers. These animals need us just as much as we need them for their beauty, for sustainability, tourism income and for our economy.

This article ended up applying to us as a team but it was originally for you. For those of you who want to make a difference, remember that first time, why you ever thought of starting the project you are working on.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/29/africa/zimbabwe-cecil-the-lion-killed/

By Tracy Wankio.