Francene - Views on news
  • BLOG
  • About
  • Contact

Has modern man advanced at all?

7/29/2015

6 Comments

 
Picturelion - en.wikipedia.org
 In Zimbabwe, a poacher has ended the life of Africa's most famous lion.

Cecil, one of the world's most recognisable felines because of his rare black mane, was the star attraction at the Hwange national park, in Zimbabwe. Thousands of tourists visited and photographed him every year.

How did the Spanish hunter manage to get away with his barbaric exploit? He reportedly bribed park guides with £35,000 (US $54,646) to turn a blind eye.

As part of a project looking at the impact of hunting on lions living in and around the national park started by Oxford University in 1999, a GPS collar had been placed on the 13-year-old lion. Park rangers analysed data from the chip. Hunters had used bait to trick the big cat into leaving the safety of the park and shot him with a bow and arrow. They then followed the bleeding animal for 40 hours before finally ending his pain with a rifle.


PictureWalking with lions - en.wikipedia.org
 The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association admitted that its members were involved, although the guides and their Spanish paymaster were on a private safari the act was not illegal. They have launched a probe.

One of the principal researchers on the project said events like this have an effect on the population far beyond the individual losses, because any new males entering a vacated pride will get rid of all the previous male's living cubs.

The incident, which happened earlier this month, has only just come to light, causing outrage in Zimbabwe where the animal was a national treasure.

Here in England, plans are under way to ban lion trophy imports into the European Union.
 Source: Express. 

It makes you wonder who would want to end the life of a magnificent adult lion, admired and photographed by all the park’s visitors. And yet, some outdoor types go on hunting even when species are endangered. That's criminal, in my opinion.

But why do men hunt living creatures with a bow and arrow for sport?

Back in 1960, South Australia, I had just married my first love. On weekends, we would ride the motor scooter up north into the red heart of Australia amongst dry earth and pungent eucalyptus trees. My new husband loved the outdoors and hunted with a bow and arrow. One weekend, from the shelter of a little lean-to he'd built out of dry grass strung from a tree, I shuddered in repugnance when he dragged the limp body of a kangaroo into camp. I can see the young man in my mind's eye, dressed in army surplus trousers and shirt with a big grin on his face. He needed to live an outdoor life and I went along with his passion, although I didn't share it.

What do you think of trophy hunting?


6 Comments
Alana link
7/28/2015 08:31:41 pm

I was so sickened when I read about this several days ago, Francene. It is so possible to go on safari armed just with a camera. But, apart from that, this man is a dentist from the United States. Would you want this man working on your toothache or pain complaint? If I was his patient, I would be giving a lot of thought to finding another dentist.

Reply
Roy A Ackerman, PhD, EA link
7/28/2015 08:47:49 pm

As a non-gun, non-bow and arrow, non-military knife afficionado, I have never understood the concept of hunting. It may derive from the fact that it's illegal (for me) to eat such obtained animals, but I don't think so.

Reply
Nick #thisyearinmusic link
7/28/2015 09:42:12 pm

Overall I'd say not. What makes this story even more distrubing is that the lion wasn't killed for meat, or because it was attacking, it was killed for the sake of killing. Which in itself makes the whole act pointless and even more sad.

Reply
Joan Harrington link
7/29/2015 02:04:32 am

Hi Francene,
Just so sad over this whole thing! NOT RIGHT!!! Why do some humans think that they can do this to such a beautiful creature! Stupid ass!!!

Reply
Anamika Agnihotri link
7/29/2015 04:04:05 pm

What pained me on reading this story is the hunters first used bow and arrow and then let it go around and followed him for 40 hours before finally killing it with a rifle. Were they seeking a fun element in it torturing the lion with an arrow inside it for so long? The lion's pain had no meaning for them? But what more can we say when there are humans killing fellow beings blatantly in one part of this world. I think man is as barbaric as ever.

Reply
Payal Agarwal link
7/29/2015 04:26:10 pm

Hunting is the epitome of cruelty towards animals.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Francene Stanley
    From England, I use news items in my novels which you can see below, all linked to an Amazon near you.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories
    news
    earth
    sea
    space
    environment
    people
    animals
    fish
    birds 

    experience 
    writing
    novels

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.