Zimbabwe has its ban on lion, leopard and elephant hunting that it imposed after the illegal killing of the beloved “Cecil the Lion” by Minnesota Dentist Walter Palmer. Hunting companies were told that they could start to line up wealthy trophy hunters again for bag the big game. In the meantime, conservationists have come forward to defend trophy hunting as a needed source of revenue for these parks.
A statement from the Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association confirmed that “following some useful discussions between operators and the relevant Zimbabwean authorities, the suspension has now been uplifted throughout the country.”
Cecil was wearing a collar when killed. Zimbabwe authorities have banned all hunting of “collared iconic animals.” Does that mean that you can kill “collared non-iconic animals.” Cecil was a favorite with tourists.
As we discussed earlier, the best friend that Palmer has at this point is the corrupt authoritarian head of Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe. Widely condemned for starving his people while living like a Pharaoh, Mugabe came forward recently to blame everyone else for the death of Cecil. He told his people: “All the natural resources are yours. Even Cecil the lion is yours. He is dead but yours to protect, and you failed to protect him.”
As for the guide Theo Bronkhorst who helped wound and then kill Cecil, he may receive as little as a fine for his role.
Let’s hear it for “Cecil” Rhodes!
It’s about time, I thought they would never lift that ban.
Darren Smith or (Moderator)
Thanks again for deleting one of my comments….. AGAIN.
This time it wasn’t even about your ostensible expertise on Erdogan as the leader of the Republic of Turkey.
Your commitment to free speech and expression on the web is non-existent. Erasing any material is censorship.
Thanks for not practicing what you preach. Classic American… Dream??
I labelled David an alpha male and bro for claiming that trophy kills are good for human society. I don’t have to elaborate further, that’s the beauty of free speech. Ultimately, it was completely civil.
The Surveillance apparatus of the Turley Blog has overreached. I know who smith dreams of being in 1984…..
Paul
What about grinning the bar to death?
issac – if you want to try to grin a bar to death that is on you. Just leave an ID for the park rangers.
Paul C… I am familiar with Audie Murphy. We were in different wars. We just had different means of coping. For me, if I must “hunt” it will be two legged game, G-d forbid, no need to prove myself otherwise any more than Audie did…but he coped one way and I another. It’s really simple as that.
issac – it is mythology that Dan’l Boone killed a bar with a knife. We do not know that for a fact.
davidn2575
‘effeminate loser’ whoa Davy boy. Them’s pretty bold words for a one eyed fat man.
Trophy hunting may be good for conservation outside of parks & adjacent lands (even in dubious Zimbabwe), but not when it involves “baiting” or other means to set up a shot at stupid close ranges (anything inside 100 yards). I’ve witnessed this near Yellowstone National Park and it is abominable. You want to hunt a “trophy” wolf or grizzly, haul your lazy butt up in to the Mill Creek gorge, near Pray, Montana, and shoot a truly wild one that is NOT human acclimated to some degree (like Cecil was)…and even that bothers me just based upon the mentality of the “trophy hunt” which I find similar to mentality of Planned Parenthood. If one hunts for meat, as many have to do, you do NOT go for the “trophy” but you do go for the best meat. I realize abortion is necessary for some women under duress, and can accept that although it goes against my faith and natural inclinations. Valid exceptions are not amoral. There is a good reason I ceased hunting, period, upon returning from the wars in Asia. No “game” is as dangerous as man, not even a Lion or Tiger….you want a thrill try a firefight with two legged “game” humans who hate you. You will be surprised I guarantee it….level playing fields do that when the “game” can shoot back or shoot first. I still eat meat and rely upon livestock husbandry where the “trophy” is never the objective….just the meat…and thanks to Temple Grandin, relatively humane. Weak maybe, but it’s where I am today. I’ve never faced more lethal “prey” than a human with a rifle just like me. And never want to again. Call me a coward. If you ain’t been there, done that, your pejorative is meaningless. I readily acknowledge that some other vets, but not all, disagree with me and that is their right to do so. You ain’t done it, criticism is meaningless.
Aridog – not sure if you remember who Audie Murphy was or not, but in an interview he once admitted he got a taste for hunting humans and that big game season was the only thing that kept him sane.
Are there ANY countries on the African continent that are not utterly corrupt and politically dysfunctional? Could lawless “armies” like Boko Haram and ISIS exist anywhere other than Africa? Given the poverty, disease, dysfunction and corruption of the Hell hole otherwise known as Africa, it would appear that allowing foreigners to pay to kill your resources is about the best you’re going to do. After all, it brings in money without any effort, education, planning or self-discipline on the part of your citizens.
Someone wrote: “It takes, however, a certain sort of sicko to kill something for a trophy.”
I think any man who does not understand the male psyche concerning achieving victory over big potentially deadly animals is an effeminate loser.
Trophy hunting provides wages and food for the local community. It funds conservation. Trophy hunting is good.
Would D.smith and J.T. consider Dylan Roof to be “justified” in his killings???
Was that story even mentioned here? Or another classic shhhh… that didn’t happen here.
Enchantedyout – your grief is overwhelming.
At least JT is calling the original crime illegal.
Won’t call out all the “great” European Americans that commit atrocities. But that suburban dentist.. That’s good… it’s a start.
Properly orchestrated trophy hunting and sports fishing have an over all positive effect on maintaining the balance of nature. Protected species in protected areas tend to multiply and need to be culled. Antelope meat at 50cents a lb is far less beneficial for the economy than $5,000 a pop just so some idiot can get his or her rocks off. An African nation can off a few lions at little cost using game wardens or they can make up to a $100,000 a pop by having some dentist come and do it. Cecil was a flaw in an established system. This is the same with salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Sports fishers bring in hundreds of millions in tourist dollars for relatively few fish.
It takes, however, a certain sort of sicko to kill something for a trophy.
I seems that Cecil’s children are killing each other. So why not hunters?
Nick, that is another tragedy. I am actually in line with you 100% on this, and was being a sarcastic donkey up there. I don’t think this story is important at all. Human lives are vastly more valuable than non-sapient, merely sentient, animals. I appreciate your respectful attitude to let those mourn who wish to do so. I also will let them mourn, however, I will poke fun at it because… All lives matter. Mainly humans, though.
Steg, I respectfully disagree. Marilyn Pharis is important. Virtually no one has heard about her. I save my empathy for people. No resource is unlimited, including empathy. But, I respect your right to mourn the death of Cecil, while I focus on the death of Marilyn, a 64 year old woman raped and beaten to death w/ a hammer by an illegal alien. The Police Chief said the blood of Marilyn goes all the way to the WH. That would be front page of the NYT if it were a Republican President.
Well, obviously Cecil was under dressed for the occasion. Wearing only a collar. He should have been wearing a tie and spats.
{Cecil was wearing a collar when killed. Zimbabwe authorities have banned all hunting of “collared iconic animals.” Does that mean that you can kill “collared non-iconic animals.” }
Does this mean that when Cecil was killed, hunting a collared animal was LEGAL?
Now all the outrage can be properly directed at Zimbabwe, the quiet enabler of all this. Without their blessing, the hunts never would happen. Rage at Zimbabwe! Rage at the Africans!
NICK THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!
Why is this still a story???