Posted on 11/18/2017 3:55:30 PM PST by EveningStar
Conservationists who have a visceral emotional reaction to words like “carbon emissions” and “TransCanada” and “Rick Perry” rarely find themselves closely allied with President Trump’s opinions on the proper stewardship of the planet.
Trump has consistently dismantled Obama-era environmental protections, using the common refrain that his administration desires to “better balance conservation strategies and policies with the equally legitimate need of creating jobs for hard-working American families.”
So, some who’ve criticized Trump might have done a double take when they read one of his tweets Friday morning. The message effectively put the brakes on a new administration policy that would allow American hunters to bring pieces of recently slaughtered African elephants back to the United States:
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
The tweet:
“Put big game trophy decision on hold until such time as I review all conservation facts. Under study for years. Will update soon with Secretary Zinke. Thank you!”
Meh.
I voted for Donald Trump because of the Supreme Court, even though I figured would hate half of his decisions. He has turned out to be a pleasant surprise. I hardly hate any of them.
However,if it can be shown that allowing limited hunting of African wildlife can,through the collection of large fees,help *preserve* the animals hunted then perhaps it should go forth.
The problem is that it's hard to find a government official in Africa who isn't corrupt beyond comprehension so the fees are likely to wind up in Switzerland.
I don’t know about the overall merits, but this is politically smart.
It's one thing to hunt for food or take them for other legitimate reasons I've done it. But when it comes to disrespecting the animals by hanging their heads on walls as "Trophies", I wouldn't do it nor do I like it.
I hunted all through my youth...not much anymore. I despise those kinds who just hunt trophys... just to feed their egos
The trophy hunts actually benefit both the herds and the local people. The enormous cost, $100,000 or so, also pay for anti-poaching programs.
Elephants are vegetarians and can strip a farmers field bare. Imagine a 3 ton rabbit that can stomp you and your entire family into pink jelly if you try to stop them.
The meat is distributed to the locals, so they benefit. The cash pays for conservation efforts. So the herds benefit.
The ban on the ivory trade is one of the worst things that could have happened to elephants. There’s zero regulation of the black market, zero regulation of the “hunting”, either. It’s worked about as well as any other prohibition in history. That is to say it’s an utter failure.
Prices skyrocketed and the worst possible elements control the trade, which still exists.
L
I've been charged by an elephant in East Africa. It came head-on at our Kombi van as we were tooling down an 8'-wide dirt track in the bush. Elephants are known to stomp cars and kill the people in them on purpose--especially tusk-less ones like this one, who are shunned by other elephants, and crazy. We carried no weapons, other than cameras. We obviously couldn't sit there. The van couldn't make it over the shoulder and off the road to escape. And despite my urgent suggestion, the guide said we couldn't back up--we'd be too slow in reverse.
He stopped the van. I thought he was nuts. He waited till the beast was about 40 feet away. I thought he was really nuts. Then he hit the horn: a nasty, grating, loud, German horn.
The elephant stopped and reared up in fear. Then he shuffled off to one side, off the track. The guide floored it and blew past him. The elephant recovered his nerve and came after us again. But going forward, we were faster than his 35 mph. Thank God.
Yeah, I'd a shot that dang elephant and had his head mounted. Without a qualm.
I eat them ... and if they are worthy I hang their heads on the wall. I’ve got no problem with that. I don’t see that as disrespecting the animals. Got a bull elk at the taxidermist now and will be eating him and sharing him for the next year at least.
I can buy meat at the grocery, and I do occasionally, but I’ve got a pig and a lamb on order from local farmers/ranchers that will go into my freezers soon. Am I disrespecting those animals by purchasing them as opposed to getting my own hands bloody hunting for game?
So does Trump want toy elephants to have his name on them? Roosevelt ended up that way with Bears.
Careful many emotionally elevate animals above humans.
Thanks all.
Sounds like people who are emotionally attached because of the Bambi syndrome.
The state of Colorado makes lots of money on hunting much it from out of state hunters. The state even makes television public service announcements saying "hug a hunter" LoL as the funds generated from hunting is spent in many other areas of outdoor recreational activities.
I see no need to kill elephants just to say you did.
The last I heard elephant populations were way down in areas that were open to trophy hunting in Zimbabwe, mostly due to poaching. And members of the country’s secret police have been caught supplying rifles to poachers so don’t try to pretend that the government is making a good faith towards sustainable wildlife management.
Nice looking trophy Eric and Don. ;) 
All that Wildebeest running amok for example - could be raised on farms as beef for the African people. I hear that Wildebeest meat has the same flavor and texture as Angus cattle beef.
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