I’m concerned about motivation.
If elephants harassing towns are a problem in Zimbabwe, that’s a problem for the people themselves to fix. I don’t believe that rich Americans and Europeans are going there because they want to ‘do good’ for the people. They are going there for sport, with little understanding of the government they are helping to support.
And do you really believe that ONLY the ravaging old bulls will be culled?
I suspect that Zimbabwe will just take the money and look the other way, if some unfortunate ‘accident’ takes place with a viable animal.
(And I suppose you think it’s ‘ok’ to go there as a wealthy American, and ignore what’s been done to the white natives during land redistribution and ongoing violence against whites...)
“They are going there for sport, with little understanding of the government they are helping to support.”
You sound like a Lib. Perhaps you’re on the wrong site. You might want to check out DU. Big Game Hunters are extremely well aware of the Politics and the dangers of where they plan to hunt. We research extensively the political situation and terrorism in the area and are warier of Politicians and Terrorism than the vast majority of people. Those factors are viewed as more dangerous than the wild game we plan to hunt.
The bottom line is, the money we spend benefits the local villages in ways that their own gov’t could or will never do. The animals culled are beyond breeding age so, there’s no threat to the breeding stock. And, the profits pay for anti-Poaching efforts. It is a win-win across the board. Whether you acknowledge it or not.
Hunting elephants is not just like a bunch of rednecks pulling up in a pickup and shooting the first deer they see. It is carefully planned out and guides are there to make sure that the proper animals are harvested. Old bulls are typically off in a group all by themselves, not mixed in with a breeding herd. This is a good management of resources plan. It will free up the food and water being used by these bulls for a more viable breeding herd.