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.
I’m sorry, but I’m still concerned with motivation.
I don’t buy that ‘altruism’ is the goal of people who will pay ‘50K to 500K’ to shoot an animal.
What they’re paying for is the thrill of the hunt and the opportunity to prove themselves against a wild, rampant animal.
If these hunters were really altruistic, they’d take that money and fund a nonprofit - or create and work on one themselves! - that trained the village/town people to handle this themselves.(I’m sure the latter could learn quickly - their ancestors managed it with hand hewn spears and various other methods.)
Rich Americans and Europeans don’t ‘save the world’ just by spending money alone. Many times, their money hurts more than it helps - and their real aims are not at all altruistic.