Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Whats the pleasure in killing a Lion? | |
Posted by: | Anuj Gupta | |
Date/Time: | 30/07/15 12:18:00 |
I don't know much about fishing, but I do know a hell of a lot about game parks, so please allow me to educate you. First of all, I think you're conflating ethics with legality. I'm not a hunter, and I would absolutely classify hunting, angling, foxhunting or indeed kicking a dog as totally unethical activities. However, what happened to Cecil was not only unethical, but possibly illegal. In countries where hunting is legal (I believe Kenya and Botswana are the only ones that have a blanket ban on all hunting), it is only possible to do in Game Management Areas, or GMAs. These are areas that usually abut the game parks. So Hwange would have GMAs around the actual boundary of the park. The boundary itself is unmarked, so an animal could - and they frequently do - wander into a GMA where they can be legally hunted. Except, in order to hunt in a particular GMA, you need to buy a license or permit. The permit itself is issued linked to a quota. So a lion could wander into the GMA and if that GMA doesn't have a permit for a lion kill, then hunting that lion would be illegal. That is precisely what happened here, Cecil was hunted in a concession where there was no permit to hunt lions. That's the best part of the story. Now onto the details... 1. How did he get into the GMA to begin? By baiting. The hunters tied a dead carcass to a vehicle and literally lured the cat out of the national park. 2. Once he was in the GMA, he was blinded by a spotlight. This is not only unethical, but it is illegal. You are not allowed to shine spotlights directly into an animal's eyes. 3. Our fearless dentist fired an arrow into Cecil, enough to wound him but not kill him. Cecil flees. 4. The said intrepid hunter tracked the injured beast for 40 hours. Those must have been hellish for Cecil - injured, bleeding, afraid. Indeed the high-velocity rifle shot was probably the sole bit of compassion the good Dr Palmer exemplified. At least he put poor Cecil out of his suffering. 5. Then they "discovered" that they'd shot a collared animal. As someone who's spent a substantial amount of time in South Luangwa and Hwange, I found this assertion laughable. Every single guide I have ever spent time with knew his or her lions on sight. The fact that Cecil was arguably the most famous lion in the park, just makes this claim appear an outright lie. 6. Shooting a collared animal is in itself not a crime. However, trying to destroy the collar to cover up the hunt is. And that's exactly what the so-called "ethical" and "professional" hunters tried to do. Apparently it's possible to prosecute Dr Palmer under the Lacey Act. I certainly hope they try do, if nothing else it will saddle him with legal bills for years to come. And our Minnesotan cousins have had the good sense to boycott his dental clinic, the least we can give him is some financial payback. The good Dr Palmer might be killed Cecil, but boy is that cat roaring now... |