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Background information
Background - The following information has been extracted and modified from the Wikipedia entry titled 'Trophy hunting'. The full text can be accessed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_hunting
Trophy hunting is the selective hunting of wild animals classified as game animals. Trophy hunters typically seek the oldest, and most mature animal from a given population, which is typically a male with the largest body size or largest antlers or horns. These animals are claimed to have made their contribution to the gene pool and are nearing or are post-breeding age. Another motivation for the hunter may be the opportunity to participate in the management of a population by selectively removing these post breeding-age males. Parts of the animal may be kept as a hunting trophy or memorial (usually the skin, antlers, horns and/or head), the carcass itself is often used as food.
Trophy hunting has firm supporters and opponents. Public debate about trophy hunting often centres on the question of the morality of recreational hunting or the extent to which the money paid by sportsmen seeking a trophy animal provides a conservation benefit to the overall population of game animals and the rural economies where the game is hunted.
The hunting trophy
A hunting trophy is an item taken from the body of a game animal killed by a hunter and kept as a souvenir of the successful hunting or fishing expedition.
Often, the heads or entire bodies are processed by a taxidermist, although sometimes other body parts such as teeth, tusks or horns are used as the trophies.
Such trophies are often displayed in the hunter's home or office, and often in specially designed "trophy rooms," sometimes called "game rooms" or "gun rooms," in which the hunter's weaponry is displayed as well.
Big game hunting
A big-game hunter is a person engaged in the sport of trophy hunting for large animals or game. Potential big game sought include, but are not limited to, bears, big cats, hippos, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, moose and so forth.
Tanzania has an estimated 40% of the population of lion (Panthera leo). Its wildlife authorities defend their success in keeping such numbers (as compared to countries like Kenya, where lion numbers have plummeted dramatically) as linked to the use of trophy hunting as a conservation tool.
The debate around trophy hunting in Africa
Trophy hunting has been practised in Africa and is still practised in part as a conservation policy. Opponents, however, claim that it is ineffective as a conservation tool and that claims that it is being used for that purpose are often fraudulent.
According to a study sponsored by CIC in partnership with FAO, the revenue generated by hunting tourism in seven SADC countries in 2008 is approximately US$190million.
In an opinion piece by Jeff Flocken of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the author states that 'despite the wild claims that trophy hunting brings millions of dollars in revenue to local people in otherwise poor communities, there is no proof of this. Even pro-hunting organizations like the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation have reported that only 3 percent of revenue from trophy hunting ever makes it to the communities affected by hunting. The rest goes to national governments or foreign-based outfitters. The money that does come into Africa from hunting pales in comparison to the billions and billions generated from tourists who come just to watch wildlife. If lions and other animals continue to disappear from Africa, this vital source of income-nonconsumptive tourism-will end, adversely impacting people all over Africa.']
However, South African Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, contradicts Flocken's conclusions by stating that the hunting industry has contributed millions to South Africa's economy in past years. In the 2010 hunting season, total revenue of approximately R1.1-billion was generated by the local and trophy hunting industries collectively. 'This amount only reflects the revenue generated through accommodation and species fees. The true revenue is therefore substantially higher, as this amount does not even include revenue generated through the associated industries as a result of the multiplier effect,' according to Molewa.
Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014, and now villagers claim they get no income from trophy hunters, and suffer from damage from elephants and buffaloes damaging their food crop fields and lions killing their livestock. Some conservationists claim trophy hunting is more effective for wildlife management than a complete hunting ban.