Calls for New York to Ban Trophy Hunting Imports

​worldanimalnews.com/friends-of-animals-calls-on-the-state-of-new-york-to-ban-trophy-imports-of-endangered-species/

Advocacy group Friends of Animals is calling on New York to officially ban trophy hunting imports as the largest port of entry in the United States for these imports. 

“The only difference between ‘illegal’ poachers and trophy hunters with permits is wealth and political connections,” President of Friends of Animals Priscilla Feral, said in a statement.  “It is time for New York to end an industry that is contributing to the rapid decline of Africa’s most persecuted and beloved species.”​

The quote above this really speaks to me and speaks to something I've said about trophy hunting all along. There is absolutely no difference between illegal poachers and trophy hunters except that these permit holding trophy hunter have the right connections and the wealth to flaunt in front of the right people. Both activities are exactly the same although the motives may differ. Trophy hunters pay large sums of money for the right to enter these African countries and shoot to kill trophy animals, taking a part of the animal back home with them as a trophy. In the case of illegal poaching, these people are trying to make money off of the parts from these slaughtered animals often times risking their lives for the opportunity. Both are wrong, with or without permits.

Between 2005 and 2014, nearly 160, 000 trophies were imported through New York. Among these trophies, 1541 were lion parts, 1130 were elephant related, over 1000 leopard related imports, and over 100 rhino related products. All of these animals are endangered or facing endangerment in the wild. Often hiding behind the guise of conservation, trophy hunters argue that the money they pay for these hunts is funnelled into actual Conservation efforts. Unsurprisingly, this couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact, studies show that less than 3% of the money supposedly going towards conservation actually ends up allocated to African conservation efforts further proving that trophy hunting is contributing to the extinction of Africa's most recognized and vulnerable animals.

Whether it's the United States, Canada, or any other nation around the world, if our country is allowing these trophies in, we are directly responsible for the continued decline of these majestic species. There needs to be a ban on trophy hunting across the globe, enough is enough. There needs to be bans on imports, bans on participation, and a complete halt on issuing of permits for trophy hunts. While some have argued that banning trophy hunting would actually hurt these animals, I find that to be wholly incorrect. If we stopped allowing people to legally shoot endangered animals, we could focus our efforts wholly on illegal poaching. We need to send a strong message that these parts are not valuable and that there is no market for these things. We need to take a stand and stop pandering to wealthy hunters who want to end the lives of endangered animals for their own satisfaction.

I truly hope New York adopts this ban on trophy hunting imports and that it has a trickling effect on other states / countries. We are facing the largest human caused mass extinction ever witnessed and if we don't start taking reasonable steps to end our contribution to their decline, we will see the end of elephants, rhinos, lions, and other recognizable and well loved African animals.

HAPPY VEG