Why???

[###w-m###]

I have just had a huge row with what I thought was a friend. Basically he has booked a trip on an African safari whereby he will be hunting elephants, lions and other beautiful creatures. Obviously, it will not be on protected reserves and the company state they will only kill elderly animals or "the alpha male" so the herd/pack etc will thrive to populate. Also they are stating that hunting is good for the environment as it ironically assists the eco-system.

Now, as you may know I am an animal lover but I do hunt. However, I vehemently maintain that I have never killed anything I or a colleague would not eat. I have shot a few dears, and to be honest i was a little upset as they too are majestic animals. However, it was on land where they are bred for meat, and I am not a vegetarian. Likewise, venison is lovely and I am a crack shot so the animals did not suffer.

I will state, I am anti-snare traps and baiting. And fox-hunters can rot in hell as far as I am concerned.

So my long-winded point is, how can I convince my "friend" that this �7000 safari hunt is morally wrong. Also how can anybody enjoy shooting a giraffe or a lion for mere pleasure?

I shall not post a link but if you put in safari hunt in google images you will see beautiful animals slain being exhibited after.

let the animals roam free and wild.

Convince me otherwise.

[missyR]

I 100% agree with ya. I can't even watch other animals kill each other without getting disturbed by it. So i'm outraged your friends want to go on a �7000 trip! I mean bl00dy hell that's a lot of money why waste it on killing endangered animals! I do eat meat such as mince but no pork or bacon or sausages. I donate about �50 a month to the world wild life fund and i hope you can do your very best to try and stop these people going hunting. I don't agree with shooting deers or anything but that's what makes me so naive because i eat mince from cows who are killed by humans! But please stop them. x

[Booldawg]

I'm pretty much on the fence when it comes to hunting but both the safari company and yourself have created reasons to morally justify what you do. I guess it is kind of hypocritical to have a major disagreement with his choice of holiday when you yourself are engaged in similar acts, albeit to a lesser extent.

Saying you've never killed an animal you wouldn't eat isn't a totally legimate reason unless you were dependent on killing an animal in order to eat to survive. This of course could spiral down to 'well whats the difference in killing an animal myself as opposed to buying one from the supermarket ready slaughtered and packaged?', but the argument pro and anti hunting is so full of valid points on both sides its difficult to know which way to go.

To summarise, yes his choice of holiday is fairly immoral, but your kind of in a glass house throwing stones with that one I'm afraid.

[###w-m###]

No no no. I eat meat everyday. The only thing I will not eat is veal as it is processed rather barbarically. I also avoid pate de fois gras (extremely cruel) and basically anything French (evil butchers!) I realise I could probably survive on a veggie diet, but as a healthhy person I believe we need meat.

Whatever I have killed has ended up in the pot. Even when I have killed rats and vermin on my land I have deposited the animals in a barn where wild cats roam.

I enjoy fresh food on my plate. What is better, a swifty killed quail or pheasant or a farmed chicken living its life with 20 others in a 4x4 foot cage?

No animal I have shot has ever suffered. Although, my opinions are very high on animals and nature, I am not foolish enough to denounce Humans are top of the tree.

[Panic Button]

Another green name asking a controversial question.

Gets boring after a while

[dot.hawkes]

No tour operator in this country would even offer such a vacation. Iu dare you to email me as WM

[ummmm]

Tell me about it.....how long before I start to get abuse??

[###w-m###]

Why is it getting boring, have you got to be grey to ask questions?

And where is the controversy?

And I have been here for about 4 years. 

[sophie_1003]

I thought hunting elephants was illegal no matter where they are or how old they are as they are endangered?

[ummmm]

Dot.....check out his answer on my men are ***** question

[whiffey]

You've shot a few "dears" !! PMSL

Very appropriate too.

[ummmm]

Panic....I thought you meant the question above....

[Panic Button]

Sophie and others, don't take this guy seriously.

He makes it up to be controversial.

He is green because he was banned. I think he was Wardy

[###w-m###]

panic, I do not know what has got into your peasant heart, but this is a serious debate.

Pleae refrain from posting your stupid comments.


STOP PRESS

Controversy on AB. Somebody cares about wildlife. Call the News Desk NOW!!!!!

[dot.hawkes]

it is definately not Ward-Minter tho

[snagged]

Your view of your friend is unjustified in my opinion... you have no right to question his choices - as you ultimately are doing the same thing: killing for your own personal gratification. The fact you 'eat' your kills afterwards does not make it ok... as you are not 'killing' initially purely for food to survive... but for the 'sport' of it...

...stop winding everyone up Wardy!... :o)

[###w-m###]

dotty i have just sent you an email!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[###w-m###]

Sophie, it is not illegal on unprotected land. However, the ivory trade is illegal (worldwide)

http://www.zindelesafaris.com/images/elephant_ herberts.jpg

Not pretty viewing.

[whiffey]

dotty, that email is from me, don't believe the impostererer.

[###w-m###]

snagged, you are wrong and right in your synopsis.

I am healthy and want to maintain my health through protein intake. I eat meat (my choice and my opinion it is healthy) I therefore maintain that I kill to survive.

Besides, I am not a seasoned hunter. The odd organised shoot and the occassional game bird I see.

The pleasure is much more in the eating than the killing. It is a healthy, cruelty free and economical way to eat meat, which most of us do.