Do hunters support conservation?

Animal rights has long been a contentious topics. In recent years, the battle has become more vicious as activists become more radical and media more sensational.

There’s an abundance of armchair emotion from those likely to join an online petition but there’s little factual debate.

I’m a liberal so i believe strongly in many things. That includes animal rights. I believe that those who would torture an animal for pleasure should be removed from society. However, i don’t believe in radical, middle class women telling me that their dog has more rights than humans.

My 2012 circus article aimed at provoking thought, ensured that i was unpopular on both sides of the fence. When the Knysna Elephant Park came under media fire, no one was asking why the best run park of its kind in South Africa was under such scrutiny rather than those far behind its example.

Fence-sitters

Generally, i don’t like fence-sitters but, when it comes to animal rights, i wish that there were more of them. Not the apathetic sort but those who are prepared to listen until they make up their mind based on education and understanding.

I’ve long meant to research and publish a detailed article about hunters, parks and conservation but keep on getting diverted by local politics. I could easy grunt out a piece but it wouldn’t accomplish what i hope for which is for it to be a useful resource to “fencesitters”. Consequently, that article hangs in limbo.

But today i had the fortune of listening to a Radiolab podcast whilst i took my morning stroll. As usual, Radiolab provided a thoughtful, alternative show (i consider them to be the best in the world so i’ll be sure to share more with you in the future, maybe every Sunday).

Corey Knowlton & the Black Rhino

This is about Corey Knowlton, a Texan hunter, who rose to controversy in 2015 when he paid $350,000 (R5.1-million) to shoot an endangered black rhino in Namibia…

Do hunters support conservation?

I’d love to hear what you think. Opposing arguments welcomed. But please don’t comment on my Facebook until you’ve listened to the podcast at the top of this page.

If you’re still interested in the topic, you can watch this interview with Corey Knowlton on the respectable Young Turks channel.