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[Camp Lo]

Meet the black rhino, one of the world's most endangered species. 4,880 individuals on this planet as of Feb 2013.

A group called the Dallas Safari Club is auctioning off the chance for one hunter to shoot an endangered black rhinoceros in Namibia. The club claims all proceeds will support conservation of the embattled species, but the the announcement has touched off a firestorm of criticism around the world.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mo...f-black-rhino-hunt-draws-praise-criticism.ece

There's no real "hunt" involved here either; it's essentially trapping an older male so a rich guy can shoot it.

Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States told Al Jazeera, "Shooting a black rhino in the wild is about as difficult as shooting a parked car," he said. "If these are multimillionaires and they want to help rhinos, they can give their money to help rhinos. They don't need to accompany their cash transfer with a high caliber bullet."

http://news.yahoo.com/hunters-want-save-endangered-rhinos-killing-one-183926422.html

There's benefits on both sides so what do you guys think: Should they offer one rhino to save thousands?

 

[daw840]

God this is dumb as hell....

Though I guess if it would provide a very large sum of money, it might be worth it....idk, poachers do this shit for free

 

[rrs]

This kind of hunting is one of the ways that wildlife preserves make money by having the very rich hunt predators or other animals that are out of balance.

 

[Tallshortman]

How is this legal?

Also, maybe if someone was dumb enough to pay out several millions.

 

[way more]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFMY4jJ6SVE


It seems pretty pathetic.

 

[Mushroomer25]

It's a smart method of raising money for the cause. Some of these animals are going to die naturally anyways, and if that death can be capitalized on for the good of the species - it's a win/win.

 

[QuantumBro]

Colbert had a great segment about this last week.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-co...29950/october-24-2013/the-word---philantrophy

 

[kswiston]

Depends. Realistically, a population of 4000-5000 can support 4-5 rhinos a year being legally hunted, especially if it is exchange for $100k+ in conservation cash that can be used to purchase land, and park wardens for the rhinos.

 

[mr2xxx]

How about we televise the Rhino hunting the winner, I'm sure we'd make more than whatever the winner was going to donate.

 

[daw840]

I think we should just hunt humans....

 

[The Living Tribunal]

Can't they just motorboat the rhino's ballsack?

 

[Loofy]

We need to start making robots that hunters can play hunt.

 

[TheExodu5]

This is basically how hunting works in most places, is it not? Buy a license/tag and the proceeds go to your area's wildlife preservation office.

 

[blamite]

It's outrageous on purpose, I think. The winner of the auction is almost definitely going to turn down the opportunity to shoot the thing, but the extra attention will drive the bidding up.

 

[Kajigger]

I think we should just hunt humans....

....

 

[Imtey]

It helps the species overall, dont see the big problem tbh

 

[Man God]

Hunters donate most of the money to animal conservation but they usually don't try something this brazen. If you can get a ton of money for it though I see no reason not to especially if they pick a male that is really on its last legs anyways.

 

[Iceman]

So its Hunger Games for rhinos then.

 

[chaostrophy]

Why not just get the chance to see the animal up close and take photos of it for the money? Hunting makes sense for common animals that reproduce quickly, not for a creature this rare.

 

[Skerj]

They should only be allowed to hunt the rhino bare handed, at least make it interesting.

 

[PJV3]

Tax the rich cunts more, give some of it to wildlife conservation.

 

[ElectricBlue187]

Should be a young rhino and the hunter should have to kill it with only a pocket knife mono y rhino

 

[Satch]

I think we should just hunt humans....

we already do! it's called "war on drugs"

 

[kess]

If there's going a profit motive attached to the harvesting of an endangered species, it's going to be in the interests of those involved to control the market in ways opposed to the concept of a wildlife refuge. That said, Namibia has a unique conversation strategy that gives control of conservancies to rural districts which then derive profit through safari hunting.

I'm leery of a Dallas based club promoting private hunting ventures as "wildlife management" when the gray wolf was extirpated from Texas. The wild boar population wouldn't be spreading so rapidly if this natural check was in the wild.

 

[Bodacious]

We need to start making robots that hunters can play hunt.

There's plenty of overpopulated game that actually needs to be hunted to strengthen the gene pool and prevent starvation & disease. But those animals aren't exclusive enough for the filthy rich guys.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

Same basic metaphor applies when the Tea Party challenges "RINOs."

 

[Thatonemoor]

We need to start making robots that hunters can play hunt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ezXBEBE6U

 

[way more]

I think we should just hunt humans....

Reminds me of a classic.

That one always cracks me up.

 

[wenis]

sometimes to go up, you have to go down.