I am not a tree hugger. I do not have a problem with hunting for food. But I do have a problem with THIS!....please be advised this is a very disturbing but absolutely factual video of trophy hunting of big cats, elephants, rhino etc. in Africa.
Eric
The strangest part is that these "hunters" are so proud of themselves for killing captive animals inside a fenced enclosure. If they want to track a deer through the open woods I'll have a little more respect for that, but this is just stupid.
That's very disturbing Eric. I find it difficult to believe that there are so many people out there with such utter disregard for the (rapidly diminishing) wildlife on this planet.
Sad that my grandson may only ever get to see pictures of some these animals.
Hunting in Africa is usually done in the areas between national parks and encroaching civilization. It produces revenue for the government and keeps poachers at bay. While some would like to blame hunting for the destruction of wildlife, loss of habitat is a far greater threat.
You don't know who produced the video or the provenance of the photos, but it does make good propaganda.
The leopard shot is great.
The eyes in your shot are mesmerizing , wonderful capture! Can't bring myself to watch to video. I have no problem with hunting, if it is for food. Hunting for sport , to hang a trophy on the wall , not my thing.
Eric, that is one awesome Leopard image! Yep, that video is depressing - canned hunts are not hunting - they are killing for the ego, by the most insecure amongst us. They should not be confused with hunting by traditional and ethical persons.
Jim
First Eric your shot of the Leopard is beautiful. It is two bad that the hunters don't realize they can have just as much fun by photographing the animals. Bruce
You nailed the eyes on that cat. I can't watch the video either. I think "big game" hunting in Africa is wrong, any way it is done. FYI: Botswana is getting out of the hunting "business" completely. Don
Thank you to all who commented...and to those who didn't but did take the time to watch the video...thank you as well. If you didn't watch please do....
When you have been in the presence of such magnificent creatures in the wild it is incomprehensible that one would want to end their life with a bullet or arrow. I understand that allowing hunting on private land rather than turning it into farms does prevent loss of habitat but that doesn't excuse shooting giraffes from helicopter (I guess it's ok if you are Sara Palin), killing eles and shooting defenseless cats trapped in an enclosure.
Wouldn't it be a shame not to be able to see this?
Eric http://eyelaser.smugmug.com/Nature/Leopards/i-XzVZZzG/0/X2/DPP07DB0612170F22leopardonbran-X2.jpg
This is mostly the wealthy doing the trophy hunting, although I'm sure some others would if they had the means. This isn't for the meat or to manage game populations, it's just sick and should be illegal. We might not be able to do anything about the laws in Africa, but we could deal with it the same way we do with our citizens who go abroad to exploit the child sex trade. Make it illegal regardless where the act is performed and prosecute our citizens who do it anyhow.
I don't have a problem with hunting, I actually grew up doing it and still do. For me, though, photography is the same thing, minus the food payoff. I think, for me, it is just the feeling of being out in nature and appreciating what is around me. Sometimes I even take my camera along with my gun.
Just to clarify, I'm not condoning anything remotely like that. Things like that video are not hunting, they're just sick slaughtering for lazy, rich people who don't have any respect for animals.
Beautiful images Eric.
So sad to see and know there are many people who would partake in such atrocious and senseless violence against a living creature. So very pathetic.
