I refuse to repost any pictures or articles about the Texan girl, who interestingly enough is referenced in headlines as a "Texas teen cheerleader" instead of a better descriptor "Texas teen trophy hunter." But I digress... Instead of posting an emotion filled answer of why I personally believe it's morally wrong to kill these animals for sport or trophies; I will try to take this opportunity to educate you on some facts about these animals and where they stand as endangered species.
The Texas teen trophy hunter has pictures with four different dead animals: an African Lion, a Cheetah, a Rhino (I believe it's a White Rhino), and an Elephant (I'm assuming it's an African Elephant. I can't see the ear size in her photos). Below are some facts on how these magnificent animals are fading away from our planet at a rapid rate because of irresponsible human behavior (such as hers).
The African Lion
Only 32,000 Lions Remain out of 100,000 Roaming Africa in the 1960s.
The most comprehensive assessment of lion (Panthera leo) numbers to date determined that Africa’s once-thriving savannahs are undergoing massive land-use conversion and burgeoning human population growth. The decline has had a significant impact on the lions that make their home in these savannahs; their numbers have dropped to as low as 32,000, down from hundreds of thousands estimated just 50 years ago.
The study, funded in part by the National Geographic Big Cats Initiative, was published online in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation.
On the U.S. Endangered Spices Act List?
Currently under review. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced a 90-day finding on a petition to list the African lion (Panthera leo leo) as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on their review, they found that the petition presented substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing this subspecies may be warranted.
Source(s):
National Geographic
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/12/06/lion-numbers-plunge-as-african-wilderness-succumbs-to-human-pressure/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A0JZ
The White Rhino
The white rhino was once on the brink of extinction with only around 50 individuals left in the wild! The white rhino recovered from near extinction as a species thanks to intensive conservation efforts. The latest population estimate is 20,405; the vast majority live in a single country South Africa, which is currently experiencing a poaching crisis.
Although the Southern White Rhino is one of the more prevalent species, the Northern White Rhino is critically endangered. The sub-species was declared extinct in the wild in 2008, and there are only four individuals remaining in captivity in Garamba National Park.
On the U.S. Endangered Spices Act List?
Endangered for the Northern White Rhinos.
Source(s):
Save the Rhino
http://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/species_of_rhino
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A025
The Cheetah
Most wild cheetahs are found in eastern and southwestern Africa. Perhaps only 7,000 to 10,000 of these big cats remain, and those are under pressure as the wide-open grasslands they favor are disappearing at the hands of human settlers.
On the U.S. Endangered Spices Act List?
Endangered where ever found.
Source(s):
National Geographic
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A00S
The African Elephant
There are only 300,000 African elephants in Southern African Heartlands and small herds in the mere hundreds throughout West Africa.
The large tusks on either side of the elephant’s face—used to forage for food and water—have long been desired by people. Poachers kill elephants for their ivory, which is then sold and made into anything from jewelry to religious objects. At current poaching rates, elephant populations may not survive 10 years in the wild.
Increased demand spurred by Beijing’s lax ivory laws has seen ivory prices rocket from $750 in 2010 to $2,100 in 2014, meaning the widespread slaughter of African elephants “shows little sign of abating,” according to Save the Elephants. The campaign group estimates 33,000 elephants were slaughtered annually between 2010 and 2012.
On the U.S. Endangered Spices Act List?
Threatened where ever found (if it's actually an Asian Elephant, those are classified as endangered where ever found).
Source(s):
African Wildlife Foundation
http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/elephant
Time
http://time.com/2953056/african-elephant-poaching-soars-as-ivory-prices-triple-in-china/
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A07U
Trophy hunting of these animals
And for those that would be interested to read an argument about using trophy hunting as a form on conservation, read this article:
"It's a complicated argument," admits Giraffe Conservation Foundation founder Dr. Julian Fennessey. ""There are lots of factors. The loss of habitat and breaking up of populations by man-made constructions are the main factors threatening their numbers. In the countries where you can hunt legally, the populations are increasing but across Africa the overall numbers are dropping alarmingly."
Source:
http://endangeredspecies.about.com/od/endangeredspeciesconflicts/a/Can-Hunting-Help-Save-Endangered-Species.htm
And because I like to use science as a backup, here's a scientific paper studying the sustainability of hunting endangered species.
"While it is true that species' extinction due to trophy hunting has never been reported, as stated in Mysterud's (2012) commentary, there are documented cases of unsustainable trophy hunting. Among the most topical examples is the decline of the lion (Panthera leo) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) populations because of trophy hunting (Whitman et al., 2004; Packer et al., 2009, 2011)."
Source:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-1795.2012.00521.x/full
So there you have it! A bunch of information for you to consume about these animals and trophy hunting. Whatever side you take in the issue, at least be aware that whatever we, humans, are doing now to help save these animals from extinction is not working. The numbers don't lie.
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