Rhino Hunter Death Threats Don't Deter Auction
Death threats have plagued an auction allegedly meant to help preserve the Black Rhino but not deterred eager hunters from bidding up to $350,000 so far to hunt one of these endangered animals.
"This is the ultimate in sport hunting as it is extremely challenging because the Black Rhino has very acute sense and is notoriously aggressive," the auction catalog from the Dallas Safari Club reads. "Hunters are more likely to become the hunted and not the Hunter!"
The auction has been incredibly controversial, given that the prize is the opportunity to hunt, and kill, one of the endangered Black Rhinos, of which there are only an estimated 5,055 left. Many animal lovers have issued death threats to the bidders and the possible winner of the auction, making it a dangerous situation for those involved. However, the Safari Club has adamantly defended its decision to offer the package to the winner.
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"There is a biological reason for this hunt, and it's based on a fundamental premise of modern wildlife management: populations matter; individuals don't," Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club told ABC.
However, not everyone agrees, and Carter told NBC News that he has had to contact the FBI after receiving threats such as: "For every rhino you kill, we will kill a member of the club."
According to Carter, the auction is a win-win because the highest bidder will be allowed the privilege of hunting such a rare species and the nation of Namibia, which is selling the permit to hunt, will use all the auction's proceeds towards conservation efforts. There is some concern, however, that Namibia's government may use the money towards other efforts.
"If they were millionaires and they were serious about helping rhinos, they could give money to help rhinos and not shoot one along the way," Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States told ABC. "The first rule of protecting a rare species is to limit the human [related] killing. Rhinos are enormous lumbering animals who confront predators with their horn and physical mass. Shooting a rhino is about as difficult as shooting a tank … In terms of the sportsmanship component, it's totally lacking."
