Unapologetic Hunter Boasts About Slaying 5,000 Elephants and 800 Buffalo

Even when an action is indefensible, understanding the motives behind it remains valuable. In the context of a criminal case, the court strives to ascertain not only the actions that violated the law but also the underlying reasons for those actions.

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The challenge arises when the stated rationale for someone’s behavior is in dispute, as deciphering intentions is inherently subjective. A case in point is a hunter in Zimbabwe, where consensus is lacking regarding the authenticity of his proclaimed goals.

According to a recent report by the Campaign To End Trophy Hunting, concerning news awaits elephant enthusiasts worldwide.

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Founder Eduardo Gonçalves revealed to The Daily Mail that elephant populations in southern Africa plummeted from 1.3 million in the 1980s to 400,000 today. Concurrently, trophy hunting of elephants has surged during this period.

Gonçalves highlighted a troubling trend, noting a fourfold increase in elephant trophies exported worldwide in 2015 compared to 1985. Furthermore, ivory trafficking witnessed almost a twelvefold surge during the same period.

The report disclosed that over 100,000 trophies were taken by hunters during this time frame.

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The report also singled out the world’s most prolific elephant hunter, including 77-year-old Ron Thomson from Zimbabwe. Thomson, with nearly six decades of experience in national parks, claimed to have personally killed 5,000 elephants, along with numerous other species.

Despite the staggering number of animal fatalities, Thomson expressed no remorse for his hunts, categorizing them as “management culling” to prevent population overgrowth.

He argued that elephants are not endangered, and wildlife parks are burdened with excessive populations.

However, Gonçalves disputed Thomson’s claims, presenting evidence of a “serious decline” in elephant populations. He questioned Thomson’s true motives, suggesting that instances of “management culling” might serve as a cover for trophy hunting, akin to a dubious excuse in certain situations.