What do you think of hunting?

Hunting is cruel and unnecessary. Trophy hunting not only tampers with natural selection, but it kills off the animals with the best genetics, so those traits are not passed on to their offspring. Economies that strive off of wildlife tourism, like the Safari are negatively impacted due to the increased trophy hunting taking out their most iconic animal species, also known as the Big Five in hunting terms for the Safari. Hunting is not justified in today’s society. It is no longer necessary to hunt for food or population control because anyone can easily go to the store for any meat desired.

Hunters have a choice. With all the delicious pasta, fruits, vegetables and grains that are cheaply available everywhere, there is no reason to kill animals to survive. Moreover, many animals are killed for their furs, tusks, horns etc which is a natural gift to animals to protect them against wounds and cold and against danger.There is also the unlawful activity of smuggling dead animals which is unjustified.

Research in psychology and criminology shows that people who commit violent acts against animals are easily prone to target their fellow humans. Moreover, hunting accidents often injure or kill horses, cows, cats, hikers and other hunters. Hunters are at risk of being injured not only by other hunters but also by animals, who may see them as a threat and attack them. There is also a reason concerning hunting pets. Dogs who are used for hunting are usually kept chained or penned and denied routine veterinary care. They are kept in unhygienic conditions.

Nearly 40% of hunters also injure and kill millions of animals on public land every year. Most government agencies that manage wildlife refuges, national forests, state parks, and other public lands are partially funded by hunting and fishing activities, so agency employees often go out of their way to encourage hunting rather than regulating or policing it. Most hunting occurs on private land, where laws that protect wildlife do not apply or are difficult to enforce. Hence, hunters can pay to kill in “canned hunts”. The animals are just killed to promote “trophy”. Hunting is not a sport. Sophisticated weapons are used like rifles which animals can’t outrun.

We know about Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, which explains that the sickest and weakest animals are most likely to get killed by natural predators. Hunters, however, disrupt this natural balance because they prefer to kill the largest, strongest animals which were present for passing its strongest genes to their offsprings.

In the last, hunting causes pain and suffering. This violent form of ‘entertainment’ rips families apart and leaves countless animals orphaned or badly injured when hunters miss their targets. Quick kills are the rate, and many animals endure prolonged, painful deaths when they are hurt but not killed by hunters. Hence there should be restrictions against the harmful activities of hunting and poaching.