Christina Galbraith - Trophy Hunting

 Reflecting more on hunting and how Shepard frames it as a sacred connection with prey, I researched trophy hunting. A study from the University of Minnesota found that sport hunting only impacts the environment if the loss of males is so high that females can no longer find a mate. However, in species where males provide essential paternal care, the removal of even a few individuals can have a severe impact on the entire population. In lions, replacement males systematically kill the cubs of any resident males that have been shot by sport hunters so excessive trophy hunting can have serious consequences for lion populations.

The study used a computer model to simulate a virtual lion herd and measure the consequences of trophy hunting on said herd. They found that trophy hunting could be sustained indefinitely if hunting were restricted to males over six years of age. This restriction maximizes the quantity and the quality of the long-term harvest, while also accommodating for any environmental disturbances. 

Trophy hunting became more of a topic of conversation in 2015 after Cecil the lion was killed by a trophy hunter from Minnesota. There are critics of the practice that state trophy hunting is cruel and inhumane, especially since the practice is spurred by money. On the other side some conservationists have admitted that trophy hunting helps control population numbers. But can't animal populations be controlled by local hunters that use the entire animal for food rather than as a trophy? Most trophy hunters are tourists, and if conservationists want to best protect the planet they should be arguing that trophy hunting is overall damaging. Flights to hunting destinations are damaging to the environment, and local hunters would be best equipped to hunt in a manner that was respectful to the sacred exchange of energy during the hunt.