So if I remember correctly we were supposed to pick another animal to discuss as a potential extra chapter for Environment and Society. For me though I couldn’t really pick one but decided to go with a theme among three large animals today. Those are elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. My reasoning for picking them is simple: these three have been the subject of special attention by hunters and poachers for years.
Now I’m sure currently we’re more aware of elephants and rhinos being the subject of media attention of poaching in the past few years, but buffaloes were subject to scrutiny in the American West as our nation began expanding. Buffaloes were mowed down in herds as pioneers moved into the territories for their fur pelts and many more were killed in combating the plains Indians. On top of the numbers already being hunted by native tribes as a food source this would have devastating numbers on the overall population.
Elephants and rhinos also faced similar circumstances. For years they were the subject of big game hunting as travelers across the safari would hunt them down as prize game. Today they are still hunted by poachers often for their tusks (elephants) or their horns (rhinos). This has moved these animals onto the endangered species lists for fear of mild to permanent loss of species. Several wild species of rhinos have already been declared extinct, often due to the inability of courts to crack down on poachers.
Example of the problem some of these animals face.
I think these animals would definitely fit in with the others that are discussed in the book. Each of these are majestic creatures and often have been used as icons of the wild outdoor expanses of the U.S. and of several countries in Africa. I will conclude that I think it should only be fair to shoot back at the poachers who keep trying to kill these animals into extinction over a paycheck.
Bonus: an example of the kind of round used to kill large game such as elephants and rhinos.
