Hunting

A very few weeks after we heard about a „Great White Hunter“ having killed a Lion after having lured the animal from a protected zone into a hunting zone, we read about another such Hero who shot an Elephant. Not just any Elephant, but one known for his mighty tusks and his advanced age.

Every newspaper featured pictures of the proud hunter with his trophy Elephant and his guide, who assured all and sundry that his client had done nothing illegal.

It was also reported that the hunting community was applauding this brave hunter, who, with a single shot put an end to the life of a beautiful animal.

Let me assure you that there was nothing brave about this slaughter.

I have been in Africa a total of 12 times and, in aggregate, have spent almost a year on this beautiful continent.

I too have 'hunted' Elephants, Lions, Rhinocerus, Hippos, and all manner of other denicens of Eastern and Southern Africa. 

My hunting was done with a camera which takes a great deal more guts than that displayed by these hunters-killers.

And I can tell you from personal experience that it is not at all very difficult to get within 10 to 15 meters of an Elephant. From that distance anybody, strong enough to hold a gun, can hit a barn door and just as easily can hit an elephant behind the ear in order to kill it.

So what is the enthusiasm of the hunting community all about ? Are they waxing euphoric because one of theirs has killed an Elephant ? One of theirs, who carried a large caliber hunting gun, and who was protected by a hunting guide, carrying another large caliber instrument of killing ?

Methinks the man is probably a coward.

Let him, armed with a Nikon, get within 10 meters of an Elephant.

Unexpected Company at our camp site.

Ant, our guide, not more than 10 meters from this animal

with me only 5 meters back.