In defense of legal hunting

By Wayne Bisbee

Updated 2125 GMT (0525 HKT) August 11, 2015

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Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
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Earth's tallest mammal can run as fast as <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/giraffe/" target="_blank">35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances.</a> But that's unlikely to deter a hunting enthusiast. Giraffes can be shot down for $3,800 in South Africa, $3,200 in Zimbabwe or $1,800 in Namibia.<br />The <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/9194/0" target="_blank">International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)</a> warns that recent declines may mean that the species will be moved up to a higher category of threat.
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
Earth's tallest mammal can run as fast as 35 miles (56 kilometers) an hour over short distances. But that's unlikely to deter a hunting enthusiast. Giraffes can be shot down for $3,800 in South Africa, $3,200 in Zimbabwe or $1,800 in Namibia.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) warns that recent declines may mean that the species will be moved up to a higher category of threat.
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Hunting the cheetah can cost $5,000 in Namibia -- but only if he or she can catch up with the world's fastest land mammal, which can go from <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/cheetah/" target="_blank">0 to 60 miles (96 km) an hour in just three seconds. </a><br />According to the IUCN<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/" target="_blank"> Red List of Threatened Species</a>, the cheetah is<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/221/0" target="_blank"> critically endangered.</a>
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
Hunting the cheetah can cost $5,000 in Namibia -- but only if he or she can catch up with the world's fastest land mammal, which can go from 0 to 60 miles (96 km) an hour in just three seconds.
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the cheetah is critically endangered.
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With a carefully chosen rifle, bullet and a fee of up to $7000, a hunter is able to add this reptile to their trophy room. The Nile crocodile found in Africa is <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/46590/0" target="_blank">not considered to be endangered</a>, although it may be threatened in certain areas.<br />The trophy hunting of "problem" saltwater crocodiles may also be<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-23/saltwater-crocodile-safari-hunting-could-happen-in-one-year/6565132" target="_blank"> legalized in Australia within a year,</a> with hunters paying fees ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
With a carefully chosen rifle, bullet and a fee of up to $7000, a hunter is able to add this reptile to their trophy room. The Nile crocodile found in Africa is not considered to be endangered, although it may be threatened in certain areas.
The trophy hunting of "problem" saltwater crocodiles may also be legalized in Australia within a year, with hunters paying fees ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.
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Branded as the <a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/wild/shows-deadly-60/fun-facts/" target="_blank">most dangerous animal in Africa, </a>this semi-aquatic giant is hunted for $6,500 in Zimbabwe or $9,400 in South Africa. The common hippo found in sub-Saharan Africa is categorized as <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10103/0" target="_blank">vulnerable,</a> whereas the smaller pygmy hippopotamus is considered <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10032/0" target="_blank">endangered.</a>
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
Branded as the most dangerous animal in Africa, this semi-aquatic giant is hunted for $6,500 in Zimbabwe or $9,400 in South Africa. The common hippo found in sub-Saharan Africa is categorized as vulnerable, whereas the smaller pygmy hippopotamus is considered endangered.
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Mainly found roaming the savannahs of West and Central Africa, the Roan antelope can<a href="https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/roan-antelope" target="_blank"> run up to 35 miles per hour</a>. Hunters can pay up to $12,500 to be hot on their heels in South Africa, or $4,000 in Tanzania. The animal's conservation status is of <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10167/0" target="_blank">"least concern".</a>
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
Mainly found roaming the savannahs of West and Central Africa, the Roan antelope can run up to 35 miles per hour. Hunters can pay up to $12,500 to be hot on their heels in South Africa, or $4,000 in Tanzania. The animal's conservation status is of "least concern".
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Considered one of Africa's<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2014/02/28/travel/vanishing-wildlife-experiences/"> Big Five, </a>South African <a href="http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/wild-kingdom/about-animals/buffalo-facts/" target="_blank">hunter turned conservationist Lindsay Hunt told Animal Planet: </a>"Buffalo are reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any other animal. They are known to ambush hunters that have wounded or injured them." But some hunters think it's worth the risk, paying up to $14,990 for the privilege of taking down the giant male Cape, or African, buffalo in South Africa with a bow and arrow or handgun.<br />The giant grass-grazing animal's population is <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/21251/0" target="_blank">not threatened, </a>although some subspecies are decreasing.
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
Considered one of Africa's Big Five, South African hunter turned conservationist Lindsay Hunt told Animal Planet: "Buffalo are reported to kill more hunters in Africa than any other animal. They are known to ambush hunters that have wounded or injured them." But some hunters think it's worth the risk, paying up to $14,990 for the privilege of taking down the giant male Cape, or African, buffalo in South Africa with a bow and arrow or handgun.
The giant grass-grazing animal's population is not threatened, although some subspecies are decreasing.
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The cost to hunt this<a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/15954/0" target="_blank"> near-threatened, </a>elusive big cat begins at $5,000, with some companies offering a guaranteed kill for a $35,000 price tag.
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
The cost to hunt this near-threatened, elusive big cat begins at $5,000, with some companies offering a guaranteed kill for a $35,000 price tag.
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The cost to kill a lioness can be up to $9,500 in South Africa, whereas a lion can set a hunter back $23,000, $30,000 for a white lion or $35,000 for a black mane lion, similar to Cecil. It's unclear what <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/07/31/world/zimbabwe-cecil-lion-dentist/">Walter Palmer's</a> $55,000 payment may have included.<br />According to the <a href="http://whitelions.org/white-lion/key-facts-about-the-white-lion/" target="_blank">Global White Lion Protection Trust,</a> there are hundreds of white lions in captivity, but less than 13 in the wild. And there are no laws to stop them being hunted.<br />Although lions are not listed as endangered, it's claimed by certain wildlife activists that their numbers are in <a href="http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0083500" target="_blank">serious decline in West Africa. </a>
Photos: Lion's share: The prices on the heads of trophy hunted animals
The cost to kill a lioness can be up to $9,500 in South Africa, whereas a lion can set a hunter back $23,000, $30,000 for a white lion or $35,000 for a black mane lion, similar to Cecil. It's unclear what Walter Palmer's $55,000 payment may have included.
According to the Global White Lion Protection Trust, there are hundreds of white lions in captivity, but less than 13 in the wild. And there are no laws to stop them being hunted.
Although lions are not listed as endangered, it's claimed by certain wildli