#respectanimalrights (#get_repost) ・・・ *** SPECIAL POST *** Please take a moment to read the text and sign the petition if you like. Image credit: #markjdrury #bekindtoelephants 👉 Sign the petition - link in bio How anyone could take any pleasure whatsoever from killing one of these magnificent creatures is beyond comprehension. But some do. And if they need a head hanging on the wall to remember that pathetic moment when they fired a high-powered rifle, from a safe distance, and murdered an endangered animal, as sickening as I may find it; so be it. Much more troubling is the conflicting message that a repeal of the ban on importing elephant "trophies" into the United States would send to Africa: that it's ok for wealthy white people to come and shoot endangered animals for "fun" and yet it is illegal for the local populations to shoot these animals for much needed food. Conservation starts with the local communites and how should they understand the importance of preserving and protecting their natural heritage when we play by a different set of rules? Yes, it's true that there are some areas where the elephant population has grown far beyond capacity and this presents a serious problem for the local communities as well as the ecosystem. A solution is needed but wealthy hunters and legal ivory is most definitely not the winner. There is also the argument that the fees collected from legal elephant hunting can be channeled into the conservation effort. While that may sound promising in theory, the greedy reality often tells another story. (The going rate to murder an elephant is around 18,000$ US and goes by the weight of their tusks) As with so many problems on our planet, there are no clear cut solutions but while we are figuring it out let's start with a simple one: STOP KILLING ELEPHANTS and not to condone their senseless murder by allowing the import of "trophies" into the United States! Thanks for reading and please take a moment, if you will, and sign the petition to keep the ban in place. #speakforthosewhocant #bantrophyhunting #savetheelephants Via #african_portraits