14 DAY TRIAL // With just 5,000 or so black rhinos left in the world, the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as a critically endangered one. Critically endangered as in dangerously close to falling off the biodiversity map altogether.
Even so, it was just yesterday that the US federal government officially authorized the killing of two such rare animals. Thus, in a statement, the Fish and Wildlife Service gave its blessing to having a pair of black rhinos shot dead by American hunters.
The federal government agency insists it made the right call
Folks at the Fish and Wildlife Service say the only reason why they agreed to let hunting enthusiasts track down and shoot two rare black rhinos is because they expect the killing of this pair of animals will benefit the species.
Since black rhinos are in danger of going extinct, American guys and gals who want to have some fun hunting them can't simply go running across Africa, pointing their gun at whatever animal they cross paths with and catches their eye.
Instead, they must pay serious money for special permits allowing them to hunt the species. It is understood that the two killings authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Service will generate a total of $550,000 (roughly €500,000).
This money will be used to fund conservation campaigns and support anti-poaching efforts, which is why the federal government agency insists that it made the right call and that the deaths it OKed will actually help the species.
The hunters won't get to kill just any pair of black rhinos
The hunts approved by the Fish and Wildlife Service will play out in Namibia, where the population of black rhinos more than doubled between the years 2001 and 2010 thanks to conservation projects and anti-poaching efforts.
Otherwise put, this country in Africa is now home to just enough black rhinos to afford to lose a pair. More so seeing how the death of two such animals will bring in money needed to keep up the good work protecting the species.
“The future of Africa’s wildlife is threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade, not responsible, scientifically managed sport hunting,” Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe commented on the approval of these killings.
The hunts in Namibia will be supervised by local authorities who will make sure the victims are old specimens that are no longer able to breed and whose aggressive behavior poses a threat to other animals, including black rhino young males, females and calves.