By CJ Lotz

For the first time in 33 years a hunter has been allowed to import a black rhino trophy into the U.S. David K. Reinke, CEO of a laser jet printer parts wholesaler, tagged the animal in Namibia in 2009. He paid $215,000 for the hunt, including a $175,000 contribution to the Namibian government’s Game Products Trust Fund.

Since 1980, black rhinos have been protected under the Endangered Species Act.

After four years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted Reinke a license to import the trophy into the U.S. The FWS wrote in a statement that Namibia’s black rhino conservation program affirms “the role that well-managed, limited sport hunting plays in contributing to the long-term survival and recovery of the black rhino in Namibia.”

John R. Platt has a different opinion. He covers endangered species for Scientific American and writes that the costs of a few legal hunts outweigh the potential benefits.

“Legal hunting sends a message not about conservation, as the pro-hunting groups argue, but that rhinos are ripe for the taking,” Platt writes. “And as long as that message exists, the rhinos will continue to suffer.”

Photo from Wikipedia

Comments (5)

from buckhunter wrote 7 weeks 1 day ago

Platt believes hunters have a strong history of hunting animals to extinction. I would like to know if he has any examples of this taking place in the modern world.

Also, I have always loved Scientific American and not sure how I feel about them crossing the line from science to politics.

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from Blue Ox wrote 7 weeks 1 day ago

Not everyone has 400K to blow on a hunt...

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from Jerry A. wrote 6 weeks 6 days ago

I think it has definitely been shown that hunters the driving force in the conservation of animals the world over. The money spent by Mr. Reinke is a significant amount that could be used for the preservation of many animals, after the harvest of only one.

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from scorp wrote 6 weeks 5 days ago

It is an endangered species and yet just because this clown has money it is ok for him to shoot one.What a joke!

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from Bioguy01 wrote 6 weeks 5 days ago

Poaching is what will drive the black rhino to extinction...not hunting. The price of rhino horn on the Asian market is about $40,000 per pound. The Asians really need to step into the 20th century and take advantage of modern medicines that actually work.

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from buckhunter wrote 7 weeks 1 day ago

Platt believes hunters have a strong history of hunting animals to extinction. I would like to know if he has any examples of this taking place in the modern world.

Also, I have always loved Scientific American and not sure how I feel about them crossing the line from science to politics.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Blue Ox wrote 7 weeks 1 day ago

Not everyone has 400K to blow on a hunt...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Jerry A. wrote 6 weeks 6 days ago

I think it has definitely been shown that hunters the driving force in the conservation of animals the world over. The money spent by Mr. Reinke is a significant amount that could be used for the preservation of many animals, after the harvest of only one.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from scorp wrote 6 weeks 5 days ago

It is an endangered species and yet just because this clown has money it is ok for him to shoot one.What a joke!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Bioguy01 wrote 6 weeks 5 days ago

Poaching is what will drive the black rhino to extinction...not hunting. The price of rhino horn on the Asian market is about $40,000 per pound. The Asians really need to step into the 20th century and take advantage of modern medicines that actually work.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.