German accused of shooting dead ‘huge’ elephant in Africa
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A GERMAN tourist has killed one of the biggest elephants seen for years in Zimbabwe, wildlife groups said yesterday, reviving the fierce debate over trophy hunting after the shooting of Cecil the lion.
The unnamed hunter was reported to have paid US$60,000 to shoot the male elephant, which was at least 50 years old, on private land near the border with South Africa, sparking condemnation by tour operators and conservation groups.
“This elephant, which was more than 50, was shot and killed outside Gonarezhou National Park last Thursday,” said Emmanuel Fundira, chairman of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ).
The beast was “so huge its tusks were almost hitting the ground while it was standing,” Fundira said.
“We have never seen any animal that big.”
SOAZ believes the animal should have been treated as a “national treasure” rather than killed, he said.
“We need to discipline ourselves and hold such iconic things sacred,” he said.
Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokeswoman Caroline Washaya said she was not aware of the hunt, which was legal if the correct permits were issued.
“We are disgusted. It’s wrong to kill an iconic animal,” said Johnny Rodrigues, chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, adding that the elephant’s tusks weighed 54 kilograms.
“The last time one was seen (of such size) was more than 40 years ago,” he said.
In July, American dentist Walter Palmer incensed animal rights activists when he shot and killed Cecil the lion with a powerful bow and arrow.
Cecil was well-known at the Hwange National Park and was wearing a tracking collar as part of a research project.
Zimbabwe this week abandoned its bid to press charges against Palmer, saying his papers “were in order” and that he didn’t know he was committing an offense.
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