“If wildlife conservation is broadly and inescapably dependent on the institution of trophy hunting, conservationists should accept the practice only with a due appreciation of tragedy, and proper remorse.” Paul Paquet of Raincoast Conservation Foundation and the University of Victoria

In a most important essay called “The elephant (head) in the room: A critical look at trophy hunting(link is external)” published in Conservation Letters and available online, an international team of conservation scientists from Oregon State University, University of Victoria and Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and The Centre for Compassionate Conservation at University of Technology Sydney challenges conservationists to fully consider the ethics of trophy hunting and to think critically about endorsing the practice as a key funding mechanism for wildlife protection. The “poster child” who attracted global attention about the despicable practice of trophy hunting is Cecil, a African lion who was killed…