Killing to protect!

Byline: Khadeeja Rana - Lahore

THE notion of 'trophy hunting' in Pakistan is a practice that goes back decades in the name of helping conserve endangered species, such as markhor, snow leopard, ibex etc. It is argued that it brings socioeconomic benefits to the local communities.

However, from an ethical stance, hunting of wildlife, that too rare species, is downright unacceptable. The proponents of trophy hunting should know that the revenue thus generated rarely reaches the local community even in the shape of development projects.

It is the job of the government to protect wildlife and support the locals without shedding blood.

Though the population of the wild animals has increased in the recent past, there is still a lack of reliable ecological survey and demographic study to warrant trophy hunting.

It is nonetheless a poor excuse for conservation...