Read about this yourself here, original news break found here.
A former campaign manager for the World Wildlife Fund writes that the nature charity provides lobbying and practical help for the trophy hunting of wild animals. His book details how WWF backs the shooting of big game for sport and actively blocks legal obstacles being placed in the paths of hunters.
Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the campaign to ban trophy hunting, authors this book to inform the public about an organization many believed to be vividly against trophy hunting.
“WWF is in danger of being vastly and potentially disastrously out of step with public opinion on the issue. Its stance could seriously contaminate WWF’s brand and hit supporter income, and possibly that of the wider conservation and charitable sector.”-Gonçalves writes.
Sharks are no strangers to trophy hunting. The activity has gained popularity in areas such as Florida and Catalina Island in California. Shark species caught trophy hunting include threatened or endangered species such as mako and thresher shark. The biggest threat to shark populations is overfishing, and trophy hunting is merely another category of shark fishing.
The World Wildlife Fund believes that shooting polar bears for sport benefits the species. Hunting for big game increases tolerance among Arctic communities of the bears’ presence, helping conservation, claims WWF at a meeting about banning the import of shot trophy animals with the British government.
Last year, then environment secretary Micheal Grove attempted to discuss reform proposals. Paul De Ornellas, deputy director of conservation at WWF-UK, claimed that hasty policy changes and a quick switch from hunting might have “perverse and negative conservation outcomes.”
When an international protection agreement was updated last August, the WWF sided against animal welfare activists and allied with hunters, the book accuses. The book also claims that WWF supported the application for David Reinke to become the first American allowed to bring back a dead black rhino since the species was listed as endangered in 2013.
Check out the book here. Its an excellent read, especially if you were taken by surprise the headline and have given money to WWF. I will end this article with inspiring quotes from the book, as we all hope that shark trophy hunting will eventually vanish.
“We don’t understand why anyone would want to kill and glorify the death of a wild animal for a trophy. We recognize that scientific evidence has shown that trophy hunting can provide vulnerable communities with benefits from jobs, income and bushmeat, and a more sustainable future.
“We look forward to a time when communities and wildlife can thrive without the need for people in some parts of the world to rely on their safety, livelihoods, and economic prosperity on the practice of trophy hunting.”