lethalconnection

I would have to agree with James. The fact is that the amount of money that the quide will make and the huge amount of that will go to research is amazing just for someone to dart the amazing beast and collect data on it. It's just the same as a biologist going out and darting it and collecting data just in this case their making money from a person with a fat wallet. I dont think that they should have televised the shooting though because in the end it does make us hunters look like blood thirsty savage people when really we aren't. Also of course the animals is going to keep getting up try and charge. Heck this year my buddy shot this bull moose 4 at 150yds away with a 7mm equipped with180grain bullets and it still stood there and he hit it every time in the vitals so now just imagine if it were charging at us of course it will keep getting up the animal is so big and the amount of adrenaline will just keep that animal going, better yet imagine if that were a rhino. Of course it will take alot to ground the beast. Also the part about disagreeing with safari hunts. I would have to disagree with that. Once again a person with a very fat wallet is willing to spend money to shot an exotic animal and a bit of that money will probably go to the research of the animal despite what type of animal it is going to because in africa they dont have enough people and money to research and help protect the animals out there. Unlike here in North America if someone comes over here from lets say europe all the money will go to the outfitter because there are enough people and money and organizations already set up to protect and regulate the animals.

Lanse couche couche

Well, I am an expert becauseI grew up waching Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. Dunno that those guys ever had to blast an animal that they were trying to tranquilize.

Seriously, I guess that stuff like that is okay, whatever floatsthe hunter's boatand brings in the research bucks. My concern would be how often this happens given that a promoted goal of such activities is to bring a species back from the "edge of extinction." If it is a one in a thousand type of incident, okay. But if not, I would hope that there are more effective and equally challenging ways of darting a Rhino that doesn't include facing a charge at 15 yards. I would like to think that voicing such concerns does not mark me as clueless.

James Vee

White Rhino populations are in fairly good shape. Good enough so that there are huntable populations. It is the black rhino that was struggling in the late part of the 20th century.

Lanse couche couche

Are there still folks trying to poach them because Orientals want to use the ground up horns for Viagra?

tangozulu

I'm with you, I love hunting and don't need to keep changing the definition of what that is. So OK, someone wants to use a dart, then no back-up profesional hunter. That would make it ok and maybe make good telivision to boot.

James Vee

It's not that you are just taking a picture of a rhino. If you wanted to do that you would be on an eco-safari. These are hunts. The only difference from this hunt compared to any other is that the rhino or elephant is released when all of the pictures and trophy measurements are taken.

Turk_man

I think some have a hard time understanding that in Africa if an animal whether it be a lion or elephant or even a rare rhino has no economic value then it will fall by the wayside. If darting a rhino (they do get vital data from the animal) and raising tens of thousands of dollar for the continuation of research and breeding programs is what it takes to help a species survive then I`m all for it. Unfortunately there is the risk of accidents. I can`t imagine it happens often.

tangozulu

Don't you think this may be a pretty tough assignment.................... releasing a rhino shot 4 times in the face I mean

Lanse couche couche

You beat me to it Tango[8D]

I've got an idea for those Safari hunters who want to purchase an adrenaline rush. Why not have them hang upside down out of a chopper on a bungy cord while it chases the rhino. They could then get within the 15 yard "kill" zone without worrying about the charge, but with just as much danger (for the hunter, that is). The survival rate for rhinos involved in such"research" would then hopefully climb back up to 100%.

Bill Yox

Like James Vee said, theres just no way to sell this to those who dont get it. There just isnt the money being offered to help the rhino, out there to be had. That theres folks out there willing to put up those thousands and I mean thousands of dollars to assist on one of these dart/tag/collection situations is obviously priceless. I understand that in some areas, where poaching is too likely, that they even remove the horn/horns to make the animal value-less to poachers. That program has saved the rhino. It doesnt seem too valuable when you see an animal destroyed by the very same people trying to save it, of course. To me, its no different than any other time that man interferes with nature and experiences a loss while trying to save it, it happens. Too bad we arent smart enough to stop taping hunts, that to me makes more sense. Same loss, less uproar. I think some things, a hunt OR a rhino darting program, ought to be private, or at least for educated eyes only. James Vee, thanks for clarifying.