Is it Morally Wrong to Hunt and Kill an Elephant for Sport?

Is it Moral to Kill an Elephant?

  • Yes

    Votes: 33 60.0%
  • No

    Votes: 20 36.4%
  • I made the title and quiz confusing on accident.

    Votes: 2 3.6%

  • Total voters
    55

Occams Barber

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durangodawood

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I'm pro hunting and have no problem with the whole experience being fun for people. But hunting outside the tradition of food provision is awful imo. Killing an elephant for the thrill and the trophy is disgusting.
 
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durangodawood

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Most people I think would be against hunting Elephant hunting with them being an endangered species. But it doesn't matter what we think, all that matters is the the opinion of African and South East Asian governments as far as if they want to end Safari tourism, poaching etc.
Your view seems to rest on the general idea that there's no point in having opinions on issues or events that you arent personally involved with, or in which you aren't a controlling entity. That's the principle I draw from your statement.
 
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Gene Parmesan

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Nothing wrong with hunting for sport, if an animal population needs management.
The same people that would protest because somebody killed an elephant even if they weren't endangered at the time, are not probably going to have a problem with you killing a wild pig tearing up their garden.

Killing an elephant is not the same as killing a pig. Elephants are incredibly intelligent, social, and emotional animals that seem to be capable of grieving. It's like equating going fishing with killing dolphins. No, I'm afraid it's not the same.
 
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Gene Parmesan

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Wild elephants are dangerous exciting game. When LaPierre did this it was legal, not endangered species. Now they are poached for ivory which is not right. We have seen a lot of carnage and have taught to fear a lack of natural species presence. I would never shoot an elephant or deer now. I went through that stage of life. It is morally wrongonly because it is against the international law most places.
The video of the LaPierres shows this was not a dangerous exciting hunt. They walked up on trusting elephants that just looked at them while they stood a handful of feet away and a guide lined up the shot for them. That's not hunting. That's an execution. And then to watch them just be absolutely giddy because they killed something for no other reason then it makes their heart race. Gross.
 
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renniks

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Killing an elephant is not the same as killing a pig. Elephants are incredibly intelligent, social, and emotional animals that seem to be capable of grieving. It's like equating going fishing with killing dolphins. No, I'm afraid it's not the same.
I'm not sure that intelligence is the point here, but pigs actually rate pretty high in intelligence. Even Canines seem capable of some emotion, but coyotes need to be controlled along with wolves and foxes, etc. It's mostly a matter of what some particular person thinks is the "best" animal. Most people aren't gonna care if you kill a rat, but a squirrel? The difference? Cosmetics! The squirrel is more attractive. Same thing with killing say, a rhino vs a giraffe. The giraffe is more attractive, so more people are going to protest. Or a warthog vs a lion...
 
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Gene Parmesan

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I'm not sure that intelligence is the point here, but pigs actually rate pretty high in intelligence. Even Canines seem capable of some emotion, but coyotes need to be controlled along with wolves and foxes, etc. It's mostly a matter of what some particular person thinks is the "best" animal. Most people aren't gonna care if you kill a rat, but a squirrel? The difference? Cosmetics! The squirrel is more attractive. Same thing with killing say, a rhino vs a giraffe. The giraffe is more attractive, so more people are going to protest. Or a warthog vs a lion...
I'll grant you the high intelligence of pigs and grant a level of hypocrisy in my own gut reaction to the death of an elephant vs a pig. But again I lay out the differences. Killing an intelligent animal for sport and no other purpose like for food, is just not the same.
 
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Unqualified

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But please don’t impose your opinion on others who enjoy it. Ya know. Don’t make laws forbidding such things without a reason like endangered species. It’s more than a hobby for millions, it’s a way of life with history. I’m sorry your offended. Please don’t watch if all you want from it is to disagree. Live and let live!

maybe the animal was sick.
 
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Gene Parmesan

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But please don’t impose your opinion on others who enjoy it. Ya know. Don’t make laws forbidding such things without a reason like endangered species. It’s more than a hobby for millions, it’s a way of life with history. I’m sorry your offended. Please don’t watch if all you want from it is to disagree. Live and let live!

maybe the animal was sick.
My post is pretty specific. Is it wrong to kill an elephant for sport? Not, is it okay to put a sick animal down. Not is it wrong to kill an animal for meat or clothes or tools made from bones. Rather, is there something immoral about walking up on an intelligent species, a species that seemingly mourns their dead, and kill it for no other reason than it's exciting to take its life? I mean, watch the video. No hunter would applaud this slow motion close-range execution. They didn't earn their trophy. They couldn't even line up their own shot from like 10 feet away. A guide did what little work there was. It has to look pretty pathetic to a skilled hunter. I'm assuming that's why they fought to hide the footage. Embarrassment at his poor display as a hunter. No shame about anything else, I'd wager.

"I'm sorry you're offended," doesn't exactly promote productive dialogue.
 
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dlamberth

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Sure, I get all that. I agree that, unfortunately, prey animals have to be put down for the sake of livestock. I get it. There are moments of necessity when killing animals is for the greater good. The world is harsh, that's how it goes.

Do you think that is what we have here? Is this a killing for some greater good or for the pleasure and pride of the killer?
I'm having a hard time understanding what a "greater good" looks like when killing animals. Was it a greater good when farm land was pushed into and cleared of the forest where prey animals live? They were there first.
 
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public hermit

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I'm having a hard time understanding what a "greater good" looks like when killing animals. Was it a greater good when farm land was pushed into and cleared of the forest where prey animals live? They were there first.

Good point. It's relative, I suppose. All I know is if my livelihood is livestock, and I'm having problems with predators, the predators have to go one way or another. Sometimes shooting them is what's needed. But, yeah, I see your point.
 
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ViaCrucis

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This question is brought on by this story on NPR (includes graphic video):
Video Leaks Of NRA's Wayne LaPierre Missing His Mark On Elephant Hunt

Given that we know that elephants are incredibly social, intelligent, and emotional animals which even mourn the death of fellow elephants, is it okay to kill them for sport?

I almost clicked the wrong answer, because the way the question is phrased in the thread title and the question in your poll are opposite.

But yes, it is morally wrong to hunt and kill an elephant for sport.

I don't believe hunting is inherently immoral--it's how our species has gotten food, clothing, and tools for hundreds of thousands of years.

From a Christian perspective, killing an endangered animal "for fun" is a grotesque abuse of mankind's God-given stewardship of the earth. Animal abuse is explicitly condemned in the Christian religion as a sin.

Under God's provisions for ancient Israel, fair and just treatment of animals was to be expected of God's people.

"Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

"If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him." - Exodus 23:5

"You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." - Deuteronomy 25:4

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Gene Parmesan

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I almost clicked the wrong answer, because the way the question is phrased in the thread title and the question in your poll are opposite.

But yes, it is morally wrong to hunt and kill an elephant for sport.

I don't believe hunting is inherently immoral--it's how our species has gotten food, clothing, and tools for hundreds of thousands of years.

From a Christian perspective, killing an endangered animal "for fun" is a grotesque abuse of mankind's God-given stewardship of the earth. Animal abuse is explicitly condemned in the Christian religion as a sin.

Under God's provisions for ancient Israel, fair and just treatment of animals was to be expected of God's people.

"Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." - Proverbs 12:10

"If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him." - Exodus 23:5

"You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." - Deuteronomy 25:4

-CryptoLutheran
Haha! I really goofed up phrasing the title and post question that way.
 
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Bradskii

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This question is brought on by this story on NPR (includes graphic video):
Video Leaks Of NRA's Wayne LaPierre Missing His Mark On Elephant Hunt

Given that we know that elephants are incredibly social, intelligent, and emotional animals which even mourn the death of fellow elephants, is it okay to kill them for sport?

You have GOT to be kidding me! Those 'people' call that sport? So help me, what a couple of low life excuses for human beings. If I was ever to meet that guy in a bar...
 
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mmksparbud

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This question is brought on by this story on NPR (includes graphic video):
Video Leaks Of NRA's Wayne LaPierre Missing His Mark On Elephant Hunt

Given that we know that elephants are incredibly social, intelligent, and emotional animals which even mourn the death of fellow elephants, is it okay to kill them for sport?

It is not OK to kill them!! It is not OK to hurt them in any way! The only reason to kill any animal is if they are suffering and can not be helped. The elephant is a magnificent animal. I am appalled at the many votes that say it is OK!! Sport killing is especially hateful. We were given animals for our enjoyment, we are to take care of them, not torture, hurt and kill them. Those who do so will face the anger of God! In India 3 men raped a dog--even with a stick!! It was horrible, there was a picture of the poor dog with a bloody stick sticking out of her---they saved it, poor animals do remember what they've gone through. Poor thing will probably have nightmares about this for the rest of it's life. 3 others did the same thing to a calf!! Sick, degusting, they should go to jail and rot there. I hope Jesus returns soon---I am sick of man's horrible descent into evil. They start with animals---the next step is children. Most of the people that have been arrested for cruelty to animals have been found to have child inappropriate content.
 
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jayem

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I agree that killing an elephant purely for the thrill of sport or trophy hunting is heartless, brutish, unethical, and dishonorable. But I gotta admit that in years past, I acquired a collection of ivory carvings. Among other pieces, I have a really nice Chinese doctor's lady, and 2 very well done figurines of the Hindu god Ganesh. I was told they're all antiques at least 100 years old. So they're legal to own. But I won't buy any more.
 
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