Many of the hunting competition participants, including those interviewed in DeAndrade’s short film, claim that the culling of predators helps with wildlife management and protects livestock on nearby farms and ranches. “We followed a hunter around, with his permission, on one of these 24-hour hunts, and he told us, because of the prizes, because of the technology, because of the money that’s now involved - it’s becoming a sport.” At first it was mostly happening in western states, where livestock was more prevalent in agriculture, but it’s really picked up as of the last five or 10 years,” said DeAndrade. “In the U.S., they’ve been happening for, that we know of, at least between 20 and 30 years. DeAndrade tells us that he visited many of these contests himself for a first hand look. Viewers are brought into the makeshift natural arenas that represent the boundaries of these contests, as participants attempt to rack up as many kills as possible. DeAndrade’s film, simply titled “ Wildlife Killing Contests ,” attempts to shed light on what many experts consider to be an unjust practice. Richard contributes her thoughts on the contests to a newly launched documentary by National Geographic wildlife videographer Filipe DeAndrade and his production company, Comfort Theory. “What’s valued in these contests is to win.” “The whole approach to hunting is not valued in these contests,” said Stephanie Garcia Richard, the Commissioner of Public Lands in New Mexico. Depending on the rules of the contest, competitors target predator species, such as bobcats, coyotes, pumas and foxes. These privately organized events involve a growing number of participants competing for prizes, whether in the form of cash or hunting equipment, by either killing the most animals or the largest ones within a specified time period. The tagline of the West Texas Big Bobcat Contest, this call to action refers to only one of more than 600 wildlife killing contests in the state of Texas. “Do you think you have what it takes to win the highest paying hunting contest in the country? Then put your money where your mouth is, and enter the West Texas Big Bobcat Contest.” Wildlife management experts and scientists say that these contests are an inhumane and inefficient way to control predator populations.These contests specifically target predator species, with coyotes being the most targeted.Wildlife killing contests are currently legal in more than 40 U.S.
0 kommentar(er)
