Trophy Hunters Killed An Animal Every Three Minutes Over The Last Decade

Trophy hunters killed an animal every three minutes over the past decade, according to a new book slamming the industry.

More than 1.7 million animals have been killed by trophy hunters since the turn of the decade, including as part of a new craze called 'Hogpocalypse Now' which offers hunters the chance to open fire on gangs of wild hogs from a helicopter.

Seriously, if that's your idea of a good time, you want to have along hard look at yourself.

This bizarre activity - which is named after the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, in which a US Army soldier opens fire on defenceless Vietnamese citizens - is just one way in which some people like to victimise innocent and sometimes endangered creatures.

The animals that are prized by trophy hunters include elephants, lions and rhinos.

The book alleges that there is a link between the industry - worth around £300 million per year - and some members of the global elite, including the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

It's written by Eduardo Goncalves and entitled Trophy Leaks: Top Hunters and Industry Secrets. Within the pages he also suggests that game-hunting enthusiasts ran a campaign of disinformation on social media ahead of the British government's ban on trophy imports.

It's alleged that they funded a £600,000 'dark arts' campaign using fake Twitter and Facebook accounts pretending to be Africans opposed to the law change.

The book also accuses hunting enthusiasts of pledging more than £1.5 million to Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

President Ramaphosa is alleged to be a member of a breeding programme that has made millions off the back of rare animal sales for trophy hunting.

That's not been confirmed, and he's previously rejected any claims he's involved in trophy hunting. In the past, he has said that his wildlife farm is 'run in accordance with the strictest conservation and wildlife principles' and does not engage in any unethical or illegal activities.

The author, Mr Goncalves, told MailOnline: "Future generations will look back aghast at how we allowed the world's most endangered species to be gunned down in their droves by adrenaline junkies in pursuit of grinning selfies and gruesome souvenirs.

"Trophy-hunting isn't about a handful of sick individuals - it is about a huge global industry which wields extraordinary power and manipulates governments."

The website for 'Helicopter Pig Hunting' in Texas - where else? - reads: "There's nothing like buzzing over droves of hogs while cutting loose with your itchy trigger finger."

Goncalves' campaign against trophy hunting has gained support from celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Joanna Lumley.

Lumley said: "These people get a kick out of killing anything that moves."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News, US News, Weird, Animals

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

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