People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters hold pictures of Cecil the Lion as they stand in front of the Department of Interior building to protest against the importing of wild game killed as trophies Aug. 5 in Washington, DC. Peta is calling on the Fish and Wildlife Service to take steps to end cruel trophy hunting by listing lions as a threatened species and banning the importation of their heads, tails, and skins into the U.S. (Mark Wilson, Getty Images)
Re: “Cecil and the problem of trophy hunting,” Aug. 6 guest commentary.
Can trophy hunters explain the purpose in depriving some magnificent creature of its life? They stalk an innocent and defenseless animal, in their own homelands no less, with a high-tech rifle, scope and all. How about this? Letap arm the animals. Letap give them an even chance when trophy hunters invade their lands. Then we’ll see how many of those big, brave boys put down their Field & Stream magazines and get up off the couch.
Howard Treibitz, Castle Pines
This letter was published in the Aug. 10 edition.The writer completely misses the critical point, displaying disappointing hubris that does nothing to help solve the issue. The animals in question are threatening local people’s lives and property. Absent eco-tourism and hunting tourism, these animals are economic menaces. Stopping trophy hunting will not help the local people or the animals without a substitute form of economic support.
Really want to help? Send thousands of dollars to Africa to keep game alive and habitat viable. Hunters do.
Mikkel Anderson, Littleton
The clamor over the trophy killing of a neighborly lion in Zimbabwe, has been loud and endless. Yes, all lives matter, and we should be concerned about the treatment of our four-legged companions. But there’s more. Also last month, thousands of innocent people died in Africa and the Mideast from war-related violence. In Syria alone, almost 1,700 lives were lost in July. Where is our outrage over these deaths?
David Anderson, Colorado Springs
This letter was published in the Aug. 10 edition.
