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10 African Animals You Won’t Believe Are Legal To Hunt

10 African Animals You Won’t Believe Are Legal To Hunt

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Hunting is and always will be a hot-button issue, but it seems unlikely that both sides will ever come to a satisfactory agreement. Some hunters argue that hunting helps keep species from overpopulating, or even that limited hunting of rare animals helps to regrow a population. As it is, most people associate the sport with deer, birds, and the occasional moose. And most people assume that any animal that on the endangered species list is off limits. But in many parts of Africa, it seems that if you have enough money, you can shoot just about anything you like.

The prices below are estimates for 10 African animals you won’t believe are legal to hunt.

This slideshow was first published on Aug. 9, 2013.

telegraph.co.uk
telegraph.co.uk

White Rhinoceros: $55,000 – $80,000

Not to be confused with its critically endangered cousin, the black rhino, it’s still pretty incredible that you can hunt these massive animals. Only found in five countries in Southern Africa, white rhinos continue to be under threat from habitat loss and poaching. Their horns are often used for traditional medicines or jewelry. Weighing in at upwards of 4,000 pounds, what on earth do you do with a rhino once you’ve got it?

www.wikipedia.org
www.wikipedia.org

Zebra: $1,200 – $2,800

Prized mainly for their unique skins, many species of zebra were hunted to near extinction. One subspecies, the quagga, is extinct, and many remain endangered today. In addition to hunting, competition with livestock for foraging and ever-present habitat destruction continue to pose a threat. But it seems for the reasonable price of a couple grand, you can hunt them – if you can find them! Their valuable skins actually camouflage them amazingly well in the tall grasses of Africa.

Thinkstock
Thinkstock

African Elephants: $35,000

Ah, the beloved elephant. It’s common knowledge that poaching for the ivory trade devastated elephant populations for years, destroying upwards of 85 percent of the pre-1970 population. Protecting African elephants has become a high profile issue, and national parks commit a large amount of resources to policing poachers, but many countries allow limited hunting for a hefty fee.

cheetah-world-speed-record-set_57554_600x450

Cheetah: $4,000 – $10,000

If you’re able to catch this 70-mph-runner, you’re welcome to take it home if you pay up. It is considered a vulnerable species in Africa, and only approximately 12,400 remain in the wild across 25 countries. It is thought that during the last ice age, the species went through a prolonged period of inbreeding and lost much of its genetic variability, making it difficult for the modern species to maintain a healthy population. So the legal hunting (plus poaching) probably isn’t helping matters either.

Funmozar.com
Funmozar.com

Lion: $22,000

Lion hunting has a long history in African tribes, as young warriors are sent out to hunt and capture a lion to prove their worth. Nowadays, however, it is tourists coming in and forking over thousands of dollars for the chance to battle with the king of the jungle. There are thought to be less than 50,000 lions living in the wild, mostly in national parks in Southern Africa, and their numbers continue to decrease. Additionally, habitat loss has geographically isolated lions from one another, increasing inbreeding and reducing genetic diversity.

Amur Leopard ThinkStockPhotos
Amur Leopard
ThinkStockPhotos

African Leopard: $15,000 – $17,000

In most countries, only male African leopards are legal to hunt, although studies have shown that females often comprise over 25 percent of the kills. This is meant to allow populations to continue to reproduce, but mothers have difficulty protecting their cubs without the presence of the sires. Beyond hunting for sport, leopards are often killed in retribution for loss of livestock, whether or not the hunted leopard was the actual perpetrator.

pilanesberg hippo
Shutterstock

Hippopotamus: $9,400

Granted, hippos are really mean. In fact, they’re so mean that the Zulu warrior anthem called for the strength of a hippo rather than a lion, as they were thought to be much braver. But still. Hippo hunting was unregulated for a long time, and their populations declined enough to identify them as a vulnerable species in the 1990s. Considered difficult to kill, hippos continue to be a prime target for both sport hunters and poachers as a source of pride.

Giraffes Etosha National Park, Namibia, Africa

Giraffe: $2,000 – $5,000

Who would want to hunt this gentle giant? Well apparently, lots of people. And while the giraffe species as a whole is assessed as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they have been eradicated from countries such as Guinea, Eritrea, and Senegal, all of which used to be their old stomping grounds. Additionally, several subspecies are considered endangered, such as the West African and Rothschild giraffes.

cape buffalo
Thinkstock

Cape Buffalo: $13,500

No, you’re not in a game of Oregon Trail – you can actually hunt a real Cape Buffalo. Part of the “big five,” Cape buffalo are incredibly dangerous – they gore and kill more than 200 people every year, and are notorious for charging attackers, even when wounded. But despite the risks, hunters continue to pursue them for trophies and points of pride. Some areas still use the meat. The buffalo is not considered endangered, but its history shows its susceptibility to diseases such as rinderpest that can wipe out enormous numbers in a short period.

wigglecarhire.co.za
wigglecarhire.co.za

Baboon: $200 – $400

Notorious troublemakers, baboons are known for stealing food, breaking into cars, and causing a general ruckus when they get into human habitats. Baboons are often hunted on primate safaris when hunters go out to seek specific types of monkey. Due to their numbers, baboons are normally a prime target. Plus, compared to the rest, baboons seem to be a bargain. But would you really want to go after Rafiki?