re: Winner of Black Rhino Hunt Auction Threatened

Long term I think that is realistic.

Unfortunately, economic motivations in Africa haven't necessarily led to consistent regulation. The same is true for a number of other African natural resource trades. We all know how much external pressure African states get to regulate industries, so sometimes even the regulatory schemes that are implemented are deeply problematic (as they're just implemented to avoid the international pressure).

The theory isn't flawed, but it does rely on some measures of accountability and central oversight, which simply aren't present in many of these countries (or aren't sufficient). We're relying on fractured government factions to send the money to the right places, verify animals appropriate for harvesting, verify ivory, hides, etc. that are exported come from those harvested animals, whatever.

I think this is another conservation issue for hunters to really get out in front on. We all know about the conservation resources the hunting community provides, but we don't take enough credit it for it very often. Showing the value of these hunts, if combined with a simultaneous demand for transparency from those states, is the way to go IMO. No sense in letting hunters be the $$$ side while international/environmental organizations do the accountability if we can do all of it ourselves (and preempt our detractors).