The Canned Kill

In the past I was informed about a network of farms in the United States and Canada which cater to a segment of the hunting public.

NOTE: (I should mention that many hunters are angered and disgusted with this type of activity and agree that it is unethical and improper hunting.)

The farms are kept secret, and understandably so, since many of them use endangered and exotic species like tigers, cougars, panthers and leopards as targets for hunters. The hunters who use these farms are specifically after exotic big game animals.

It's apparently big business due to the fact that although the hunt may still cost the individual a few thousand dollars in this country, this expense is nowhere near the amount the person would spend if traveling to Africa or some other distant location to get exactly the same animal.

It's now possible, and much less expensive, for individuals to bag their own exotic, big game animal, and not even have to leave their own province or state.

Now that's what I call progress! A truly miraculous development! The process has been streamlined and simplified to the point where not only is a hired guide/outfitter unnecessary, but so is the time consuming and costly flight to some far-off continent. The whole affair has been made super convenient and much more affordable so that even the average guy can have his own lion or tiger trophy for the den or billiard room.

We humans have certainly come a long way don't you think?  Ok, I'll stop the sarcasm.

The way these outfits are operated is cause for concern from both an ethical as well as a legal standpoint, and for good reason.

As mentioned, many of the species being shot are potentially threatened or fully endangered - mostly big cats, but the standard run-of-the-mill lion appears to suffice quite nicely. Clearly though, there is obviously added attraction and value in killing an endangered animal regardless of the higher price tag on its head.

In Canada I have heard of other animals being hunted in these fenced in enclosures as well. Species such as white-tailed deer, elk, bear, and even coyote have reportedly been used as captive game in these facilities.

I had an opportunity, some years ago, to view film footage of an actual 'CANNED HUNT ' and I was mystified at how anyone in their proper mind would consider this type of thing sporting. The footage was, I believe, confiscated as evidence by authorities in the U.S. who had arrested and charged the owner/operators of the facility and closed it down.

The film was very disturbing.  I'll explain: try to picture this.  A pick-up truck is parked in the middle of a large field. In the rear of the truck a thick wire cage holds a black panther. Off to the side, by the tailgate, two men stand, one holds a high-powered rifle.  Six or seven hunting dogs run around and bark frantically just behind the vehicle waiting for a chase to begin. (The fangs and claws on most of the cats are removed so that they cannot inflict any injury to the dogs, nor can the cat adequately defend itself.)

The hunter with the gun, still standing to the side of the tailgate, raises and shoulders his weapon. The other man pulls a rope lifting the cage's trap door. The cat, terrified of the dogs, cowers at the rear of the pen. The man who raised the trap door jabs furiously at the frightened animal with a stick.

The panther springs with resplendent form up and over the malevolent swarm of dogs in an attempt to escape, but it's no use.  Unfortunately, this is its final leap. The dogs are upon it in rapid succession. They surround and torment the cat as the hunter lines it up in his sights. A shot rings out and the suffering is over.

The once magnificent, glossy black panther now lays in a lifeless heap, just meters from the truck. 

Both men pat each other's back enthusiastically, smile and shake hands.

The shooter does a little dance. He hops and skips in such frenzied joy he looks as if he's ready to wet himself.

Unbelievable.

Authorities in Canada and in the U.S. call this kind of activity, as I've mentioned, "canned hunting." The operators of these places call it "controlled hunting"- which has got to be the understatement of the century! As one individual put it, it's not hunting at all, it's just killing.

Zoos are sometimes partially to blame since they sell off their surplus animals and regretfully a number of their exotic large carnivores end up in the wrong hands. I personally have a number of ethical and moral concerns with zoos that keep animals purely for human entertainment. However I do think they have a role to play in the breeding of endangered and threatened species.

You can help to stop these exotic animal hunt farms by writing to your local MP or the Ministry of Natural Resources (Canada) - or your government no matter where you live, and tell them how you feel.

Remember, this unscrupulous business is not limited to Canada and the U.S.A.

Believe it or not, I have been told that facilities like these are growing in popularity.  But because they are privately owned and operated and usually located in remote locations they are hard to find and shut down.

On one occasion, during my travels out in the bush, I accidentally stumbled across a fenced in enclosure in the middle of nowhere and reported it.  Sure enough it turned out to be a rather large, remote, and illegal hunting compound.

It's sad to think that because something is rare or possesses an unusual quality or an admired look, man is often compelled, for selfish, egotistical or profit motivated reasons, to kill it.

It is equally disconcerting to know that there are people out there who own and operate or utilize these types of places.

Bill Leeming is a naturalist and published wildlife columnist.