Sad article on the way the wealthy trophy hunters get around their plundering and dishonesty is at:
http://naturalsolutionsradio.com/blog/natural-solutions-radio/hunting-big-gamequestions-about-elite-hunting-club-members-ties-smithso

Not only is the killing of rare wildlife maddening, but throwing money at and encouraging corruption is even more dispicable. And unfortunately there are still people who believe that what these men do is "conservation" - which we all know is not true. They want the biggest and the rarest and will do anything to get it and don't play by the "rules of the game".

Jan if you have not read Dominion by Mathew Scully you really should. Especially the chapter dealing with his trip to Safari Club International's annual conference in Reno Nevada. Backs up the radio article you refer to about Behring. Thanks for drawing our attention to it.

Hi guys
This is the second article in the series.

TECHNORATI ARTICLE 2.

How American Trophy Hunters are subsidised by US Foreign Aid.

Article first published as How American Hunters Abuse U.S. Foreign Aid on Technorati.

I wish to relate what happened in Kenya in September 2006, to demonstrate how obscenely rich and politically powerful American trophy hunters are using US foreign aid to advance their hunting privileges in Africa. Two important questions are raised:
1. What vital interest of American foreign policy requires USAID to misuse taxpayers’ funds to promote the crass leisure pursuits of the filthy rich?
2. Is it American government policy to promote environmental terrorism in Africa? And, in so doing, to cause irreparable harm to the wildlife heritage of African countries?

Chris: I also posted the article under the news format for those that might not be reading the forums and blogs.

For those who do not know Robert Carr-Hartley, he is Daphne Sheldrick's son-in-law and goes on almost all elephant orphan rescues with the keepers, giving assistance and advice. He and his wife Angela are Daphne's right hands at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage in Nairobi. Thus Robert is very familiar with wildlife and what is happening in all parts of the country. Robert's father is the one that Daphne trusts to transport the orphans from the Nairobi orphanage to either Ithumba or Voi.

Thanks Jan
Glad you picked it up. Each month there will be another episode in the series on the evils of hunting.
Yes, the reviewer put in the description of Rob Carr Hartley as Photographer rather than as wildlife expert. he and I sat together for the first day of the Symposium, and he was very helpful, telling me who was who and how the Kenyan politics worked. I would love to meet him again.

Chris: So glad the convention ended as it did and didn't allow Safari Club International to bulldoze their way into Kenya!

In case you didn't know, Robert Carr-Hartley Robert had a photo exhibition on the "Spirit of the Samburu People" see: http://www.robertcarrhartleyphotography.com/

He was awarded Kenyan Photographer of the Year for four consecutive years. See: http://www.robertcarrhartleyphotography.com/robert.html

He also is involved in a high-end safari travel company.

A very interesting family involved with wildlife for years.