In Dallas TX, a permit to hunt and kill the endangered black rhino sold at auction for $350,000. Although the auction, held Saturday, the 11th, raised money for wildlife conservation organizations, the permit's sale has stirred quite a bit of controversy among wildlife advocates. The Dallas Safari Club, the foundation that sponsored the auction confirmed that the permit was sold, but refused to disclose the name of the buyer who could be anyone. Ben Carter, the executive director of Dallas's own Safari Club states that he supports the auction as the benefits will go towards protecting the endangered species that can now be hunted legally by the auction winner.In an attempt to minimize criticism, Ben carter also stated that the black rhino that can be hunted are all old, male, and non breeding rhinos that have become aggressive and a disturbance to the other wildlife. In response to the auction, about 40 protesters have organized outside of the convention center in Dallas.
I can not believe such an auction for such a permit exists. I also find that a large amount of irony lays in this article as a permit allowing hunting of a species that only has 5000 remaining living members sold for $350,000 will be used to help the species. Anybody could have purchased the permit in the closed doors high security auction and with the power that the permit holds, many rhinos could potentially be killed for a sport, or for their horns. Poachers, with interest on the rhino's delicacy of a horn, could easily use the permit as a legal pass to obtain the horn for the wrong reasons, making this permit sold at an auction an all around mistake.
To read more, see: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Permit+hunt+endangered+African+black+rhino+sells+Dallas+auction/9377224/story.html
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