A German hunter has sparked outrage after shooting dead what is believed to be the biggest elephant in Africa for half a century.
The elephant was killeed in Zimbabwe, less than three months after Cecil the Lion was shot dead by Minnesotan dentist Walter Palmer.
The elephant, which had 122-pound tusks, was killed on October 8 in Gonarezhou National Park in south-east Zimbabwe, and is thought to be the biggest elephant killed on the continent in decades.
According to Johnny Rodrigues, Chairman of Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, the bull elephant’s tusks were so large that they dragged along the ground.The hunter, thought to be a German national, reportedly paid $60,000 (£39,000) for a huntingpermit to shoot the beast as part of an organised hunt, according to
He was accompanied by an experienced guide throughout the 21 day trip.
The elephant was thought to be at least 40 years old at the time it was shot.
Johnny Rodrigues Chairman for Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said it is suspected that the animal may have come from the Kruger Park in South Africa.
“The most disappointing thing is that when a local Zimbabwean kills an animal for food for his family, he is sentenced to between 5 and 15 years in prison but whn a wealthy foreign hunter comes in and shoots an animal, he gets away with it. What message are we giving the people?”
There was global outcry when Cecil the lion, was killed with a crossbow in July in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, as apart of an organised hunt.
Animal rights charities criticised the decision by Zimbabwean officials this week not to prosecute the dentist, but the authorities said he had filled out the proper paperwork allowing him to hunt.
