Beverly Joubert one of wildlife’s longstanding champions recently shared on Instagram, a most personal reason, why trophy hunting isn’t wildlife conservation. And, it may be the most convincing argument yet!

During our travels with our Land Rover we’ve made some interesting discoveries. While in the Namibian desert east of Wallis Bay we found the wildlife extremely skittish. Zebra herds would start running as soon as they herd the growl of the Landy. Rarely did they stop to look when we did. Contrast to this to Chobe in Botswana, where elephant mothers, even with small calves, barely noticed us as we drove up to observe them.

Why the difference? I believe Beverly Joubert’s years of experience among the wildlife affords the best response. Plus, provides a convincing perspective that trophy hunting isn’t wildlife conservation as the hunters so desperately want us all to believe. On the contrary, guns spoil it for the rest of us. Those of us who simply want to watch and enjoy.

Beverly wrote…

To Botswana’s elephants. We’ve been together for over 30 years. We’ve known many of you personally and we know that you remember us too. We’ve seen how you initially viewed us with distrust as we pointed large cameras at you. We’ve had you rock our vehicle when we were carry ivory to be handed to authorities from a naturally dead elephant. We’ve even had a couple of you overturn our vehicles over the years. But that was all long ago. We’ve watched you relax over the last decade in our concessions, and over the last 5 years across Botswana when hunting was banned. We’ve seen how you are happy to share your space with us, knowing that you are safe. We’ve watched how you play with your families and also how you mourn them. We’re sorry that the guns you most definitely remember will soon be back, and that you will likely look on us once more with distrust. Just know, that we will keep pushing non-lethal Conservation methods – which are out there, so that in time, we can live together as peacefully as we possibly can.

I believe that any individual with an ounce of empathy or compassion reading this will be ‘a believer’… trophy hunting isn’t wildlife conservation!