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CONDEMNED: A screenshot an Instagram post by Cameron Hopkins, which was published this week in the Daily Mirror. Photo: Daily Mirror
CONDEMNED: A screenshot an Instagram post by Cameron Hopkins, which was published this week in the Daily Mirror. Photo: Daily Mirror

Hunting industry condemns 'appalling' Instagram post

Ellanie Smit
The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) has condemned an Instagram post in which an American trophy hunter boasted about killing three cheetahs in Namibia.

The man posted images of the dead big cats and boasted: “My name is Cameron Hopkins and I proudly killed three cheetah cubs... I’d do it again under the same circumstances. Hunters who obscure their faces are moral cowards. To prove my pride in my African hunting, I’m posting the trophies I shot as varmints in Namibia. All three are cubs, about one-year-old".

NAPHA said it is aware of the situation. “The language and tone of his post are both disrespectful and inflammatory and we feel it is necessary to provide context and clarity to this matter,” president Axel Cramer noted.

He said according to James Traut, who was in charge of wildlife management at Eden Farm - where the hunt took place - until 2009, the event in question occurred more than 15 years ago.

“During his tenure, Eden did not engage in hunting predators for trophies as predators were viewed as a vital part of the larger ecosystems.”

However, on rare occasions, assistance was provided to neighbouring farmers dealing with predator issues, Cramer said. These instances were handled with the utmost care and respect for the animals involved, according to Traut.

NAPHA said Hopkins’ post is misleading, as it implies that the hunt took place recently.

“This misrepresentation is particularly concerning given the legal framework in Namibia regarding the hunting of problem animals, which requires that such actions be carried out responsibly and ethically," the association added.



Disrespectful

In a statement through his lawyers, Traut said while he cannot recall this specific hunt or Hopkins, he was appalled and taken aback to see the event described in a disturbingly disrespectful manner, one that no true ethical hunter would like to be associated with.

"On the odd occasion, neighbouring farmers who suffered losses caused by predators contacted me to assist to remove such predators, either by catching and releasing some, or by eliminating such predators if no other option was available. I can only assume that the cheetah referred to by Hopkins was eliminated on one such an occasion," the statement read.

Traut reiterated that the incident "happened almost 20 years ago".

Cramer said NAPHA strongly condemns Hopkins' post, adding that the language not only disrespects the animals he hunted, but also the professional hunters and trackers who work tirelessly to uphold the integrity of the hunting industry.

According to him, ethical hunting is a cornerstone of conservation in Namibia, and any deviation from this is unacceptable.

“We would like to remind all hunters and visitors to Namibia that the privilege of hunting in our country carries the responsibility to act with respect, dignity and strict adherence to our laws and ethical standards.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-10-08

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