Spain, commit to protecting rare animals!
The king of Spain has apologized to his country for taking part in an African elephant hunt at a time when Spanish unemployment has soared to 23 percent. But he has not sent a strong message that killing threatened or endangered animals is wrong. Elephants in Africa are disappearing at an alarming rate--specifically because of hunting. In particular, the trade in illegal ivory, derived from elephant tusks, is thriving.
The king's Botswana hunt did not target an elephant whose population is declining. The problem is that the Spanish king has sent an irrevocable message that elephant hunting is glamorous and cool. This is not the kind of message that a sovereign of any civilized country should be sending.
Ask the Spanish king to issue a clear statement that hunting large, rare animals is irresponsible.
We the undersigned understand that you have already apologized to your people for participating in an expensive safari while ordinary Spanish citizens are suffering in a slow economy characterized by extremely high unemployment. And we appreciate that gesture.
However, we are now asking that you clarify your position on the morality of hunting animals that have been historically threatened with extinction. Though the target of your hunt was an elephant that is, according to some reports, still abundant throughout Botswana, we are sure you are aware that African elephants generally are in crisis. The illegal ivory trade is taking a terrible toll on these elegant and dignified creatures who are killed for only their tusks while the rest of their bodies rot in the dust. Please issue a strong public statement that hunting animals threatened with extinction is wrong.
