David Barrit

Many communities in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and other African nations rely on hunting as a source of income. Trophy hunters pay thousands of dollars for permission to hunt big game such as elephants. In the following viewpoint, David Barrit criticizes the practice of selling hunting licenses. Not only is it inhumane to kill animals for sport, he argues, but hunting also makes little economic sense. Africans should instead focus on photo safaris and other nonlethal forms of tourism as the best way to utilize and preserve their wildlife resources. Barrit is the African director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, an animal rights organization.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What central issue divides South Africa’s conservation movement, according to Barrit?
2. Why does Barrit believe that hunting is not economically...