SEPTEMBER 1994

For three years The Hu­

mane Society of the

United States (HSUS)

has investigated a

shocking horror that is

spreading across the

country:canned hunts,

in which confined ani­

mals, unable to distin-

-__guish.friend from foe,-.

are heartlessly gunned

down even as they may

timidly approach the

killer. Hunters pick their

laugh as they take aim.

The HSUS is deter-

mined to expose-and

stop-this hideous com­

mercial exploitation of

living creatures. The

account by an HSUS in­

vestigator is extremely

graphic, but the truth

must be told as the first

step in building an

awareness of the atroc-

ity of canned hunts that

;-;.�� will lead to an over- ::�..._.. , · ' . ,_;·-�< _· ,··· . - .,-- ...':·,,. .. ' . ' .· whelming demand for -�.. i >.. /'' -;- ' � their eradication. ·.i.,•··· ,_,-_-- ,/

;_�_ ,. ' l THE ZOO CONNECTION

SUS investigations have revealed that zoos across Hthe nation have sold animals they consider surplus either directly to canned- facilities or to dealers who sell animals to auctions pa­ tronized by canned-hunt or­ ganizers. Some zoos (includ­ ing the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and the San Diego Zoo) deny knowl­ edge of the fate of their dis­ posed-of animals. Other ecurity measures at hunters. The bow-hunter chuck­ the ram was still full of life, down but kept gazing through the ground, but he was losing so they can easily be cornered, Hunters in a canned hunt zoos, such as the San Anto­ canned hunts, and in led at the ease with which his even as his blood drained out. the fence. The hunter decided blood fast. Five minutes later, unable to escape. These ani­ stalk a Corsican ram in a nio Zoo, sell their animals the animal-supply pipe­ prey was being brought to him The ram ran to the fence, that one more shot, at close as the shooter and guide were mals-many of them hand­ fenced enclosure and bring openly. Even pettingzoos S him down with arrows and line to canned-hunt operations, and remarked, "I don't even stopped, and gazed through the range, would do it. I watched pulling the arrowsfrom the ram reared in zoos and on have become part of the lu­ often rival those of research consider this hunting." That wire to the freedom that beck­ as he fired a sixth arrow into and examining them for dam­ (see sidebar, "The Zoo bullets. The ram was shot crative market created by labs. Outsiders are not wel­ didn't stop him, however, from oned from the other side. He the ram, and l prayed the ani­ age, we heard that final, long Connection")-have grown ac­ more than six times. canned hunting; the Catskill come. It was thus with some turningto the animals and aim­ began to shake but still stood, mal would go down and end his exhalation, as his lungs shut customed to the presence of hu­ Game Farm in New York, a fear that another HSUS investi­ ing his bow four arrows sticking out of him misery. The poor creature bare­ down. The ram was dead. The mans and commonly trot un­ supply of animals from zoos to petting zoo that has pur­ gator and l kept our appoint­ The first arrow flew and (one had fallen out). Laughing, ly reacted as the sixth arrow hunters and the guide laughed, suspectingly in front of the canned-hunt operations. The chased animals from the San ment to view a canned hunt in a landed in a ram's rear, causing the hunter asked him to fall pierced his rear gut. He stood posed for photos, and shook hunter, expecting food. The in­ U.S. Department of Agriculture Diego Zoo for decades, has northern state. him to jump and briefly run. I over on his right side, not his his ground, looking throughthe hands. "Nice shooting," the stinct to flee, their greatest natu­ disclaims responsibility, and the sold animals directly to We met our party at the figured this was a bad shot; I left, so he wouldn 't break the fence and shaking. Finally he guide told the hunter. ral defense, has been replaced by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, canned-hunt operations in hunting lodge. Inside, a group had always heard that experi­ arrows. fell. He thrashed about on the trust-trust that is rewarded while it may become concerned Pennsylvania and . of hunters dressed in camou­ enced bow-hunters aimed for a For five minutes we stood ground and repeatedly tried to with a cruel and brutal death. if a hunt involves an endan­ Baby animals are popular, flage were watching instruc­ quick kill. I soon deduced that there, waiting for the quivering stand. As I walked around him, PREPACKAGED Appallingly, no federal laws gered species, has actually is­ so zoos keep breeding their tional bow-hunting videotapes. the hunter's priority was not a animal to fall. He refused to go he turned his head and looked SLAUGHTER restrict canned hunts or the sued a permit allowing a animals. But space is limited, Periodically, they stared out the quick kill; it was an into my eyes. he poor ram who died that and at many zoos, for window at an enclosure con­ intact upper body There was nothing I could Tday was only one of thou­ every baby born, an taining white-tailed deer, who and head for his do to help him. The hunt was sands of animals who suffer adult animal must go. stared right back at them. trophy. The hun­ legal, and I was an invited, un­ gruesome deaths in similar sce­ Zoos also make mon­ Deer were not on the menu ter's apparent cri­ armed guest on private proper­ narios across the country. Over ey from the sale of today. The two hunters we terion in aiming !)!, surrounded by hunters with the last decade, canned hunting animals-money that would accompany were out for was to avoid dam­ rifles and bows. I told myself has crept across the country; is too oftenIi terally Corsican ram. One would use a aging the part of that the iriformation I was ob­ once limited to Texas, canned blood money. bow, the other a rifle. the animal he taining would help countless hunting can now be found in Zoos, and the After leaving the hunting would hang on his other animals in similar most states, and the HSUS in­ American Zoo and lodge, the guide took us across wall. predicaments, but I couldn't vestigation indicates there may Aquarium Associa­ the street and through a locked He let two more avoid the gaze of the ram. be as many as several thousand tion (AZA), must im­ gate. We walked through a arrows fly. One When I close my eyes, l see it canned-hunting facilitiesin the plement and adhere to small wood and swamp to the went into the ram's still. . From to strict breeding restric­ hunting fields, which were en­ back, the other The ram wouldn 't die. Six , from Pennsylvania to tions, including life­ closed pastures. An eightjoot through a rear leg. arrows had pierced his hide , hunters may lay down long plans for the hu­ wire fence kept the animals I watched as the and leg; still, he struggled to their money, step into an enclo­ mane maintenance of from the public road bordering animal hopped a- ·· stand. The guide was hungry sure, and kill, with virtually all offspring, or they the fields. A herd of grazing way, the arrow in for lunch, waiting back at the any type of weapon, almost any must not breed at all. Corsican rams stood about fifty his leg scraping lodge, and asked the bow­ kind of animal: a boar, bear, ze­ The supply of zoo an­ yards away from us, too far for the ground. Two hunter to finish the job. Bor­ bra, buffalo, antelope-even a imals to canned-hunt-

the hunters we accompanied. more arrows flew. A lone Watusi bull stands in his pen at rowing the other hunter'srifle, . 0 ing facilities could The guide told the hunters to They momentarily a canned-hunting facility. Animals pur­ the bow-hunter took aim and Canned hunting is nothing -���-=�...... ,...,� end tomorrow if zoos set up. Like a shepherd, he knocked him down, chased to be the victims of canned shot the ram in his side from a more than prepackaged slaugh­ Black bears look for handouts from visitors to the Catskill would shoulder their respon­ walked calmly behind the rams but since they were hunts may be shot in their pens or re­ distance of four feet. The ram ter. The animals used in canned Game Farm, a petting zoo in New York, which has sold an­ sibility to all of the animals and pushed them toward the hi n d-en d shots, leased into larger enclosures. continued to thrash about on hunts are confined by fences, imals directly to canned-hunting operations. under their care. ■ canned-hunt operator to make word about these nightmarish certain species of endangered events. We are working on deer a feature in his hunts! Nor state and federal levels to de­ are most states any better. Wis­ velop legislation to stop consin and are the canned hunting. And we are only two that have laws govern­ pressuring the zoo community ing canned hunts; the rest turn a to acknowledge its responsi­ blind eye to the canned cruelty bility for the animals it throws • Ask your local zoo to adopt a policy of lifetimecommitment within their borders. aside. This summer we invited to all of the animals in its custody, whether purchased or bred zoo directors to meet with us by the zoo. Te ll your zoo that you will not donate money or THE HSUS AT WORK in hopes of beginning a dia­ visit until it has such a policy. If your zoo refuses, contact his lack of regulation­ logue that would benefit ani­ your local media; tell them to contact The HSUS for more in­ T and of widespread aware­ mals; the response was chill­ formation on canned hunting. ness-is one reason The HSUS ingly negative. We must keep • Call or write your senators and representative in Congress. is working so hard to expose the pressure on, however, and Ask them to support leg­ canned hunting. During our that is one way you can help. islation that would end three-year investigation we Tei! your local zoo that you canned hunts. The Capi­ have amassed shocking evi­ won't be donating money to it tol switchboard number dence of the hidden horrors of or visiting unless it recognizes is (202) 224-3121. Ad­ canned hunts and the role zoos its lifetime responsibility for dress letters to The Hon­ across the country play in pro­ all the animals in its custody. orable __ , U.S. Sen­ viding animals to become the Canned hunts must be ate, Washington, DC hunted. NBC's Now television banned! A society that consid­ 20510 (senators); The program used HSUS footage ers the hunting of penned ani­ Honorable __ , U.S. and information in a segment mals a legitimate commercial House of Representa­ it prepared on canned hunts activity cannot call itself civi­ tives, Washington, DC that will help to spread the lized. ■ 20515 (representative). If you do not know the names of your senators and representative, con­ tact your local chapter of the League of Women Voters or your city hall for the information. • Be alert to the possibility that there are canned-hunt operations in your area. The HSUS investigation has lo­ cated canned-hunt operations throughout the continental United States and in Hawaii. For help or for more infor­ mation, contact The HSUS. • Finally, assist The HSUS as it continues its investigation into and fight against canned hunting, and in its efforts to protect all animals from un­ necessary pain and suffering. Please send your tax-de­ ductible contribution in the Grisly trophies adorn the walls of a canned-hunting fa­ enclosed postage-paid enve­ cility's lodge. Outside, in fenced fields, a Dama gazelle lope today. Don't delay! The animals urgently need help. ■ awaits his fate. Will he, too, become a trophy?

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