Trump's Sons Hunting Trip Probed By Zimbabwe Officials

Zimbabwean conservationists said Friday they are investigating the legality of a hunting spree in the country by Donald Trump's two sons after photos showed up online of the brothers posing with dead game animals

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwean conservationists said Friday they are investigating the legality of a hunting spree in the country by the heirs to U.S. magnate Donald Trump's fortune after photos showed up online of the brothers posing with dead game animals.

The independent Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said that Trump's sons Donald Jr. and Eric killed an elephant, an endangered leopard, a buffalo, a crocodile and other "big game" animals on a 2011 trip arranged by a South African safari firm that is not registered in Zimbabwe.

Photographs of the brothers – one with the slain leopard and another showing one brother holding up an elephant's severed tail in one hand and a knife in the other – have been were withdrawn from at least one website after a flurry of protests.

Animal protection groups were outraged how "rich people" had boasted about their "shocking and unethical" behavior, the trust said.

Johnny Rodrigues, the head of the conservationists' alliance, said investigators are sifting through records on whether license and trophy fees were paid and if the South African firm had been cleared by Zimbabwe wildlife authorities to operate in the northwestern province near Victoria Falls.

Safari trips routinely require supervision by Zimbabwean rangers and licensed local hunters.

If they are found to have breached hunting laws, organizers and hunters can face imprisonment or a fine of up to $500,000, Rodrigues said.

"The safari operator was obviously paid but the majority of the money probably didn't come into Zimbabwe," he said.

Claims by the Trump brothers they gave the meat from dead animals to impoverished local villagers were also being checked. There are no villages in the northwestern Matetsi district of Zimbabwe where they hunted.

"It is an insult to say 'we gave away the meat.' They mustn't turn around and say that they shot those animals for conservation either," Rodrigues told The AP.

"This is the problem with those who they think they can come to manipulate and control people, destroy natural resources and say 'we came to help.' We don't want them here," he said.

The Trump brothers have said they were hunting last year in an area with an excess of elephants.

In recent years Zimbabwe has not been able to cull elephants in districts where increasing herds are destroying the bush habitat that other species depend on.

Veteran animal rights campaigner Meryl Harrison of the Veterinarians for Animal Welfare in Harare said she was "absolutely disgusted" by photographs of the brothers with animals they shot and the international publicity they've received.

"You shoot an animal and you pose with the dead animal? Is it glorifying hunting? I think it is just sickening," she said. "I just wonder what Donald Trump says, as he is against hunting."

Zimbabwe is further investigating reports that hunting dogs were used on last year's trip.

Harrison said Zimbabwe's Wildlife Act of 2000 prohibits hunters from using dogs to hunt leopard or any wildlife unless given special authority in certain conditions.

"A leopard doesn't stand a chance. The dogs chase it up a tree and they stay at the bottom of the tree and the hunter takes an easy shot," she said.

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Comments

[gsell44]

05:57 PM on 05/21/2012

Whether the animals are endangered or not this is shameful in the 21st century.

[1wanderer]

08:07 PM on 04/28/2012

It would be better if you folks knew which animals were endangered and which were not. Elephants, African leopards, African water buffalo are not endangered. Go to earthsendangered.com and check it out. Its your choice to be anti but a least be accurate.

[Steve1011]

12:38 AM on 04/12/2012

BOYCOTT everything TRUMP. This is disgusting and they should face trial.

[Cheyla]

10:31 PM on 03/26/2012

The least these brats deserve for murder is a lifetime in jail - lock 'em up!

[Neil20]

12:39 PM on 03/26/2012

Let me say that Mr Donald Trump's two spoiled and rich brats deserve nothing less than many years of imprisonment and a very, very heavy fine amounting to millions of dollars which could be utilized for conservation efforts in Zimbabwe. The bragging of the Trump brothers over their kill shows how despicable they are. Many such wealthy families in America go for their annual hunting trips very often accompanied by equally despicable Republican senators and Congressmen. It is a shame on America. Zimbabwe could easily bring huge revenues to aid their battered economy if they encourage only hunting by camera lens and not rifle bullets. My last word is that the Trump boys should be made outcasts in America as no respectable, educated and concerned Americans would support and justify their actions.

[Lily P]

10:30 AM on 03/26/2012

The leopard is critically endangered. WTH. SMH.

[hoosiergreen]

09:06 AM on 03/26/2012

Despicable. Cowardly. Cruel. Ignorant.

[dawngoaway]

03:32 PM on 03/31/2012

All of the above equals Trump. Disgusting jerks.

[Michael Yardley]

08:17 AM on 03/26/2012

Why don't the media consider Robert Mugabe's record on conservation instead? His 'war vets' have ruined the country. Well managed hunting is a positive not a negative as often portrayed and encourages not only species and habitat preservation but brings in money to a ruined local economy. It rarely gets a fair press because people simply dont understand it - many species only exist not because of modern hunting which is tightly regulated.

[ivanczar]

08:54 PM on 03/25/2012

I'm such a HUGE man ,I shot and elephant and a endangered leopard and a crocodile .WTF.

[maxout22]

05:20 PM on 03/25/2012

This family has about as much class as the Palins.

[Renee27]

03:43 PM on 03/25/2012

What happened to my post HuffPo?

[almchrl13]

03:16 PM on 03/25/2012

Donald was able to arrange the hunt because "The blacks love me."
Elephants - not so much.

[almchrl13]

03:15 PM on 03/25/2012

They probaby shot from the back of a giant Hummer.

[almchrl13]

03:13 PM on 03/25/2012

Trump brothers defend safari saying "We da man."

[El Justiciero]

02:47 PM on 03/25/2012

Legal or not, ethical or unethical, I simply despise the Trump family and their values. I find them abhorrent, ugly, irresponsible, thoughtless, and utterly disgusting people. I have no issue with wealth. I have issue with their values. They are pathetic and nasty people.

[dawngoaway]

03:34 PM on 03/31/2012

Absolutely. Richard Branson. Decent man. Can't stand those Trumps.