This is a futile discussion that has been carried on before on this board and I see no one has changed their minds. Those that have done the HUNT have enjoyed it and felt the cost was worth it, those that don't think it is a hunt and wouldn't try it - well so be it.

Amusing as in turning on its head virtually every precept of hunting, where one must kill the quarry in order to achieve the natural, intended result of the experience.

As Ortega emphasized, although hunting is not merely killing--as we all know, there is much more to it than that--it is no less true that killing is essential to hunting. That is why he disdained "hunters" of photographs and the like.

In "green" rhino hunting, not only does the hunter not want to kill the quarry, but he must go to great lengths to avoid doing so, and because a rhino is so valuable, he must also go further and actually insure its life!

What's next, disability insurance in case the rhino is not killed, but only injured?

mrlexma, why is it funny to require insurance? If the animial dies the land owner is compensated just as he would if a hunter would kill the beast. Granted the Black Rino is more agressive and thus maybe more dangerous, but the White Rino is much smarter and thus more diffecult to hunt. After all it is the hunt, isn't it!

It is quite amusing, though, to have to buy an insurance policy to provide cover in the event that the animal you are hunting should come to any harm!

My first "introductory hunt" to SA was with an outfitter who was darting white rhino in Natal (Hluhluwe Game Reserve). At the airport, I was met my a young PH who told me that he would be my PH for the first part of the hunt. What happened was that the outfitter/PH was on a white rhino dart, and the rhino after being darted went over an embankment of some sort and collapsed. The way the rhino fell, it was not able to breath, and suffocated and died before they (including a vet) could get it on it's side. He was in the midst of working with his attorney and his insurance company (Lords of London) who was not going to cover the ~30k amount. I don't know how it worked out, but suspect okay for the outfitter. It turned out well for my son and I, as the PH was a good guy and we hunted some excellent areas, and the outfitter/PH turned out to be a drunkard. Live and learn. I think he later also had a problem with a leopard hunt...something about not having the proper export paperwork...

Before I had arrived, the attorney and his 12-year old son darted a female rhino with my PH at the same Reserve. The guy said it was the best hunt he had ever been on. We watched the video and it looked pretty cool, they were close, and the calf would not leave it's mothers side and charged the trackers a few times. It was neat to watch the rhino get up and walk away, although it is not something I'd want to pay ~$8-$10K to do. But if I did, I would not cheap on it for fear of being involved in something like happened above.

Sure a day to remember, but to call it a "hunt" is a bit silly.

To each is his own of course, but, I really cannot see the point of darting an animal.

I was asked if I wanted to do this a couple of times while in South Africa, and on both occasions I declined.

I did not even bother asking what the cost was, so if anyoen knows, please let me know.

Reminds me of another silly bunny huggers idea. Shooting elephants with paint balls.