Must reading for anyone engaged in the debate over elephant hunting, the ivory importation ban, etc. This is not a book, rather it is a long article discussing the issue of elephant conservation.

Elephant Hunting: Facts and Fables

[I would note that a number of Ron's books are now available on Kindle. In the past you could only get hard copy shipped from South Africa which ended up being pretty pricy. Both the first two books in his big game memoir series are on Kindle along with his novel Nehanda. At $9.99 and $8.99 respectively I can assure you those are some of the best buys you will ever find in reading on African hunting. His books are excellent.]

Thanks for sharing Mike. Good find.

Ron makes the following observation in this mini-book:

What grieves me the most is that the people who I believe should be the most concerned about the escalation of animal rights fanaticism, are the game ranchers of southern Africa, and true hunters -- everywhere -- who tend to view the animal rights NGOs as "just a bunch of fools". They seem quite prepared to "sit back and let it all happen" . . . Before they know it, therefore, these animal rightist fanatics will 'own them'. And the game ranchers and the hunters -- and the national park administrations -- will lose all control over their livelihoods and their passions . . .

We see this all the time. Hunters are dismissive of the anti-hunting groups as loons and kooks, hunters do not care whether some hunting right is being eroded so long as their hunting ox is not be gored and hunters are prepared to sit back and let others carry the load in the fight. As a group, shame on us if we let this happen.

Ron Thomson is one of the most progressive wildlife management writers of this century. He writes with an in depth knowledge and experience of life in Africa , its challenges and the reality. His recommendation and observations are based on the simple nature of both humans and animal and the planet they inhabit. They are not complex patterns to the observant. I highly recommend hunters and outdoor people read his series of articles in the Outfitter Magazine. In my mind the African hunting industry should employ Mr Thomson on a CEO basis to become the voice of the hunting industry and to be a African wildlife spokesperson employed to educate the media

I just want to add my endorsement of Ron Thomson as the most informed expert on elephant in southern africa today. His books are worth their weight in ivory from a knowledge standpoint. If you read Ron, you will be an informed elephant conservationist.

Love his books
I agree with everything everyone said so far