Wild animals are an ever-expanding source of fascination and entertainment for fans.
In some cases, they’re the ultimate fantasy, the ultimate escape.
But for others, like the wild cat pictured here, they offer a sense of hope.
They’re part of an ongoing debate on the ethics of the exploitation of wildlife, and it’s a debate that’s gaining traction on social media.
“We have to look at the whole picture,” says animal rights campaigner and writer and wildlife advocate David Firth.
“Is it OK for people to kill animals?
Firth has launched a petition calling on the Australian Government to “reconsider” its ban on hunting for wildlife. “
And how do we take it down the track and get to where we need to be in terms of regulation, legislation, the conservation of wildlife?”
Firth has launched a petition calling on the Australian Government to “reconsider” its ban on hunting for wildlife.
He’s also created a hashtag to highlight the animal abuse he’s seen.
“I’ve been doing this for years,” he says.
“The more you learn about these animals, the more you realise they’re living in horrible conditions. “
“And there’s a whole lot of people out there who are just doing this because they want to do something. “
“If we all had a little bit more compassion, we’d see this stuff as a real problem.” “
Firth says he’s not alone in his concerns. “
If we all had a little bit more compassion, we’d see this stuff as a real problem.”
Firth says he’s not alone in his concerns.
“Wild animals are being killed and abused by people for sport, but there are still millions of people who aren’t thinking about it,” he said.
“There’s just too many people who have no idea.”
In Australia, the majority of people would kill an animal for food or sport, according to the latest figures.
But the hunt for wild animals in Australia can be an incredibly dangerous and lucrative business.
“In the wild, there’s usually at least one wild animal that’s worth at least five or 10 times what you’re hunting,” Firth said.
He says the animals in the picture are worth between $1.6 billion and $5.8 billion.
“So there are a lot of animals out there that are worth more than $5 million,” he explains.
“They are wild animals.
They are not a commodity.
They aren’t a toy.
They can be killed.”
In response to the petition, the ABC spoke to experts from animal rights groups, law enforcement agencies, the RSPCA and wildlife managers, all of whom have different views about whether or not animals should be hunted.
But some agree with Firth, saying there’s no evidence the animals are worth killing for sport.
“No one would ever say that they are worth $5m or $10m,” says RSPC Victoria’s animal welfare officer Sarah Cunliffe.
“This is a completely legitimate issue and I think people should be allowed to make a decision on what they want them to do.”
“It should be up to people how they choose to live with them,” she says.
CunLiffe says it’s important to understand that the Australian wild cat population has declined in recent years.
“People think that they can kill them,” CunCiffe says.
“That’s just not true.
In the pictures, wild cats are being shot and killed in Australia for sport and the hunt is a huge part of the tourism industry. “
What we do know is that there is a small group of people that actually do have a relationship with them.”
In the pictures, wild cats are being shot and killed in Australia for sport and the hunt is a huge part of the tourism industry.
And the industry is booming.
“One in six Australians now own a hunting licence, which means they can legally kill up to 30 wild animals for sport each year,” Cuney says.
There’s a lot to love in these images of the wild cats at the Australian Museum, and in the animal rights debate, there is no doubt that the killing of animals for entertainment is wrong.
But what does the Australian Animal Protection Commission say about the issue?
“The Australian Animal protection Commission (AAPC) has consistently expressed the view that there are no scientific studies that suggest that there’s any link between the killing and consumption of wild animals,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson goes on to say the organisation is concerned about the lack of scientific studies on whether or how animals are killed for sport in Australia.
“While there is considerable debate over whether or when people should kill wild animals, we do not have a scientific basis to suggest that the consumption of any animal for commercial purposes is any more detrimental to the environment than the consumption and eating of other animals,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
But it’s hard to deny that the hunt seems to be gaining traction.
The Australian Humane Society (AHS) says that the number of animals killed in the country has increased by 50 per cent in just the last year, from 6,000 to