trophy hunting has existed as a way

for them to bring home souvenirs.

And you know, in a way,

I feel like us Africans are partly to blame.

We should have had a gift shop.

We should have had a gift shop.

But while these pictures may have garnered praise

in the 1900s, these days, thanks to social media,

the only thing that they generate is outrage. 00:00:22.988 --> 00:00:25.291 line:0% TV REPORTER: In recent years the hunting of big cats 00:00:25.324 --> 00:00:27.760 line:0% has sent shock waves around the globe. 00:00:27.793 --> 00:00:29.595 line:0% TV REPORTER: Outrage in this country 00:00:29.628 --> 00:00:32.498 line:0% over the killing of a beloved lion in Zimbabwe 00:00:32.531 --> 00:00:34.500 line:0% by an American hunter. 00:00:34.533 --> 00:00:36.602 line:0% TV REPORTER: This photo from an African trophy hunt 00:00:36.635 --> 00:00:38.971 line:0% has sparked outrage across the country. 00:00:39.004 --> 00:00:41.340 line:0% TV REPORTER: That same fire reignited 00:00:41.373 --> 00:00:44.110 line:0% when a trophy-hunting couple posed kissing 00:00:44.143 --> 00:00:47.513 line:0% over the corpse of a lion they had just slain.

Like... I'm sorry, man.

This is, this is just disgusting.

You killed an animal for fun

and then you make out next to its dead body?

Is this, is this like a fetish?

No, I honestly wonder this.

Like, like, is this like a thing just for lions,

or do they do this every time there's a dead animal?

Like, every time they see road kill on the highway,

is this couple just like, "Honey, pull over,

I'm so turned on right now."

It's also disrespectful.

Like, imagine if it happened the other way around.

Yeah. Like, at a family funeral,

all of a sudden, just like, two lions popped out

and started humping at your dad's coffin.

Just like...

Yeah, you wouldn't be happy with that.

And what's interesting about trophy hunting

is that we all assume people do it

because they don't care about the animals,

but according to the hunting community,

they do this because they care too much. 00:01:39.565 --> 00:01:42.768 line:0% I know it sounds contradictory, but hunters love animals. 00:01:42.801 --> 00:01:45.071 line:0% Hunters are the ones that are giving so much back 00:01:45.104 --> 00:01:46.973 line:0% to preserving these wild species. 00:01:47.006 --> 00:01:49.842 line:0% A lot of people talk about conservation 00:01:49.875 --> 00:01:53.112 line:0% but hunters are the real, um, conservationists. 00:01:53.145 --> 00:01:54.814 line:0% Everybody thinks that the easiest part 00:01:54.847 --> 00:01:56.315 line:0% is pulling the trigger, and it's not, 00:01:56.348 --> 00:01:57.650 line:0% that's the hardest part. 00:01:57.683 --> 00:01:59.719 line:0% But you gain so much respect 00:01:59.752 --> 00:02:01.687 line:0% and so much appreciation for that animal...

Wow, that's one hell of a way

to show your appreciation and respect.

Imagine if your boss called you into his office and was like,

"Johnny, I want to let you know how much I appreciate

and respect your hard work,

and that's why it's my privilege...

(laughter)

And by the way, did you notice how

that other woman arranged her lions?

Like, did you see that?

I don't care if you hunt or not, that-that's just creepy.

Like, look at that. It looks like

she shot the lions and then said,

"Make it look like they're about to have sex,

and then make that deer look like it's watching."

(laughter)

Now, oh, another argument trophy hunters use

is that they're actually getting rid of the slower,

weaker animals who are holding back the rest of the herd.

But that might not be the full story. 00:02:50.436 --> 00:02:52.238 line:0% TV REPORTER: Trophy hunters kill some of the biggest, 00:02:52.271 --> 00:02:54.273 line:0% most magnificent animals, 00:02:54.306 --> 00:02:56.342 line:0% which is bad for the health of the species, 00:02:56.375 --> 00:02:57.977 line:0% because genes may no longer 00:02:58.010 --> 00:02:59.912 line:0% be passed on to future generations.

SALMONI: By taking those guys out of the gene pool,

it weakens the genes of the entire population.

So over the last 30 years,

the average size of a male lion has dropped

specifically because of trophy hunting.

That's right. Despite what they say,

trophy hunters actually like to target

the strongest specimens, which I don't support,

but, honestly, I mean, I understand.

It's called "trophy hunting" for a reason.

Yeah. You want it to look

like you battled an alpha male to the death,

not like you snuck into its nursing home

and then smothered one of the lions with a pillow.

Just like, "Shh!

Go to sleep, Scar, go to sleep."

(laughter)

Actually, if you think about it,

this is the one time in the animal kingdom

where it pays to be out of shape.

Like, I wonder if there's one fat-ass lion

who's just like, "Yeah, who's laughing now?

"No one asked me to the prom,

"but at least I'm not in the picture with Don Jr.

Ha ha ha!"

(cheering and applause)

And one of the main arguments...

One of the main arguments trophy hunters give

is that their hobby helps local villages,

but upon closer inspection, that's not necessarily true.

NEWSMAN: Critics question whether countries

that promote trophy hunts manage that money properly.

NEWSWOMAN: The 2013 report found that just...

(reading):

NEWSWOMAN 2: In Zimbabwe,

corruption and bloated bureaucracy

prevent much of the money from helping those in need.

How much money does the community get at the moment?

Yeah. See, the truth is, unfortunately,

the money from these hunts doesn't go to these communities.

Oftentimes, it stays at the top

with the people who run the trophy hunting game.

To be honest, most of these claims don't add up for me,

you know, because another thing hunters love to say

is it's not just the money.

They say that their hunting provides meat

for the local villagers.

Yeah, because apparently before the white hunters came,

all Africans could do was just look at the animals.

Yeah. Africans were just like,

"Oh, look at the meat inside that buffalo, huh?

"If only there was a way to get inside it. Aah!

"I guess we'll just have to wait for the white man to show up.

One day, huh? One day."

(laughter)

So, that's trophy hunting in a nutshell.

And as weak as the arguments for it may seem,

there will always be people who are convinced

that it's actually a good thing.

Which made us think,

if it's working so well for Africa,

maybe it's only fair that we let America

enjoy some of those benefits.

Dear America, for the past few decades,

you have come to Africa to shoot our animals.

And you say you do this to help us.

We are so grateful, we want to return the favor.

You see all these stray dogs and cats

that are running across your country?

-(gun clicks) -I'm going to kill them!

That's right. As part of a new program,

rich Africans will pay

to hunt stray dogs and cats in America.

And for every dog we shoot,

a portion of the profits will go to American communities!

Up to three percent!

And I know what you're thinking.

"What about my pets?"

I'm going to kill them, too.

Yes. Pets that have reached old age

will also be hunted by rich Africans.

No more watching Fluffles struggle to climb the stairs.

Instead, Fluffles will be shot and mounted

in a Nigerian's man cave.

And here's the best part.

After we shoot the dog, we will donate the carcass

so that no more American children

go without school lunch.

It's a win-win!

Oh, what a cute dog.

You get a head start.

(dog barks)

(gun clicks)

Oh, I'm going to kill it.

You're welcome, America.