The Hunting Video That One Animal Rights Activist Called ‘Snuff’
- Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:10pm by
Emily Esfahani Smith
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On a trip to Zimbabwe earlier this month, Go Daddy CEO Bob Parsons hunted and shot an elephant. He released a video of the excursion and, predictably, animal rights activists are up in arms. One likened his video to “snuff film.” Snuff is a genre of film, by the way, in which people are killed for sport. Usually, snuff is pornographic–we’re talking hard core–and the woman is the one to die. Do you think that Parsons’ hunting video is comparable to snuff?
In the video, Parsons explains that hunting problem elephants is rewarding: “Of everything I do, this is the most rewarding. This video shows one typical night and day.”
Check it out–you can see the hunt as it happens (warning, the clip gets pretty graphic):
Parsons calls them “problem elephants” because they’ve been trampling on and ruining the crops that local farms need for subsistence. And that’s no small thing. Consider: the day following the hunt, villagers gathered around the elephant and butchered it for meat. As the day went on, more and more villagers rushed to the elephant, clawing at it ravenously for food. Even though the elephant was huge, Parsons notes in the video, there still wasn’t enough meat to go around for all.
And yet, the animal rights activists are more concerned with the dead elephant than with scores–maybe hundreds–of hungry African villagers. Here they are, fighting to get a hold of the last bits of meat:
Laura Goldman, an animal rights activists, called Parsons’ hunting video “a gruesome, 4-minute elephant snuff film.” She’s also circulating a petition that says ”Tell Go Daddy’s CEO: Real Men Don’t Kill Elephants.”
“Elephants face enough threats, such as habitat loss, poaching and drought, to be ambushed and killed by hunters,” another activist said. “There are better ways to alleviate human-elephant conflicts without inflicting harm to elephants.”
What about alleviating human conflicts–like poverty and hunger?























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Comments (181)
BlytheSpirit
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:17pmThere are over 500,000 elephants in Africa and, like wolves in the USA, if they stay in the parks, they’re fine. But they go where they want to go, ignoring park boundaries, reeking havoc, killing villagers, and stampeding crops. Maybe PETA should form human chains around the farms, or better, around the parks. Or lay down in front of the elephants and make them walk on them. I’m sure the elephants will then see the errors of their ways and go back to the parks. Elephants are reasonable, peace loving creatures. Cuddly even.
Report Post »Emil
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:15pmPETA is a joke formed by jerks. Every time they take up a cause I make an effort to double down doing whatever it is they are protesting! Any good they might possibly do is washed aside by their irrational stupidity on issues. These are the sorts of people that pushed for laws that allows the government to cut of water to dozens of farms to protect a 4 inch long fish, that no one but they care about. I think anyone that puts an animals welfare before a humans welfare should be charged with a felony. I will not watch TV or movies with people in them that demonstrate for PETA causes. They are beneath my contempt. Their goal is to stop us from eating or utilizing animals for anything at anytime, if they say that isn’t true they are liars.
Report Post »BooButtBrown
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:28pmI am a member of PETA and I am not a jerk. I just love animals and feel that the abuse of animals is wrong. I am a conservative and a Christian…stop labeling people who care as bad.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:43pm@ boo
we are not labeling you guys as bad……………we are labeling you guys as idiots
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:25pmBoobutt,
I suppose you consider this representation to be an abuse of animals? No need to respond…it’s obvious. PETA would have ownership of animals (pets) outlawed if they could. There is widom in the Bible, as in “good steward” and “dominion over all creatures”. I guess those parts are just not palatable for you.
Report Post »BooButtBrown
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 12:07amPsychosis,
Does it surprise me that you resort to calling me names…no. Most ignorant people lash out when they have no relative argument. I have no problem with people who choose to eat meat, I just have a problem with the way the animals are treated before and as they are being killed. Some rich guy going to Africa just to kill a creature that has been proven to morn the loss of their other herd members, is weak and needs to be stopped. Being a man does not mean you have to kill animals for fun. I am very glad that he donated the meat to others who needed it. I am just tired of people like you making animal lovers like me the bad guy. I think there are far greater “bad guys” in the world.
Report Post »tired of taxes
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:10pmGraphic? Obviously the people who post this have never been hunting before.
Report Post »BiteMePETA
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:08pmMichele Bachmann is HOT
Report Post »SirBeavis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:07pmBS Propaganda like this, and the “humans are a virus” attitude would be why I gave up on most “Animal Rights” groups shortly after I graduated from high school and entered the real world.
Report Post »alan_coaks_3
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:59pmAwsome Video
Report Post »deano24
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:58pmI would’ve had a problem if the elephants were endangered in that area, but I looked up on the internet & found out they actually have a booming elephant problem. At least the villagers will have meat to eat and the elephant didn’t go to waste.
http://www.savetheelephants.org/news-reader/items/booming-elephant-population-wreaks-havoc-in-zimbabwe.html
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:54pmThis is a coded call to violence against republicans. Why isn’t he hunting problem donkeys?
Report Post »Lustygus
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:51pmHe saved the crops and fed a villiage. he is a hero.
Report Post »WhatWasIThinking?
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:47pmI think an entire village of starving people should be able to take down an elephant. so why didnt they?
Report Post »SirBeavis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:10pmNot sure, but I‘m thinking it’s possible the country has some firearm restrictions that would prevent effective hunting of an elephant, or to protect against poaching they might have stringent (as in expensive) permit requiremetns to hunt elepant.
likeI said, I’m not sure, but that would be my guess.
Report Post »thetruththewholetruthandnothingbutthetruth
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:46pmthese villagers are no different than people in america – they swarm and fight over anything they can get for free
it would be better if there were more elephants and fewer people in the world
ps – i have no problem killing and eating animals in a balanced manner – but this world is far from balanced which is why you see scenes like this
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:52pmYeah, amazing how uncivilized people can act…when they’re STARVING!
Fool…
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:46pmits food, nothing more…as long as liberal progressive women teach thier daughters that abortion is a good thing thats fine with me..only progessives should abort….then im all for abortion on demand
Report Post »obama_binpharteen
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:35pmI hate to see such a beautiful animal killed, but I’m glad to see it fed the villagers. Unfortunately, there are scum bags out there that do kill elephants for sport, this guy appears to be one of them.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:50pmHmmmm….would I rather be shot and killed instantly, or eaten alive by lions???
Report Post »Emil
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:23pmDo you want to protect elephants? make them worth something, many countries sell permits to allow hunters to shoot problem elephants and the money is used to maintain the parks and wildlife. I think the license for most countries is about $20,000 US and a game warden selects the animal to be killed. PETA of course is outraged by such a practice, it smacks of a logical solution to a real problem..
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:34pmLove to see man co-existing with nature like the Big Fella intended it.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:52pmDon’t know much about this dude, but he just scored big-time on the Haus-O-Meter.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:34pmMy God, those people look starved. Shoot something else for them.
Report Post »Islesfordian
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:30pmWhen I read the headline I thought it was refering to Sesame Street’s Snuffleupagus.
Report Post »Grasshopper42
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:24pmI’ve killed a lot of game in my day. Since when is shooting and dressing an animal ‘graphic’? It’s part of life! Never ate elephant, though! If God didn’t want us to eat animals, He wouldn‘t have made ’em out of meat . . .
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:37pmWhere is the compassion for people? Kill baby humans and protect baby seals? Are you foolish people insane too? I hunt much of my own food. Much better quality meat in my opinion.
Report Post »dmforman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:54pmYou are right. The elephant was killed and eaten. The meat was not wasted. The animal did not die in vain. I believe that the right thing was done and now the people are no longer hungry.
Go Daddy Go!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:22pmsave an elephant…………….hunt a liberal ?
not too sure cannibalism is the answer……………..i hear liberals are stringy malnourished vegans and dont taste so good
Report Post »coloradolifer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:35pmNot to mention what they’re full of… er, stuffed with. Whatever…
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:42pmI’d be willing to bet they were meat eaters before they were hypocrites!
Report Post »thetreyman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:59pmi’d be willing to bet that some lib is going to accuse you of threatening them because they have no sense of humor.
Report Post »Guerrino_P
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:21pmIf the crops are in danger, can’t they come up with elephant scarecrows in the image of Michele Bachmann? Could work.
Psychosis
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:24pmtroll…………….you know dam well pictures of pelosi would do a better job
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:33pmPelosi…Pelosi…Pelosi…
Ah ha! “First you have to kill the elephant to see what is inside it!”
Report Post »Shoot-To-Kill
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 6:23amJust about any of the ol Dem hags would do a better job oops maybe not. Most of them are so ugly they’ ugly the elephants to death and ruin the meat.
Report Post »Guerrino_P
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 8:46am@PSYCHOSIS
Report Post »We might be on to something. Bachmann and Pelosi ‘crazy eyes’ scarecrows. And what’s this troll thing about? I come in peace my redneck friend.
ladyda
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:20pmAt least they did not waste the meat. That would have been a sin.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:19pmJust send Laura Goldman out to talk to the elephants and tell them that they aren’t being nice, trampling on the folks food.
Report Post »jim
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:18pmThey were hungry!! When PETA gets involved here in a minute, they’ve already proven they would vote to spare the lions over the Christians in ancient Rome. Here, they would obviously side with Dumbo over the starvation of hundreds of Obama’s would be cousins.
Report Post »MontanaRob
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:17pmYep, starve the residents! After all, they are only humans, not worth as much as all the other forms of life (which apparently now includes rocks according to dingbats in Britain). Aren’t PROGLUDDITES fun?
Report Post »JD Carp
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:01pmLet the animal rights activists go snuff themselves!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:17pmI say we ship the animal rights people to Africa and let the villagers eat them…
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:17pmUgh! Missed firsts by that much…
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:47pmcan’t more than [right on]
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:48pmi miss my [ say ]
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:58pmI am in !
Report Post »iheartusa
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:13pmLiberals are such hypocrites!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:19pmOdd that liberals value the life of an elephant over those of hungry people? No, not really. They are all for abortions!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:21pmThey would rather the PEOPLE STARVED … typical.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:31pmPlease no sweeping generalizations – not all liberals are alike!! Hunger anywhere bothers me whether it is in Africa or the children in our own country who go to bed hungry every night. http://wp.me/pYLB7-Od
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:32pm@Showtime
@IheartUSA
Indeed liberals like PETA are ones who place the welfare of aniamils above those of humans, they see the butchery of an elephant who is gone rogue as murder while abortion is acceptable and even encouraged.
Nut cases indeed.
Report Post »NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:35pmHypocrtes, yeah. When the SHTF they will either eat meat or be eaten.
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:38pmOh so VERY true, and oh so very sad.
Report Post »They want to redistribute ….your wealth .
They want you….to be mandated to buy government healthcare ( they already have waivers)
They want you…to turn in your guns ( UN 21 )
They want you to stop using incandescent lights and use the poisonous mercury florescent ones.
They want to disallow cars in cities ( it’s on http://www.drudgereport.com now ), but not for the rich ( themselves).
They want to silence Glenn and you.
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:43pmI hunt every year with my boy, that looks like fun and I bet Dumbo is good eating, especially smoked.
I have tried seal and whale, not so good.
In Asia I tried dog, really gamey.
Snow/Showtime/Cheezewhiz, what‘s the most exotic animal you’ve tried?
Report Post »12 gauge
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:45pmFire Up the Barbie!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:49pmAvenger writes:
does elephant steak taste good ….
———————————————————————
It tastes like…chicken! Of course…
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 7:53pmlibs prefer to kill people in the scam of saving them…ever hear of planned parenthood,abortion or welfare….
Report Post »rwsasinger
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:05pmAnimals do not have rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution but these animal rights nut jobs seem to think they do. Look at your local ordinances. Talk about a double standard. It is very curious to me that my neighborhood allows their mangy house cats to wander free killing song birds, squirrels, and any small animal it can get its grimy paws on. Yet my gentle dog is confined to a leash and her yard. If she should wander out of my fenced yard, the animal control is dispatched where it costs me nearly $100 to free my pet. The next stray cat that wanders into my will be cited, tried fairly, and given a dirt nap. That goes for any stray elephant who destroys my flower garden.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:06pm@Darmok
The most exotics I have done:
Javalina (used to)
Report Post »Snake
Gator
Shark
Carribou
Elk
Emu/Rhea (too salty to the taste)
Ostridge (use BBQ sause marianate)
Buffalo
Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:09pm@Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Gator and Snake get a bit chewy if not cooked right. I love Buffalo.
Report Post »Pelling1020
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:09pmMan-O-Man, how would you like to barbecue one of those ribs with Georgia hot sauce?
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:17pm@Pelling1020
Report Post »Remember the Flintstones, it would be like the big ribs in the opening credits.
sWampy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:38pmI’m far from a peta fan, but I really can’t see the point in shooting an elephant, unless it‘s rogue and destroying people’s property. I also can’t understand some of my neighbors that take out their 4 year olds and teach them to “hunt” by shooting a deer or turkey in a cage. I can‘t imagine how it has to screw up a kid to at 4 teach them it’s ok to take a life.
John 1776
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:50pmAlthough I am a proponent of gun rights, I am not a hunter. I would have been offended if the elephant was shot and left to rot for sport, but in this case, the village food source was being damaged, and they ate the elephant. This to me is the circle of life.
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:08pmGo Daddy.GUN.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:16pmLooks like they all got an elephant burger and a Godaddy cap thanks to Bob Parsons.
Report Post »randy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:34pmRadical Liberals Progressives = let’s SPEAK UP about killing an elephant that will feed someone,
Radical Liberals Progressives = let’s NOT speak up about plunging a spike into the back of a
newborns neck up into the brain. And if that doesn’t kill the child, let’s toss him or her
into the trash can until it stops breathing before sending it out with the garbage.
This is what the Kenyen POTUS voted “yes” to in Congress.
Report Post »ManThong
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:38pmGood shot.
Is a snuff porno a hate crime or a love crime?
Report Post »SavvyCowboy
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:40pmTop of the Food Chain Baby!! We Invented guns to shoot, kill and eat things. Oh Well – fed a portion of a starving village. I kill deer, pheasant, goats, ducks, geese, squirrels, antelope, partridge, fish, cattle, pigs, sheep and grouse and eat them all. I am a proud member of People for Excellent Tasting Animals.
Meat is Murder! Tasty, Tasty Murder! :D
Report Post »Wilkins
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:49pmNo hypocrisy.
60% of black pregnancies in NYC are ended in abortion thanks to Planned Parenthood.
Stop the hunting of problem elephants so African subsistance farms are decimated and the locals can no longer exploit the meat of elephants taken by hunters. This policy suppresses the over population of rural Africa and hence the world. Progressives are being totally consistent.
What we see here are rural Africans, who can earn a good living guiding European and North American hunters, bringing substantial economic benefit to the villages. Elephants (and other big African game) become a valued local resource protected by the locals. Poaching is discouraged by the villages more effectively than by government game wardens. This is a conservation and fair trade story that white liberal progressives love to hate.
Report Post »Love Bandit Bestid
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 9:49pmLight Bulb!
Shake n Bake for elephant.
Report Post »bulletsinthegun
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 10:42pmI raise lambs and the libs that move to the country and then let their dogs loose to run and chase any animal that is out in his or her pasture are shot dead. You call the sheriff and they take the offender home
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:05pmI wonder if Laura Goldman has ever gone hungry; ya know a couple of days – a week without food.
Report Post »thetreyman
Posted on March 29, 2011 at 11:42pmwhy do libs hate black people? they dont want anything killed for blacks to eat. they want blacks to die from malaria due to them banning ddt. they want to keep blacks poor by taking away there initiative to produce i.e. keeping them on welfare. its not just black people either. they do it to brown people too (hispanics) lastly they continually use race to keep everyone at each others throats by lying about people who want all people to have opportunity regardless of race, calling them the racist. i think it is clear who the real racists are.
Report Post »9111315
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 9:15am“ … I really can’t see the point in shooting an elephant, unless it‘s rogue and destroying people’s property … “
The Elephants were destroying the villagers food!
“ … I would have been offended if the elephant was shot and left to rot for sport … “
The Elephants were destroying the villagers food!
Yes it is good that the meet was well used. However, the original problem was destruction of food and the threat of starvation.
Daddy show up with a gun. Daddy find bad elephant. Daddy shoot bad elephant. Go Daddy!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 9:42amWhy is it that people who live in apartments in the city, drive hybrids, wear plastic shoes, and have never been out in the woods in their lives, feel qualified to have opinions on things like wildlife management. Thats a problem in this country….too many people that don’t have a clue, forming opinions and making up the rules as they go along.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 10:06amThis is purely idiotic. These people need to get a life. Anyone that puts an animal on the same level (or above) is just proving themselves to everyone that they are haters of humanity.
Report Post »MinnesotaMARINE
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 12:38pmAs a member of PETA my self (People Eating Tasty Animals ) I see nothing wrong with that. Feed the hungry people. Just would have been better marinated for a few days in the fridge and spiced correctly.
Report Post »newrepublic7
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 2:00pmI am a big hunter myself, but I see NO sport in this kill. This is more along the lines of wildlife management and should have been handled by the local wildlife agencies, not foreigners for sport. The meat being used for the local villages is great! But did the “HUNTER” eat any of the meat? I eat everything I hunt or try to. Some animals get away, even after being mortally wounded. (Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit, etc ) But I like the hunt, not the kill. Enjoying being in nature and trying to out wit the animal. just my opinion !
Report Post »Fuul Aluuf
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 4:01pm@Swampy – you cant be serious. Do you eat meat (or even fish)? Even if you don’t, certainly for the people that do it can’t be bad to teach their children where their food comes from. After all, if you buy a hamburger, you are paying to have someone kill a cow… there is no alleviated responsibility – its the same as killing it yourself. Pretending that you are not killing the animal because you bought it in a package that doesn’t look like the animal anymore is horribly disrespectful. If we are to teach our children to be honorable stewards of the earth and its creatures then we have to start by being honest about the subject. Everyone I know who teaches their children to hunt do it as part of a real-world education on proper and responsible stewardship and self-sufficiency. I’m sure there are those who do it just for a thrill, but I certainly don’t know those people and would tell them it is wrong if they taught their children that way – I don’t think it is common.
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on March 30, 2011 at 11:43pmanyone who kills an elephant is just evil or a “NIMROD” … you don’t kill animals capable of this kind of affection… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4OD8dxIry8
Report Post »Dale
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 12:55amDoes anyone know if Laura is a vegetarian? If not, it’s ok to have someone (like Parsons) kill the animals for her, she just objects to watching the process; and she’s a hypocrite. If she is – then she has more problems than I originally thought.
Report Post »N5DVC
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 11:35amI think I’m going to go buy a domain name right now!
Report Post »Bluebonnet
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 2:52pm@ Randy, I agree with you. Killing an animal for food for starving people is necessary. Killing a baby with scissors in the neck before fully born is unacceptable. And yes, I still remember Obama voting to allow killing baby’s in this fashion while in Illinois congress. Part of why I do not like him.
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