Trophy Hunting, Ageism, and the Loss of Animal Cultures

Research shows hunting animals for fun has negative effects on conservation.

Reviewed by Abigail Fagan

Key points

• In a new study, researchers analyzed more than 9,000 peer-reviewed studies.
• Large, old, and wise animals should be spared rather than killed.
• The researchers call for the development of a field called "longevity conservation."

"Trophy hunting is leading to the extinction of a number of species. Scientific studies have demonstrated the links between trophy hunting and population declines. Yet exports of hunting trophies continue to increase. The annual lion-hunting quota is now equivalent to one-third of the males that can be hunted. For the good of conservation, the days of the ‘Great White Hunter’ should be brought to a close.” —Jane Goodall

Trophy hunting is one of the most unnecessary assaults on the lives of a wide variety of wild, so-called "trophy animals," who are killed for recreation and fun.¹ One result of trophy hunting that has for the most part been ignored is its effect on large, wise, and old animals who very often are the bearers of behavior patterns that are part of local cultures. In a nutshell and to sum up what we know, conservation depends on preserving animal cultures, understanding the rich social lives of animals benefits conservation efforts, and to save animals, we must work with their cultures.

A study by R. Keller Kopf and eight colleagues who are experts on various animals titled "Loss of Earth’s old, wise, and large animals" in the prestigious journal Science clearly shows that "emerging research is revealing the vital contributions of older individuals to cultural transmission, population dynamics, and ecosystem processes and services. Often the largest and most experienced, old individuals are most valued by humans and make important contributions to reproduction, information acquisition and cultural transmission, trophic dynamics, and resistance and resilience to natural and anthropogenic." The researchers call for the development of a field called "longevity conservation" to contrast the "senescence-focused paradigm of old age" to preserve the vital roles in ecological services that older individuals play.

This essay isn't available for free online but a review of this landmark study is available in a piece titled "Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Here’s what must change." This comprehensive study is so important it is essential to spread the word about its results to a wide audience of scientists and non-scientists alike. Below is a summary of the researchers' findings from their comprehensive analysis of more than 9,000 peer-reviewed studies.

Fish and reptiles tend to keep growing throughout life so older animals are generally larger than younger individuals.
As some fish and sea turtles get older they produce more offspring who may have better chances of survival.
Females of many species tend to select older males as mates. The researchers note: "These males commonly assume crucial social roles, such as leading long-distance movements like migration, and regulating social structures, such as reducing aggressive behaviour. These behaviours influence decision-making with direct consequences for group and offspring survival."
As individuals age wisdom also increases. Elephant mothers and grandmothers are repositories of knowledge. The so-called "grandmother effect" also is seen in whales. The researchers write, "Wise grandmother killer whales, which no longer reproduce, help their families find food when it is scarce and this benefits survival."
Cultural transmission also occurs and the perks of old age also can be seen in migratory birds, pack-hunting carnivores, and fish.
"Old African elephants and other trophy animals are commonly poached or hunted, both legally and illegally." The same trend can be found in deep sea coral and Antarctic sponges.

The need for "longevity conservation" to protect large, wise, and old animals

It's clear that trophy hunting has negative effects on many different animals in which older individuals are the focus of those who kill for recreation. The researchers note:

"...when humans spare old individuals, these long-lived species are more resistant to environmental change and provide more stable ecosystem services, such as fisheries which supply protein to feed the world. Retaining old animals tends to protect populations from poor environmental conditions such as drought and other extreme climate events, allowing species to persist against the odds. This buffering capacity is increasingly important in the face of global climate change."

Taken together, their important findings show that especially in long-lived species in which more youngsters are produced by older adults and in which "migration, social networks and cultural transmission of knowledge are required for survival" it's essential to protect older animals.

Let's hope that the researchers' call for "longevity conservation" is taken seriously by colleagues studying other animals because it's highly likely that ageism is affecting species other than the ones on which they focused.

Surely we can do much better by getting over ourselves and our narrow selfish interests and by paying attention to the well-known fact that the well-being of other animals and our own are tightly intertwined, a win-win for all.