A big judgement has come out today regarding the Blackbuck poaching case of 1998 against actor Salman Khan. The actor has been convicted by the Jodhpur court and will have to face a jail term of 5 years. He has also been imposed with a fine of Rs. 10,000 and the actor will have to spend a night in jail. His bail hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, April 5, 2018. Khan was accused of killing two blackbucks in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shoot of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain. While the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is celebrating the conviction, fans of the actor are obviously not happy. It was highly unlikely for the actor to be let scot-free, he could have only escaped this situation if Trophy Hunting was a sport in India.

What is Trophy Hunting?

Trophy hunting or trophy killing as it is commonly called is the shooting of selected animals – frequently big game such as rhinos, elephants, lions, pumas and bears with the official government licence, for pleasure. The trophy is the animal that the hunter keeps as his reward of success. Sometimes part of the animal, like the trunk, skin or teeth is kept as a souvenir with the hunter.

But the practice has its restrictions regarding the species that can be killed, the area where it can be practiced and also the weapons used for the kill.

The practice has been opposed by many for the decline in the animal species targeted but it also has its supporters claiming hunting as a recreation activity and also conservation efforts!

Where is trophy hunting legal?

Some countries in the world do allow legally to kill the endangered species, but the number is quite small. South Africa allows trophy hunting. The Tanzanian economy is said to be benefiting from this activity. Between 2008 and 2011, Tanzania earned $75 million in hunting fees from tourists, according to The New York Times. The safari hunting industry has operated for well over a century and has now grown to an over $200 million dollar annual industry says another report. The ban on trophy hunting on elephants is also lifted in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The Fish and Wildlife Service will also look into the trophy inputs on a nation to nation basis. The nations of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia will be evaluated for lion, elephant and bontebok (a type of antelope) trophies.

In US, imports of elephant trophies from Zimbabwe and Zambia are accepted. A report by The Humane Society of the United States, reveals that American hunters imported more than 1.2 million animals — more than 126,000 a year — as hunting trophies from across the world between 2005 and 2014. The top two source countries were Canada and South Africa. Of the 1.2 million, the U.S. imported 5,600 African lions, 4,600 African elephants, 4,500 African leopards, 330 southern white rhinos and 17,200 African buffalo. Lion trophy hunting is also allowed in US.

The debate on the trophy hunting continues but it is only most prevalent in parts of South Africa over the years. Had it been legally permissible by the Indian law, Salman Khan would have easily escaped the case. Salman Khan is charged under the Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 05, 2018 05:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).