Trophy hunting has gained increasing attention in both academic and public spheres, particularly after events like the killing of Cecil the Lion. While many conservation scientists support trophy hunting for its financial contributions to conservation, they often overlook or vaguely reference strong ethical objections from the public. This article argues that the act of paying to kill an animal and keep its body as a trophy is morally problematic, rooted in Western cultural narratives of dominance, colonialism, and anthropocentrism. The authors critique the disconnect between public sentiment and scientific support for the practice and call for alternative, ethically grounded conservation strategies. They stress that if trophy hunting is to be accepted, it must be done with awareness of its ethical cost and with a sense of remorse, not justification, for its consequences.
