Trophy Hunter Trampled by Elephants Protecting a Calf While on ‘Sport’ Hunt in Gabon

A millionaire trophy hunter who spent years killing animals in their own homes for “sport” has reportedly been trampled to death by a group of female elephants in Gabon while on a paid hunting “excursion.” When humans storm into natural habitats with weapons and the intent to slaughter, other animals—like any parent—will defend themselves and their families.

The hunter was reportedly attempting to kill a species of antelope when he and his guide encountered five female elephants with a calf. In this case, the herd appears to have done what any mother would do: protect their child. Female elephants live in tightly bonded matriarchal groups, working together to raise and care for their babies. These family units are intensely devoted—and when a calf is threatened, mothers will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.

Hunting Isn’t a ‘Sport’—It’s Slaughter

While hunters choose to stalk, shoot, and kill, animals never choose to be part of this violence. For them, being hunted means terror, pain, and in many cases, a prolonged, agonizing death. In some cases, wounded animals escape and later die from their injuries or from starvation.

Hunting tears apart families, disrupts ecosystems, and causes immense suffering—all so hunters can take our fellow animals’ skin, antlers, or bodies as “trophies.”

Every animal is someone; a thinking, feeling being with a life that is their own—not a prize to be displayed. Right now, UPS is still involved in the transport of “hunting trophies”—the body parts of animals slaughtered for “sport.” The company has already taken steps to prohibit shipments of shark fins, certain live animals, and ivory. But there’s a clear inconsistency: if elephant ivory is off-limits, why are heads, skins, and other body parts still considered acceptable cargo?

You can join the more than 100,000 people who have already taken up PETA’s call urging UPS to ban the shipment of hunting “trophies.”