From Deseret News archives:

Humane Society asks BYU to not display white rhino

Published: Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 4:49 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
PROVO — The Humane Society of the United States is objecting to the display of a white rhino at Brigham Young University.

The rhino was killed in South Africa by Fred Morris of Draper, a museum benefactor who had a permit.

"Museums and institutions of higher learning, perhaps a century ago, used to acquire animals through this fashion by sending out trophy hunters to collect specimens from the wild. But it has really gone out of fashion and there are much better ways to set up a museum collection without procuring the animals from wild populations," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society.

The skin is mounted for public viewing through January at BYU's Monte L. Bean Life Sciences Museum. Officials said it is being used to teach about conservation efforts.

The Humane Society, based in Washington, D.C., said white rhinos are among the rarest large mammals in the world. The group is asking BYU to stop the exhibit, but the school has no plans to remove the skin.

"We followed appropriate procedure in acquiring the rhinoceros in terms of international law and federal law and all treaties that exist to protect these animals. We've not done anything illegal at all," museum director Larry St. Clair said Monday.

Story continues below
The Humane Society claims the bagging of a white rhino conflicts with the standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns BYU.

St. Clair, however, said officials at a national park in South Africa reported a surplus of rhinos. He said all meat was given to local residents.

"There's a management protocol that's been defined by wildlife biologists," St. Clair said. "Some of that does involve occasionally, periodically taking animals out of the population when they're in excess.

"Money for the permit goes to maintain the habitat," he said.

But if BYU wanted to protect the species, it should have relocated the animal to Uganda, where officials are trying to re-establish the white rhino population, Markarian said.

"There's no research or conservation value in simply displaying a stuffed trophy," he said.

Recent comments

The Humane Society, PETA, Greenpeace, etc., score money on blurbs...

Doug J. | March 17, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.

I have no problem with hunting per se, but for a species that is so...

Scott | Jan. 3, 2008 at 8:50 p.m.

I think that the Human Society shoulf back off. The hunter who shot...

madamson | Nov. 20, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

Put in Cain. Wynn is no good. Whit doesn't seem to have a clue what he is...

At halftime.. The "Dream" game is turning into a NIGHTMARE! Poor helpless...

Utes excited for 'dream' game

It's so much fun looking back at all the comments from the ute fans. Yeah,...

I like how one person on here said "Separate funding for research from...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

Hall got a national recognition. A lousy performance had to follow.

Thank goodness, we may finally get some reform. It is a long time over due....

Why does america have to be goodnicks and let people like that come to the...

No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos

Utah scores another 7. that's 7 more than our little brother put up on TCU....

i understand if your kids in having surgery bat a TOE or a back spassem give...

What a pounding Utes are taking

Advertisements
Advertisement