Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Glen McGrath, elephant killer





What does it say about a man who likes to shoot elephants and other wild African animals just for fun?

Photographer Christopher Rimmer must have known what the reaction would be if he released pictures of Glenn McGrath prouding posing in front of a dead elephant and other wild animals he'd killed on an African safari.

Rimmer, born in South Africa and now based in Melbourne, received death threats for trying to ruin the reputation of an Australian sportsman, a man  known for the good work he does heading the foundation he and his wife Jane founded for women with breast cancer.







But most of the outrage isn't towards Rimmer, but McGrath. How can an educated person justify killing a magnificent animal like the elephant for pleasure?  It's obscene.  It's a rich man's pastime simply to enhance his ego.

McGrath issued a statement on Twitter soon after the pictures appeared on Saturday.  He said he "deeply regretted" the experience.

"In 2008, I participated in a hunting safari in Zimbabwe that was licensed and legal but in hindsight highly inappropriate" McGrath wrote. "It was an extremely difficult time in my life and looking back, I deeply regret being involved."





The difficult time McGrath referred to is understood to to be a reference to the death of his wife Jane who died of breast cancer in June 2008. She died 11 years after being diagnosed and co-founded the McGrath Foundation with her husband.

The backlash could effect the charity.  One Twitter user pointed out that cancer patients would suffer if the charity was targeted .........."don't kill Jane's dream."

Glenn McGrath is a Planet Ark ambassador. "We are deeply saddened by the deaths of these animals and in no way endorse or support this activity.  Planet Ark does not have an ongoing association with Glenn McGrath."

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