Do you think a lion would care if it killed a human? Even if it was the last human? We evolved/where created the same as the lion. I dont see why we should hold our selves to a higher standard.
The instinct to hunt and kill is hard wired in humans
We are not allowed to act on many animal instincts. Every watch animals mate in nature. Not voluntary for the female and would be a crime for humans. Animals take/steal from each other, instinctually. Etc. etc.
So, based on this, we should ignore the fact that we are intelligent, logical and emotional creatures capable of higher thought. We should just kill because it's in our nature. Baloney. And anyone that buys into this should also set aside any weaponry created with higher thought and go stalk and kill game without the aid of modern tools, like warm clothing, binoculars, maps, off road vehicles, scents, and of course guns or bows.
We evolved. Lions did not. Bears did not.
A REAL hunter might fashion a spear and go toe to with a lion or bear for 'sport.' Let's see just how much fun the 'sport' becomes when it takes more than holding steady with your $1000 zeroed rifle from 200 yards away. I'm purposefully boiling it down to what it really is. Going to a location, laying in wait, and murdering some unsuspecting beautiful creature because it was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Super brave. Anyone who tells himself otherwise is kidding himself. What percent of the time does the animal actually 'win' the sport? .00000001? Call it what it is. Cold blooded murder for kicks.
A sport is a fair contest where either party can win. How much sport is there, when one contestant literally has nothing at stake and all the chips and advantages are held by the 'hunter'? Like a boxer beating up on a little kid. Or a pro-football team playing a highshool team. Yeah, real 'sporting.' Go risk your butt, then call it a sport. Take on that lion with your bare hands, or a spear. Then call it a sport.
Another point, this is like the business that dumps poison into the river destroying fish. They have their reasons too. All of which are selfish baloney. "The fish wouldn't care if they poisoned all the humans." What nonsense.
WE humans are the custodians of our world, and that includes animals. Yes we are designed to hunt, forage, eat meat and plants. I understand and am a carnivore and omnivore. I am not naïve and I understand where food comes from - typically horrible, disease filled slaughter houses. I believe in the humane treatment of even livestock and always try to buy free range when I can. It's the responsible thing to do.
What I do not participate in, or endorse, is the barbaric practices of torturing or murdering animals, including sport dog fighting, pouring gas on cats and lighting them on fire, or going out and shooting prarie dogs for kicks, or going and shooting .0001 percent of the remaining lions that exist.
I'm sure to the hoodrat, dog fighting is fun too. Can someone here explain how that's different than sport hunting. You're killing something you don't value, for your jollys. And for anyone that says being shot with a rifle doesn't 'hurt,' maybe you ought to try it first. Or the fear, terror, and pain of dying for a couple minutes after it's shot.