Why Teddy Roosevelt killed 512 animals on safari

President Theodore Roosevelt loved the outdoors — and he loved to hunt. One of the most astonishing records of his post-Presidency is his massive kill list from a safari he and his son Kermit led. But there was a good contemporary reason for the carnage, if you take TR's point of view. That leaves it to you to take a side in the historical debate.

[MrKillamanjaro]

Teddy may have killed 512 animals but he gave us Yosemite so....

and the teddy bear

[davidwiessing]

It's important to note that few, if any of these species were close to being threatened yet. So conservation of these species wasn't a big issue yet, and like the video said, the kills didn't go to waste. He he collected thousands of specimens and fed the people of the area with his hunting just as cattle, pigs, and chickens feed america today. The only difference is that the animals he hunted had a sporting chance.

[taylorbeckett]

So this happened in the 1900s.... why are you so critical of him? he loved nature and liked playing in it in entirety. Roosevelt saw how important it was.. doesn't mean he wouldn't hunt or explore the wilderness.

[Tst]

Oh well? Teddy did more for natural resource conservation and wildlife management than any other president. Before him there was unlimited habitat fragmentation

[MrHornerdude]

Better question, did Theodore Roosevelt ever have to explain himself? The man is a beast. Before one of his speeches he was shot by a saloon-keeper. Roosevelt decline immediate treatment and continued with the 90 minute speech. Badasses don't need to explain themselves.

[Jimmyfinder]

Yes, let's put 21st century values on a guy who grew up in the 19th century.

[theoutlook]

HISTORY AND MODERN IDEALS Roosevelt!!!!

[nigralurker]

"It made our vains thrill"

Natural instinct when hunting. Humans aren't accustomed to these days, but adrenaline does start pumping especially with the more dangerous animals like the lion.

[NageekNoohac]

I love it when we apply modern ethics to something from 100 years ago. Really great thinking Vox.

[jackramey]

I finished his book, African Safari Trails, just today. He explains it well therein. He was a remarkable man and is one of my heroes.

[dheadcreeps]

Yeah… that rules. Tell me more about how Teddy ruled.

[Primer]

I think this type of "collecting" was before zoos. The youngest ever president at 42 he established established, 51 bird reserves, four game preserves 150 national forests including the Shoshone National Forest . He set laws under public protection for a total of 230, 000, 000 acres of the United States. Yes I would say he was interested in conservation. He started well teaching himself taxidermy at the age of nine whilst studying all he could about those specimens. Quite a determined individual. Not quite conservation as we understand it today but very praiseworthy and admirably scientific for his time.

[Thekeasy]

You can be a animal conversationalist and still be pro hunting.

[pyryvirtanen]

Because he wasn't no tree hugging hippie.


He was a badass...

[OmegaDNAYX]

My reaction -_-
FineBros reaction $_$

[pastramichop]

Killing wild animals is only a problem when they are at risk of being wiped out completely. Obviously all of these animals weren't so threatened as they are today

[calebhoward]

Teddy was one of our best presidents so I think it doesn't matter if he killed a bunch of animals a 100 years ago.

[oneguy]

Well this guy was the most badaas president you ever had and he certainly didn't need a safe space because words hurts more than a punch

[annikaaslanbekov]

>Implying any of those animals' lives mattered

[apollofell]

Yeah, in Roosevelt's time it's not like he could take photos or video of these animals, nor could he capture, care for, and ship them to places for study. Killing a few specimens and sending them to places of scientific inquiry and public display really was the best way to learn and educate about these animals.