This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/world/americas/on-argentina-plains-hunters-feel-besieged-by-critics-made-of-asphalt.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
On Argentina Plains, Hunters Feel Besieged by Critics ‘Made of Asphalt’ On Argentina Plains, Hunters Feel Besieged by Critics ‘Made of Asphalt’
(about 11 hours later)
UTRACÁN, Argentina — After days in the wilderness, the hunters drove up to the sports club in rusty pickup trucks with carcasses of wild boars splayed on their roofs. One by one, the dead boars were heaved onto a bloodied crane scale, then lined up on planks, their snouts wedged open.UTRACÁN, Argentina — After days in the wilderness, the hunters drove up to the sports club in rusty pickup trucks with carcasses of wild boars splayed on their roofs. One by one, the dead boars were heaved onto a bloodied crane scale, then lined up on planks, their snouts wedged open.
Boar hunting in the remote, semiarid county of Utracán has endured for generations. Older huntsmen reminisce about their first forays into the thorny scrubland by moonlight; boys imitate their fathers’ strides across vast plains as they follow packs of brawny mastiffs.Boar hunting in the remote, semiarid county of Utracán has endured for generations. Older huntsmen reminisce about their first forays into the thorny scrubland by moonlight; boys imitate their fathers’ strides across vast plains as they follow packs of brawny mastiffs.
Yet threats to that tradition are emerging as animal rights activists, buoyed by their growing clout in recent years, say the time has come to put an end to the hunts.Yet threats to that tradition are emerging as animal rights activists, buoyed by their growing clout in recent years, say the time has come to put an end to the hunts.
“People used to look at us like heroes,” said Daniel Briguez, a 43-year-old construction site manager, who had a hunting knife strapped to his waist. “Today, we’re a nuisance.”“People used to look at us like heroes,” said Daniel Briguez, a 43-year-old construction site manager, who had a hunting knife strapped to his waist. “Today, we’re a nuisance.”
The conflict between hunters in Argentina’s central La Pampa Province and the animal rights activists unfolds as similar debates over hunting escalate across the Americas — from shooting guanacos in Patagonia to clubbing seals in Canada — and the world.The conflict between hunters in Argentina’s central La Pampa Province and the animal rights activists unfolds as similar debates over hunting escalate across the Americas — from shooting guanacos in Patagonia to clubbing seals in Canada — and the world.
One small but prominent group, the Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights, has made unsuccessful attempts before the courts and the provincial government authorities to have recent hunting tournaments suspended.One small but prominent group, the Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights, has made unsuccessful attempts before the courts and the provincial government authorities to have recent hunting tournaments suspended.
Hunting violates a federal animal cruelty law, said Cecilia Domínguez, a lawyer who brought the association’s case here, claiming that both the boars and the packs of Argentine mastiffs trained to sniff out and chase them are illegally made to suffer.Hunting violates a federal animal cruelty law, said Cecilia Domínguez, a lawyer who brought the association’s case here, claiming that both the boars and the packs of Argentine mastiffs trained to sniff out and chase them are illegally made to suffer.
“These traditional practices lie somewhere between the forbidden and the pathological,” the association wrote on Facebook in May, after it sought to stop a tournament from taking place.“These traditional practices lie somewhere between the forbidden and the pathological,” the association wrote on Facebook in May, after it sought to stop a tournament from taking place.
The hunters bristle at such comments, saying they are under attack from critics often cocooned in distant cities.The hunters bristle at such comments, saying they are under attack from critics often cocooned in distant cities.
“They question us from a position of utter ignorance,” said Hugo Javier Alfonso, 41, a butcher and co-founder of a national association for hunters who kill the boars with knives after they have been cornered by hounds. Other hunters shoot the animals from perches.“They question us from a position of utter ignorance,” said Hugo Javier Alfonso, 41, a butcher and co-founder of a national association for hunters who kill the boars with knives after they have been cornered by hounds. Other hunters shoot the animals from perches.
After feasting on marinated wild viscacha, a large rodent, on a recent night, Mr. Alfonso sat by the hearth of a remote farmhouse in Utracán, where La Pampa’s crop fields and pastures begin to give way to expanses of wild lands interspersed by humble towns. His companions had gone off looking for boar tracks.After feasting on marinated wild viscacha, a large rodent, on a recent night, Mr. Alfonso sat by the hearth of a remote farmhouse in Utracán, where La Pampa’s crop fields and pastures begin to give way to expanses of wild lands interspersed by humble towns. His companions had gone off looking for boar tracks.
With the skull of a puma looking down from the fireplace beside him, Mr. Alfonso laid out his view of the world.With the skull of a puma looking down from the fireplace beside him, Mr. Alfonso laid out his view of the world.
“La Pampa was shaped by rural men — lumberjacks clearing tracks in the forest, cattle drovers and fencers,” he said, holding a hunting knife whose handle was carved from deer antlers. “If you’re from the city, you’re made of asphalt, sidewalks and the internet.”“La Pampa was shaped by rural men — lumberjacks clearing tracks in the forest, cattle drovers and fencers,” he said, holding a hunting knife whose handle was carved from deer antlers. “If you’re from the city, you’re made of asphalt, sidewalks and the internet.”
In many ways, Mr. Briguez epitomizes the passion of the hunters. He escapes as often as he can from the provincial capital of Santa Rosa along undulating sand tracks to hunting grounds in his 1999 Ford pickup. He will hunt through the night, then drive back home for a snooze on the sofa before another day at the construction site.In many ways, Mr. Briguez epitomizes the passion of the hunters. He escapes as often as he can from the provincial capital of Santa Rosa along undulating sand tracks to hunting grounds in his 1999 Ford pickup. He will hunt through the night, then drive back home for a snooze on the sofa before another day at the construction site.
The hunters, who cure much of the boar meat to eat at home, also emphasize the service they provide to the province’s farmers by protecting their corn crops from foraging boars.The hunters, who cure much of the boar meat to eat at home, also emphasize the service they provide to the province’s farmers by protecting their corn crops from foraging boars.
Wild boars are not native to La Pampa; they were brought from Europe for hunting more than a century ago by Pedro O. Luro, a banker and parliamentarian. They occupy a top rung in the food chain and breed rapidly.Wild boars are not native to La Pampa; they were brought from Europe for hunting more than a century ago by Pedro O. Luro, a banker and parliamentarian. They occupy a top rung in the food chain and breed rapidly.
Numbers are vague, but one study from 2009 estimated there were about 2,700 boars in just one part of Argentina’s central steppe.Numbers are vague, but one study from 2009 estimated there were about 2,700 boars in just one part of Argentina’s central steppe.
The farmers often hire the huntsmen to cull the boars. There is a similar dynamic at play in Texas and Florida, where boars are said to have been introduced by Spanish conquistadors.The farmers often hire the huntsmen to cull the boars. There is a similar dynamic at play in Texas and Florida, where boars are said to have been introduced by Spanish conquistadors.
Scholars from Argentina to the United States and Australia have studied the detrimental impact of boars on natural habitats and farmland.Scholars from Argentina to the United States and Australia have studied the detrimental impact of boars on natural habitats and farmland.
“They damage both biodiversity and the agricultural economy,” said María Fernanda Cuevas, a biologist who researches the ecology of wild boars in Argentina. “The only solution to truly dissuade them is to hunt.”“They damage both biodiversity and the agricultural economy,” said María Fernanda Cuevas, a biologist who researches the ecology of wild boars in Argentina. “The only solution to truly dissuade them is to hunt.”
But even as supporters of hunting advance ecological as well as cultural arguments, opponents point to a tug of narratives extending beyond provincial borders.But even as supporters of hunting advance ecological as well as cultural arguments, opponents point to a tug of narratives extending beyond provincial borders.
Hunting, Ms. Domínguez said, fosters speciesism — a school of thought that emphasizes the moral superiority of humans over animals — at a time when Argentine judges are opening debates about whether some animals should be considered “nonhuman people” who hold legal rights. Some officials are also undertaking overhauls of zoos whose underlying philosophies, they say, are Victorian. Hunting, Ms. Domínguez said, fosters speciesism — a school of thought that emphasizes the moral superiority of humans over animals — at a time when Argentine judges are opening debates about whether some animals should be considered “nonhuman people” who hold legal rights.
Some officials are also undertaking overhauls of zoos whose underlying philosophies, they say, are Victorian.
The feral imagery of hunts, especially those that use grisly methods like hounds and knives, or horses and spears, has also fed criticism in countries like Spain and the United Kingdom.The feral imagery of hunts, especially those that use grisly methods like hounds and knives, or horses and spears, has also fed criticism in countries like Spain and the United Kingdom.
But the hunters here, who are predominantly working class, say perceptions of barbarism are misguided. Some refer to the writings of José Ortega y Gasset, the Spanish philosopher, to explain that what they most value are the virtues — like companionship and primitive instincts — developed during a hunt, not the kill at the end.But the hunters here, who are predominantly working class, say perceptions of barbarism are misguided. Some refer to the writings of José Ortega y Gasset, the Spanish philosopher, to explain that what they most value are the virtues — like companionship and primitive instincts — developed during a hunt, not the kill at the end.
“All they see is the act of killing,” said Luciano Beloqui, 35, a bearded former village mayor who prefers hunting with a telescopic rifle from stakeouts among the barbed chañar and piquillín shrubs.“All they see is the act of killing,” said Luciano Beloqui, 35, a bearded former village mayor who prefers hunting with a telescopic rifle from stakeouts among the barbed chañar and piquillín shrubs.
Carrying his young son in his arms, Mr. Beloqui traced a progression in villages like his, Quehué, where he said children who used to take aim at birds with slingshots today hunt boars. As a mayor, he sought to raise awareness of the rural heritage; now, he said, “We must redouble our efforts.”Carrying his young son in his arms, Mr. Beloqui traced a progression in villages like his, Quehué, where he said children who used to take aim at birds with slingshots today hunt boars. As a mayor, he sought to raise awareness of the rural heritage; now, he said, “We must redouble our efforts.”
Hunting is permitted by a 1989 provincial wildlife conservation law, though pursuing pumas was largely banned in 2007 because of concerns they were being sedated at game reserves. Ducks have also been off limits because of water pollution caused by lead pellets used to hunt them.Hunting is permitted by a 1989 provincial wildlife conservation law, though pursuing pumas was largely banned in 2007 because of concerns they were being sedated at game reserves. Ducks have also been off limits because of water pollution caused by lead pellets used to hunt them.
Now, the boar hunters fear that increasingly strict regulations imperil their tradition.Now, the boar hunters fear that increasingly strict regulations imperil their tradition.
For instance, a 2012 norm outlaws boar hunting for half of the year. And a new, though not enforced, rule obliges hunters to map out their routes across the province, which is roughly the size of Iowa.For instance, a 2012 norm outlaws boar hunting for half of the year. And a new, though not enforced, rule obliges hunters to map out their routes across the province, which is roughly the size of Iowa.
“It’s as if we could wake up tomorrow and it’d be prohibited,” said Juan Carlos Cabral, 56, the long scratches on his nose attesting to a lifetime tramping through the scrubland.“It’s as if we could wake up tomorrow and it’d be prohibited,” said Juan Carlos Cabral, 56, the long scratches on his nose attesting to a lifetime tramping through the scrubland.
Mr. Cabral was helping to haul boar carcasses off the trucks near the sports club and through a parting crowd, including many women and children. Later, as some 300 hunters enjoyed a lunch of barbecued ribs and listened to live folk music, the tusks of their prey were measured to determine the winner of the main prize.Mr. Cabral was helping to haul boar carcasses off the trucks near the sports club and through a parting crowd, including many women and children. Later, as some 300 hunters enjoyed a lunch of barbecued ribs and listened to live folk music, the tusks of their prey were measured to determine the winner of the main prize.
As Ángel Rafael Aino, 31, a member of the winning team, straddled a dead boar and with a proud smile repeated the stabbing motion with which he had punctured its heart, some wondered how long such rituals would last.As Ángel Rafael Aino, 31, a member of the winning team, straddled a dead boar and with a proud smile repeated the stabbing motion with which he had punctured its heart, some wondered how long such rituals would last.
Still, observers say, hunting is too profitable an industry for the provincial authorities to ban it outright, with game reserves attracting a steady flow of tourists paying to hunt boars and red deer. The provincial government’s hunting office highlighted in an email the direct and indirect revenues from all types of hunting. “We would never seek prohibition,” it said.Still, observers say, hunting is too profitable an industry for the provincial authorities to ban it outright, with game reserves attracting a steady flow of tourists paying to hunt boars and red deer. The provincial government’s hunting office highlighted in an email the direct and indirect revenues from all types of hunting. “We would never seek prohibition,” it said.
Nevertheless, fears persist and rifts are deepening among the hunters.Nevertheless, fears persist and rifts are deepening among the hunters.
The hunters outside the sports club, who are opposed to reserves, said they hoped future generations of hunters would be allowed to roam the flatlands despite the onslaught from critics.The hunters outside the sports club, who are opposed to reserves, said they hoped future generations of hunters would be allowed to roam the flatlands despite the onslaught from critics.
“Sharing this with my boy is the greatest thing,” said Mr. Briguez, standing next to his son, Franco, 17, an aspiring veterinarian, and his hounds on a windswept plain. “It’s a way of life.”“Sharing this with my boy is the greatest thing,” said Mr. Briguez, standing next to his son, Franco, 17, an aspiring veterinarian, and his hounds on a windswept plain. “It’s a way of life.”