The ignorance of Ms. Swartzfeger and the co-authors of the Aug. 21 letter titled "Photo, story offensive" is truly sad.

Not only are they complaining about an article about hunting put in the sports section of the newspaper, where articles like this often run, they completely miss the point. It was the story of a man who was able to overcome great adversity to accomplish a lifelong dream.

They act as if this man went to Africa and poached this elephant.

What they fail to realize is that these hunts are beneficial to elephant herds as well as to the natives who live the area. Hunts take place on highly managed game reserves that rely almost exclusively on money from hunters for the conservation of the park.

Water systems, antipoaching patrols and habitat reclamation are just a few of the many benefits the hunters' money brings to the park, thus ensuring future generations of these amazing animals.

And as an informed person would know, it's important to keep animal populations in check to avoid overburdening the habitat. Besides all the benefits to the park, these hunts also provide jobs and food (the meat is typically donated to the locals) for the local population. If it weren't for the hunters, there would be no animals to hunt.

I also would like to congratulate Dr. Rich Bosco on the success of his hunt. There are many of us who would love to have been in his shoes.