I know this is going to be controversial....
But for ME I don't see much distinction between killing an animal for the trophy and killing an animal in the street for the buzz. I read about animals hung from trees or kicked to death by some teen and it evokes the same feeling inside me...
The power trip they must feel knowing they are taking the life for their own whim. I doubt they are too far apart.
I know people won't like that comparison.
Not a good comparison at all IMO.
I think there's a massive difference between a "conquest" power trip and sadism.
..
I'm not sure how I feel about it. I mean, logically, sure, go for it. I'm glad people are willing to pay into it to that extent; these animals would just be culled with 0 revenue to the reserve otherwise. And I don't bear the girl any ill will just because it "feels" wrong.
If you've honestly come to terms with the superfluous killing of animals for meat then I don't see how the death itself can be all that upsetting. I mean if it's sad for animals to lose their lives, but not as sad as you having to give up something trivial like taste... then it can't be all that sad.
I feel like I can almost understand trophy hunting, almost. It's fun catching animals (fishing or the few times I've "hunted" and caught a feral rabbit (unharmed)) even though I'm sure the animal is having a terrible time. It's exciting to see it out there and then be able to put your hands on it. So I understand how you can find an activity fun if you don't empathize with the animal.
I'm sure to her animals dying in hunting isn't sad. Animal death is inevitable and she associates it with good times with her family, excitement, meat for herself or grateful people, conservation etc. I read that she's been to Africa as a child and donated supplies to schools etc because she was too young to hunt and I'm sure she's grown up with it. So benefits of hunting and the support (from her family, game managers, villagers) are all very real for her.
Keep in mind she paid to TRANQUILIZE the rhino, I can't see her as some sadistic devil. Just someone with more experience and a different outlook than most.
That said... I've been to Tanzania and I've seen what that article described, lions lying 20 ft away without a care in the world:
No way could I feel good seeing a lion like that being shot for sport, but given the correct context I could forgive them for it.