by Orel Protopopescu

Blood and Beauty on a Texas Exotic Game Ranch—The New York Times

Seems that Texas is a nexus
of endangered species fans.
No narcotic’s like exotics
shot from tanks or armored vans.

You will pay just fifteen K
to shoot a wildebeest. (A bongo
sets you back a bigger stack,
but you will feel you’re in the Congo.)

It’s high tech, the chief exec
says of his hunting operation.
Take note of the burning love
we give the beasts, for conservation.

They can run, enjoy the sun,
on eighteen thousand wild acres.
Numbers grow because we show
that captive herds are moneymakers.