Ion Țiriac is the best-known Romanian hunting enthusiast. Often blamed for his hobby of killing animals, the former tennis player always defended himself by saying that, through this “sport”, he actually saves them. According to the businessman, the hunting fees paid by him are used by the locals to care for the animals. This is despite the fact that there is also the option to help save some species without killing them.
Ion Țiriac, on the hunting grounds at Balc, in Bihor. Photo Archive The Truth
Well-known for organizing hunting parties for business partners and influential friends from all over the world, Ion Țiriac revealed that he is going in search of the world record in New Zealand and Namibia. “I'm in New Zealand next week. In New Zealand I do a job that is very unpopular today, hunting. That is, a deer has reached the respectable age at which it must be hunted. Given that he has so many points that he might be a world record, I'm going down there to see what he's all about.”revealed Ion Țiriac in the show “Friends of Ovidiu”.
He shot two elephants in his “career”
The businessman will also fly to Namibia, where he is the “happy owner of a large expanse”. “It is a property that is very dear to me and I am an Africa addict. For 60 years I have been to Africa at least once to hunt. I hunt everything that can be hunted and it's time to hunt. For example, elephant. I have hunted two elephants in 60 years. I've seen thousands, tens of thousands!”declared Ion Țiriac.
The former tennis player also explains why he turned to hunting:I'm doing well, what everyone does at a respectable age. I turned 84 a long time ago. I tried to think about winning Roland Garros again, but I gave up on that thought. I tried to get a tennis racket in my hand, I don't remember how to do it. What to do?”.
