Yes, researchers have stopped saying they kill for fun because it gives the wrong impression to people who can’t understand that words can have multiple meanings and connotations. However when an animal is not killing for food, or defense, or practice, or any other definable reason, “fun” would be an acceptable label. They do not have to shout HELL YEAH BROTHER and put on sunglasses while doing it to call it that. Would you be more comfortable calling it “killing for the hell of it”?
Again, the article you linked suggests that they typically overkill, which is to say they kill more than they need. Like a person putting too much food on their plate. Not for fun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surplus_killing
Maybe you should read the causes section of the thing you linked. Fun is not listed.
Yes, researchers have stopped saying they kill for fun because it gives the wrong impression to people who can’t understand that words can have multiple meanings and connotations. However when an animal is not killing for food, or defense, or practice, or any other definable reason, “fun” would be an acceptable label. They do not have to shout HELL YEAH BROTHER and put on sunglasses while doing it to call it that. Would you be more comfortable calling it “killing for the hell of it”?
Again, the article you linked suggests that they typically overkill, which is to say they kill more than they need. Like a person putting too much food on their plate. Not for fun.