Comments on: Be Careful What You Wish For

By: Kathy

Kathy — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:37:29 +0000

Whether it be stupidity, ignorance, poor judgment, or being self-centered, this is no excuse for the way humans treat animal-life of all kinds. Recently in the US there was a story of a man who kept many wild animals in his home “zoo”. The state this occurred in (Ohio) had no laws against humans keeping wild animals on their property. On the day the “zookeeper” decided to commit suicide, he also let all the wild animals loose from their cages. 49 wild animals were subsequently killed by officers whose duty it was to protect the life of the humans now in danger due to wild animals roaming free in their communities. We see stories like this over and over with people who have no respect for the wild” in “wild animals”, and I am not sure how to combat this problem. Until we figure that out, humans will continue to be injured or killed by animals who are just doing what comes natural to them.

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:31:07 +0000

It is not only in Kenya, but a compounds in South Africa as well. At some point in time man will realize that cute, cuddly wild animals are just that – wild.

By: Sophia Chatov

Sophia Chatov — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:07:48 +0000

Jim~
Although I fervently agree with you and Ingrid that lion cubs look cuddly but looking at their teeth and big paws with claws, they are wild animals with strong instincts…In the case of the young woman being severely bitten in the neck, barely missing the artery, and clawed, apparently posing for a photo. It looked to me that this happened with consent and not guarded by the Lodge’s officials.

By: Jeanie Antonacci

Jeanie Antonacci — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:38:40 +0000

I am tired of man exploiting wildlife i.e. petting zoos, boxing kangaroos (which we had in our area recently), swimming with the dolphins, u name it. All is done to make $$$, of course. I don’t attend or partake in any of these events and neither should the public. It is not only dangerous but it encourages these places to have such entertainment.

Yes, they should have had the foresight to build a corridor (underpass) for the animals to use to avoid such tragedies.

By: Ingrid Dubberke

Ingrid Dubberke — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:42:32 +0000

Jim, your last sentence says it all. People may not be stupid, but many sure are ignorant. A wild animal is just that, wild, whether in a zoo or a nature preserve. When you visit them on their turf you pretty darn well have to act accordingly.

By: Shelly Lazarus

Shelly Lazarus — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:16:29 +0000

Thank you for the perspectives and the insights. These are important observations about the relationship between nature and humans. Hope all is well with you and your family.

By: Paula Wise

Paula Wise — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:53:26 +0000

Jim, in the competition of natural selection, stupidy ought to work against man. Sadly it doesn’t. I too often, in Jasper for instance, have seen parents send their little kids to stand next to a moose for a picture. Maybe Laura above is right that it’s not stupidity but self-focus. Whatever it is, far too many humans just don’t get what “wild” means, and they have little respect for creatures other than themselves. And if some tragedy occurs from the intersection between human and animal, it is often the animal who suffers the punishment. Paula Wise

By: laura berick

laura berick — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:53:44 +0000

jm, i am finding a change in how man views him/herself, it now ME and what I want, be it on the road or in the wild. it is not that people are stupid, but self-focused. laura berick