I became involved in a conversation yesterday which revolved around the way humans deal with certain animal problems by culling species to reduce the risk. It was initially related to sharks and my point was that this way of thought is prevalent in much we do. It is a very sad fact indeed and it is something which I strive to educate people about without excuses and without pulling punches.
As the conversation went on it drifted from the point I was making to differentiation between different species and situations, with my point being blurred amongst it all. What I was trying to say was being eroded in some ways by offering excuses to human behaviour which is in my view not an acceptable thing to do.
The fact is that we live in this world as one of the most intelligent species, with the knowledge to make this world a better place for all, yet the one overriding factor which stands in the way is the belief so many people have that this is our world alone.
We share this planet with so many species, on land and in the water. Some of these are a threat to us if the situation is created, but then are we also not a threat to them as well?
Shark, lion, dog, whatever, they all are or were wild animals which have a natural instinct to survive. Survival means eating and protecting themselves, as well as those within their group. What right do we have to determine that another creature should die because it has been aggressive, because it has acted in a manner which is based on this? Every time a human is injured or killed by an animal, that person has in one way or another ignored what is known and has therefore accepted the risks being taken. Bear attacks, lion attacks and the like usually stem from either humans pushing them into smaller areas to live with reduced food sources, where human / animal interaction is inevitable, or because we enter the area they live, knowing full well the risks, but accepting no responsibility for the consequences.
In the case of sharks, we plunder the oceans for food, taking hundreds of millions of tons of fish from the water, pushing them closer to shore and areas where humans do venture. They are not rogue, they are a life striving to survive as they know how, and the knowledge we have gained from studying them tells us how and why they hunt and how to reduce the possibility of an attack happening, yet we seem to ignore it. Sometimes we just can’t stop incidents happening, but that is parts of the odds of the risk we take, and we MUST accept that it is the way of nature and life.
By all means choose to venture, but know the risks, accept the risks and don’t think that we have a right to inhibit animals from the freedom that life grants us all. We are superior, yet we are so inferior in that we do not use our knowledge to work to a survival of the planet and life as a whole.
Human greed is at the forefront of most of the problems in the world. Throughout history we have pushed other humans into smaller groups, smaller worlds where they have starved and fought for survival, and the difference between other humans and animals is that in most cases, other human beings fight back harder. Animals are not so lucky and they perish in our hands and disappear like crumpled pieces of paper thrown upon the fire. The day we realise that we cannot have it all, that we must only take what we need and can use now, sharing it all with all of life, will be the day that change will begin.
Important thoughts, well expressed. Hopefully people will reflect deeply and change their perspectives and behaviours so that this world and the critters in it have a better chance of surviving 🙂 🙂 🙂