Cause for extinction of other species?

Cause for extinction of other species? - Printable Version

+- WildFact (https://wildfact.com/forum)
+-- Forum: Information Section (https://wildfact.com/forum/forum-information-section)
+--- Forum: Questions (https://wildfact.com/forum/forum-questions)
+--- Thread: Cause for extinction of other species? (/topic-cause-for-extinction-of-other-species)

Cause for extinction of other species? - Vinod - 04-16-2014

*This image is copyright of its original author

I'm not talking about extinction that occurred during the ordovician & devonian periods but reltively in recent times. I think European colonialism & expansionism is the major factor here.

Lack of Hindu (Indian) concepts like Advaita (nonduality- fundamental intrinsic oneness) & Jivadaya (care for all living creatures) in the Western thought explains why they (westerners) love trophy & canned hunting. Hunting by Indian Maharajahs is a British/Moghul influence.

you can read more about animal extinction here:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/extinct-animals-in-the-last-100-years.html

canned hunting:
http://www.occupyforanimals.org/canned-hunting---born-to-be-killed---lion-hunting-in-south-africa.html

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - peter - 04-17-2014

Extinction usually is a result of a combination of different factors. Before humans arrived, changing conditions affected animals. When humans arrived, speed was added. Humans have always hunted animals. There's no doubt they had something to do with the disappearance of mammoths and, much later, European bisons, but things really started to change when the number of humans grew and fire-arms were introduced.

Outside of Europe, there could have been a kind a balance between humans and the natural world for quite a long time. When the Europeans arrived in Africa, the Americas and Asia to make a few bucks (colonisation and everything connected), things changed in a few centuries only. It usually started with improved sanitary conditions, more food and a rapid growth of the population, closely followed by habitat destruction and the slaughter of wild animals. The introduction of fire-arms sealed it for many animals. In the last decades, rare animals have nearly disappeared as a result of illegal trading.

Europeans didn't respect animals one bit, but in many parts of Asia they didn't need Europeans to get rid of animals regarded as pests. It is estimated tigers probably killed and ate at least a million humans. Not a good start. The result was they were feared, hated and hunted everywhere. Without fire-arms, hunting didn't affect tiger numbers. When fire-arms and poison were introduced, however, tigers (as well as other predators) were doomed.

Read the books of European travelers and hunters who wrote about south-east Asia, China and Russia. In 'Dersu, the Trapper', published just after the turn of the 20th century, Arseniev wrote the Chinese had constructed pitfalls which stretched for many miles in the pristine forests of Primorye. They were so long (up to 20 km.), hunters often forgot to check 'm. Dersu and Arseniev estimated most animals in Primorye would disappear in a few decades. It didn't quite happen, but we came very, very close. Same story in other parts of Asia.

It is true animals featured in some local tribes and in some religions in Asia. Apart from India and Bhutan, it didn't have a significant effect. Besides, people are very pragmatic at the best of times. One of the most notorious traders in tiger bones recently died in prison in India (read the first post in the thread 'Big Cat News' started by Apollo). His four best customers lived, of all places, in Tibet and Nepal. Both countries are known for a somewhat different outlook on life. But things can rapidly change, especially when money replaces religion. Can happen everywhere. The Dalai Lama was needed to remind the people of Tibet about the meaning of life in general and that of animals and tigers in particular. Let's hope it has an effect.

To cut it short. Humans, apart from a few exceptions here and there, did and still do not respect the natural world. Too dangerous. Big predators in particular still are considered pests nearly everywhere. I agree a different approach could change things to an extent, but fear (white sharks, Australia) and neo-libralism too (everywhere, these days) are mighty opponents. I've yet to see a philosophy able to beat capitalism and survive for, say, a century.

In the days of the Greeks, some philosophers had a go at the fore-runner of capitalism when they saw commercials painted on houses (...) in what is now Izmir (western Turkey). No joke. I think it was Epicurus who warned the locals about the dangers of business, commercials, money and short-sightedness. Friendship and dignity are much more important, he tried. He was ignored and ridiculed. Later, he had to return to old Greece. Too dangerous. Never underestimate them merchants when business and money is at stake.

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - Vinod - 04-19-2014

our preference for food can also be a cause, in many cultures wild animals are eaten as food & as a result many species are facing the possibility of being eaten out of existence.

India is probably the first country to promote vegetarianism, hope many cultures the world over will adopt this approach to food.

here are some examples of horrifying foods you won't believe people actually eat without caring for the environmental impact.

*This image is copyright of its original author

A male mandrill is displayed for sale along a major road in Northwestern Gabon. Hanging carcasses from a stick by the roadside is a traditional way to advertise fresh bush meat for sale.

*This image is copyright of its original author

gorillas are killed and sold in local markets as bushmeat in Africa.

*This image is copyright of its original author

brown bears are hunted for their hides & meat.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The penis of a tiger is consumed in restaurants in many parts of Southeast Asia & Japan.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Elephant meat is common in Africa, and is considered like Viagra in Thailand.

*This image is copyright of its original author

The most popular snake meat in the United States comes from rattlesnakes.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Some species of freshwater turtle are plentiful in the US and they are not protected, so eating is allowed, but in parts of Asia, the endangered sea turtle is routinely caught illegally and eaten.

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - sanjay - 04-19-2014

What a great post and pictures Vinod.
This is really very disturbing, how human is one of main factor involved in vanishing wildlife

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - peter - 04-20-2014

You're right, Vinod. Apart from culture, competition for space, habitat destruction and trophy hunting, food is a factor not to be underestimated. In many African regions, 'bushmeat' is very popular. It's probably one reason for the recent ebola-outbreak. Many western countries (as well as Japan and some others) have floating factories quickly emptying the ocean, in this way depriving many Africans in particular of fish and forcing them to leave their country and move to other parts of the world in search of a job. Over here, we are constantly reminded (one scandal after another) of the way domesticated animals are treated and 'prepared' for consumption. One of the consequences is many restaurants introduced 'new' types of meat (ostrisch, croc, gator, different types of insects and a whole lot more) in recent years.

One day, there will be no more animals left when we continue like this. One wonders about the possible alternatives. I mean, what are they going to serve their customers in ten years from now? Do I have to spell it? I don't think I would regret moving to a different planet in some time. Not at all.

Anyhow. I saw this photograph in a Dutch newspaper some days ago. Male orangutan shot by poachers in Sumatra. They found him and he was moved to a hospital. I don't know if he survived:

*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - Vinod - 05-17-2014

proud Americans

*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - sanjay - 05-17-2014

Very distrubing... Wish the same death to these people

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - malikc6 - 08-04-2014

I can't believe those people actually resort to eating the penises of tigers.

Though all of this is disturbing, it shouldn't surprise anyone. We eat each other in certain areas around the world. If we can eat our own species, then what hope do these animals have?

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - Pckts - 08-05-2014

(08-04-2014, 01:36 AM)'malikc6' Wrote: I can't believe those people actually resort to eating the penises of tigers.

Though all of this is disturbing, it shouldn't surprise anyone. We eat each other in certain areas around the world. If we can eat our own species, then what hope do these animals have?

Tiger Penis soup is officially illegal now I believe.
Not that they don't do a million other things that are absolutely disgusting, but at least that has been banned.

The only way for this to stop is to ban all trophy hunting. Not endangered species, all species every where. Gov'ts need to assign a UN type of organization that would monitor and maintain a healthy eco system world wide.
It may be a pipe dream, but Its the only way IMO.

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - Vinod - 08-15-2014

(08-04-2014, 01:36 AM)'malikc6' Wrote: I can't believe those people actually resort to eating the penises of tigers.

Though all of this is disturbing, it shouldn't surprise anyone. We eat each other in certain areas around the world. If we can eat our own species, then what hope do these animals have?

penis...ok for the records, bull penis is considered as an aphrodisiac in China just like cobra blood in Thailand.

isn't "Rocky Mountain Oysters" a delicacy in States? [img]images/smilies/dodgy.gif[/img]

meanwhile bulls aren't endangered but cobras could be.

RE: Cause for extinction of other species? - brotherbear - 11-06-2014

You can add to that list the Mexican grizzly and, the way things are going, perhaps the Syrian brown bear. The Gobi bear?