Freethought & Rationalism Archive

BioBeing · 08-17-2005, 01:30 PM

How would you like lions living in America? Just let 'em run loose, I say

Aesthete · 08-17-2005, 01:31 PM

Wouldn't that be wonderful?

theyeti · 08-17-2005, 01:45 PM

It sounds like a great idea. That way, we don't have to go to Africa to hunt them to extinction, we can do it here.

theyeti

yalla · 08-18-2005, 03:40 AM

There is a great big white house in Washington with spacious grounds that I am sure they would enjoy. Apparently they are not fussy eaters.

Roland98 · 08-18-2005, 05:46 AM

I think this is a bad, bad idea. While I'd love to be able to drive a few hundred miles and see animals like this in "the wild," our history of moving animals around the world just ain't that great, and often has unintended consequences. And despite decades of study, it seems we still don't know enough about food chains and new species to be able to determine with any accuracy exactly what would happen if new animals like this were brought in. Add in the potential for zoonotic diseases that we haven't previously had to worry about in the U.S., and I think it's just a big disaster waiting to happen.

Berthold · 08-22-2005, 12:02 PM

Animals that can thrive in places other than their natural habitat are usually not candidates for extinction. Hunting did cause many extinctions, but the majority was (and is being) brought about by alteration and fragmentation of special habitats. That is where conservation efforts must start.

PopeInTheWoods · 08-23-2005, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland98

I think this is a bad, bad idea. While I'd love to be able to drive a few hundred miles and see animals like this in "the wild," our history of moving animals around the world just ain't that great, and often has unintended consequences.

Australia, meet rabbit.

llanitedave · 08-23-2005, 11:38 AM

Maybe we should move the mountain gorillas to the Appalachians and the bonobos to South Louisiana.

I agree with moving the lions and leopards to the White House. There, they'll never run out of baboons to eat.

08-17-2005, 01:30 PM	#1
BioBeing Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 6,004	Scientists suggest relocating African species to North America How would you like lions living in America? Just let 'em run loose, I say Story at CNN.

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08-17-2005, 01:31 PM	#2
Aesthete Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,825	Wouldn't that be wonderful?

08-17-2005, 01:45 PM	#3
theyeti Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Denver, CO, USA Posts: 9,747	It sounds like a great idea. That way, we don't have to go to Africa to hunt them to extinction, we can do it here. theyeti

08-18-2005, 03:40 AM	#4
yalla Veteran Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: oz Posts: 1,848	There is a great big white house in Washington with spacious grounds that I am sure they would enjoy. Apparently they are not fussy eaters.

08-18-2005, 05:46 AM	#5
Roland98 Contributor Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Gilead Posts: 11,186	I think this is a bad, bad idea. While I'd love to be able to drive a few hundred miles and see animals like this in "the wild," our history of moving animals around the world just ain't that great, and often has unintended consequences. And despite decades of study, it seems we still don't know enough about food chains and new species to be able to determine with any accuracy exactly what would happen if new animals like this were brought in. Add in the potential for zoonotic diseases that we haven't previously had to worry about in the U.S., and I think it's just a big disaster waiting to happen.

08-22-2005, 12:02 PM	#6
Berthold Veteran Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Vienna, AUSTRIA Posts: 6,147	Animals that can thrive in places other than their natural habitat are usually not candidates for extinction. Hunting did cause many extinctions, but the majority was (and is being) brought about by alteration and fragmentation of special habitats. That is where conservation efforts must start.

08-23-2005, 11:38 AM	#8
llanitedave Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Amargosa Valley, NV Posts: 2,486	Maybe we should move the mountain gorillas to the Appalachians and the bonobos to South Louisiana. I agree with moving the lions and leopards to the White House. There, they'll never run out of baboons to eat.

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