Another mountain lion was slain last night in a recently developed area that has been their natural habitat for centuries. The animal was shot with high powered rifles by men wearing night-vision goggles. What's wrong with this picture?
Mountain lions are carnivores that prey mainly on moose, elk, and deer. They also eat squirrels, rabbits, skunks, raccoons and birds. They occasionally kill livestock when confused about where their territory is as we are shrinking it more every year, but generally shun humans so they don't realistically pose much threat to us.
Unfortunately, they live on land that has become valuable as human populations explode. If people moving into such areas would educate themselves about the behaviors of these animals, they could avoid contact with them. It is almost never necessary to kill an animal unless one is looking for a trophy. It would be more humane to relocate them to remote woodlands, but deer hunters have powerful lobbies and the government is unwilling to spend money on inedible creatures. So the encroachment and slaughtering continue.
If gun-happy hunters have their way, the world will soon be devoid of any animals but humans. In our arrogance, we forget that we are also animals, and are therefore a part of the natural order. We were commanded long ago to tend the animals. We are not doing so. If we are truly the guardians of the earth, we need to start acting like it. I doubt we were given such large brains so we could think of more ways to kill all the other species that share this planet.
I don't understand how anyone can enjoy murdering a beautiful, unarmed creature. It's sick and terribly sad that we have so little compassion when we have such great capacity to be kind and to do good. Sometimes I'm ashamed to be a member of the cruelest species on earth.
12 comments:
I agree with you 100%.
THANK YOU, Christina! If only more people felt as we do.
I agree as well!
My idea of Karma would be for these killers to finally face their "God" and learn that he appears as the helpless animal he killed.
Yes! I'm sure that God is a cat, a large female cat, and she's pissed.
Karma makes the world go 'round. We all have to face up to our good and bad deeds sooner or later.
you said:
Yes! I'm sure that God is a cat, a large female cat, and she's pissed.
does that mean (gasp) Truffle?
I'm sure SHE would say so. As you know, she's large only in attitude, but in her case, it's sufficient.
I believe it's even bad karma to remove them from their homes...
True, but even such a compromise would be better than slaughter. I realize that we can't stop "progress." We can, however, stop killing the original inhabitants.
Sound familiar? The Native Americans were dealt with most barbarically because people with guns and money wanted their land. It's the same shit all over again.
What is WRONG with people?
I hate hunting! But I love meat. I feel like such a hypocrite. I guess what gets my goose about the mountain lion is nobody's gonna eat him.
There has to be some balance. I hate PETA. But I think humans have some responsiblity to the animal kingdom. There's a beautiful creation that we all get to enjoy not exploit. Oh to learn the difference.
Lex, I think there's a big difference between sport hunting and breeding animals for human consumption. I happen to be a vegetarian, but I don't hate meat eaters; I hate cruelty.
In my opinion, we do have responsibility to the rest of the animal kingdom because we are the most privileged. And when we kill them off, our world is out of balance, too. When are we going to realize that?
"Because we are the most privileged." I love that. With privilege comes responsibility, proportionately. It's so hard for the privileged to choose to give up some of their privilege for the greater good. We are so innately selfish.
So much to think about. Thanks.
Thank YOU.
I added you to my list of favorite sites so I could get there faster. You have a lot to say and I like your style.
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