Canned Hunting

Among the many topics from last week's class, the discussion of "canned hunting" struck a cord with more students than any other subject. In the words of one of the students, it's like hunting for cheaters. But there were actually a few good reasons for what has become a big industry and many parts of the world.

Firstly, people want to hunt big animals. Whether or not your own moral conscience can accept this, those people will continue to do it for love of the game. Breeding animals for hunting keeps these species in existence and helps give a hunting outlet that isn't based on poaching.

Secondly, some people can't physically get out and hunt they way they used to, but they still love the thrill of the kill and the challenge of that split-second, well-placed shot. I can't really sympathize with this emotion in people, because I've never actually hunted, but I can understand other peoples' needs and their wants to be able to function despite a wound, injury, old-age or other handicap. That's fair, isn't it?

Thirdly, capitalism. In the US, just about anything goes when you consider entrepreneurship and the drive to get somewhere in the grand scheme of life. Well, these canned hunts are just one more step in the path of ambition. If you're ok hunting the animals, the owners are ok being paid for it and there you go. Once again, the animals were specifically raised for this in the beginning, so what's the problem?

Well, the big complaint from everyone is always that it's no longer a fair game. But after you watch this video and the guys who almost die by lion, is it really that unfair of a game? You wouldn't find me in the pen with 3 other guys all ineffectively wielding rifles and a lion on the loose amidst them. I'm cool with anyone who wants to do this, but I'll pass.

Hopefully not Food for Thought

A couple of videos to mull over as the issue of animal care and how it is provided continues to be discussed and relevant in today's world.

In class today, one of the students brought up this man's crazy stunt of "living" with the lions for a month to raise money for his animal sanctuary. Besides the fact that his shelter actually doesn't provide sanctuary for the animals where they can function normally, his plan really just doesn't make any sense. Luckily, he still does have a place where he can hide to protect himself - if he makes it there.



In case you needed a reminder of why you shouldn't climb into a pen with animals, let alone carnivores, check out this video below.



Or of course, there's the puffer fish that somehow is believed to have killed a man. If I was the wife, I'd be wondering why he ate the poison, or of course, maybe she already knows.

It was interesting in class though that as we talked about deceptive arguments and the methods used by activists to sway the middle ground, many of the things we denounce animal rights groups for doing, we've done or are doing ourselves. And the excuse that they were first doesn't make it any better that we also try to manipulate people's opinions. I think that same observation is reflected in a lot of the change in agricultural media at this point as we return to focusing on what we do, and why we do it instead of finger pointing and saying who's wrong and why. It's not that we're being simple and stupid; we just need to be honest because that's what people want and need more than anything.