I have also
learned a great deal about human animal interactions through this course. I
have learned just how big of an impact the human animal bond can have on both
parties. Along with this, I have learned of the many different ways a species
can be perceived based upon how it is used. For example, a pet mouse is
perceived and used in a much different aspect than a research mouse would be. One
topic that this class has changed my perspective on is the use of animals in
zoos. I
was always a supporter of them, even after working for one over the summer.
After the topic of animals in zoos was discussed though, I began to see things
in a different light. I began to rethink my summer intern and the behavior of
the animals. The lions and big cats definitely did not have enough space or
enrichment which was apparent with their constant pacing back and forth
alongside their fencing of their enclosure. I’ve always thought that the longer
lifespan of an animal in a zoo along with the fact that they have spent their
whole life in captivity, that they obviously had to reason to be suffering. This
opinion has changed though. Although I still love attending zoos and admiring
their animals, I will have an aching in my heart for them. I know the staff
truly cares for them, but the limited amount of space, interaction, and
enrichment they are given is stressful to the animal.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Self Reflection of My Blog and the Class
Jocelyns Moral Vision Statement on the Overall Use of Animals by Humans
My personal philosophy
when it comes to interaction with, use of, and treatment of animals in society
is that unnecessary pain should not be inflicted unto them. If pain is
inflicted unto an animal for a purpose such as food, it should be
instantaneous, unsuspected, and as non-traumatic as possible. If it is not
possible at any time, the process should be postponed until it is possible. Man
should seek to give farm animals a decent life, and strive to offer the animal
a less painful death than what would have possibly awaited them in the wild.
The overall end goal would to not eliminate the overall purposeful uses of
animals, but to try and reduce the net amount of animal suffering that comes
with these uses.
A Compromise to Trophy Giraffe Hunting Practices
Another area that needs to be addressed is the use of the
parts of the animal after it is hunted. Meat from the species is edible to
humans. Although the trophy hunter may pay for their right to the carcass,
there is no reason for the meat to go to waste if the hunter does not want it.
Its body should be utilized to its full potential for the benefits of humans.
This would help in the fact that the death of the animal was not for just a
trophy, but also for the purpose of feeding people.
Another, more important, area that needs to be taken into
consideration is the population numbers of the areas where it is legal to
trophy hunt the species. If the populations where it is legal to hunt is
decreasing over the years, then trophy hunting should be made illegal in order
to conserve the species population. In areas where the population numbers are
increasing, then there should be no problem with making trophy hunting illegal,
as long as it keeps the conservation of the population in affect.
"Should the
Trophy Hunting of Giraffes Be Banned?" Focusing on Wildlife. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. <http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/poll-should-the-trophy-hunting-of-giraffes-be-banned/>.
The Cons of Trophy Giraffe Hunting
Dear Change.Org,
I see
your organization is against the use of giraffes for trophy hunting. I really
enjoyed reading your website as it provides facts from both sides of the
controversy. I agree with your concern with the questioning of how sustainably
managed the species population really is in Africa. You provide important supporting
statistics of how the population has nearly halved within the past 30 years and
has even became extinct in some areas. You show great detail in how the
practice can help the country and its people by profitability of money and
distribution of the giraffe meat to local communities. You also take on the point that human
development is a likely contributor to the population declination, but help keep your
readers interested in not only questioning how sustainable this species is
through hunting, but how ethical is the overall hunting practice.
Although
I agree with your concern, there are many businesses out there that are doing
their part in conserving the species and having concern for the welfare of the
animal. Many of the hunts are conducted by trained professionals on private lands.
These professionals provide tourists with the information needed in order to
get a clean kill. There are some areas that are in fact increasing their
population numbers due to their conservation efforts through giraffe trophy
hunting, according to Dr. Fennessy. It is only when looking at the country as a
whole when the populations are seen to be declining.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Jocelyn Delhotal
"End Brutal
and Inhumane Hunting of Giraffes for Sport." Change.Org. Change,
n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. <http://www.change.org/petitions/end-brutal-and-inhumane-hunting-of-giraffes-for-sport>.
"Should the
Trophy Hunting of Giraffes Be Banned?" Focusing on Wildlife. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. <http://focusingonwildlife.com/news/poll-should-the-trophy-hunting-of-giraffes-be-banned/>.
The Pros of Trophy Giraffe Hunting
Dear African Sky Hunting,
I am
researching the benefits of trophy hunting, specifically dealing with the
giraffe species. I have found that it can control their population and help
with conservation efforts. I also see that it brings a lot of tourism and money
for your area as well as creating a lot of job opportunities for your citizens.
I noticed from looking at the information on your website though, that
important facts like these were not openly presented. However, one thing I did
see on your site that I did not see on other hunting websites, is the description
of the anatomy of the giraffe and where the best place to hit with a bullet
would be along with what bullet and gun to use. This statement plays into the
fact that you do not want the animal to suffer and teach the public how to
correctly shoot the animal so it can die instantly with minimal pain.
After
reading through your website, I believe that stating the benefits that your
organization has for not only the people and economy, but how hunting a
giraffe can benefit the species through things such as conservation, would be
of great benefit to your organization. The public should be aware of how their
money would be spent on the art of conservation of the species in order to bring
protection to the animal for purpose of continued hunting in the future. Also,
much of the public is not aware that giraffe meat can be used for human
consumption. Facts such as this and the ones stated above should be presented
and explained in ways that the public would be able to understand. This would
help calm activists who come across your site along with the possibility of
attracting more tourists if they have an idea of the benefits your business
brings to both humans and the animal species.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Jocelyn Delhotal
"Hunting
Services." AfricanSkyHunting.Co. African Sky Hunting, n.d. Web. 08
Dec. 2013.http://www. africanskyhunting.co.za/huntingservices.html>.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Giraffe Trophy Hunting
The giraffe is considered a trophy animal to
most safari hunters. Trophy hunting is defined as the selective hunting of wild
game animals, like that of the giraffe species. Although parts of the animal are kept as “trophies”
by the hunter such as the skin, antlers and head, the carcass can sometimes also
be used for food.
Trophy
hunting has become a very controversial topic among hunters and animal rights
and welfare groups. As with hunting in general, it has some firm supporters
along with some firm opponents. The controversy usually centers on the question
of the morality of the sport itself along with the overall question if the
sport does in fact benefit the population of the game animals and the local
economy from which it comes. Trophy hunting is sometimes related to poaching.
This statement is incorrect. Poaching is illegal while trophy hunting is not.
A
trophy from such hunting is often processed by a taxidermist along with parts
such as teeth and tusks also being trophy worthy. Such trophies are often
displayed in the hunter’s home. Some homes even have special “game rooms” or “trophy
rooms” in which the items are displayed. Hunters of giraffes have been known to
pay thousands of dollars for their “trophy.” For some, they just want their
trophy as a picture next to the animal while others pay even more for a
taxidermy and the transportation home.
Activists
who think giraffe trophy hunting should be outlawed everywhere are usually
against hunting animals in general. Giraffe hunting though can have some
benefits to the community. It can bring in money to its local community along with
providing meat since most trophy hunters are in it for the “trophy” aspect, not
necessarily the meat itself. Yes,
giraffe meat is in fact edible by humans and is not poisonous. The native
trophy hunting assistants are quite often even paid in giraffe meat.
On
the other hand, trophy giraffe hunting has seemed to have a negative effect on
the species population. They are currently observed to be extinct in Angola,
Mali and Nigeria. According to Dr. Julian Fennessy, the
world’s preeminent giraffe specialist and founder of the Giraffe Conservation
Foundation, certain countries can allow giraffe hunting. South Africa, Namibia,
and Zimbabwe have sustainable populations.
My view on this controversy is a
little biased. I am overall fascinated by the creature and couldn’t imagine
ever killing a giraffe on purpose to have its head on my wall. On a more
realistic note though, after some research was done, although I would never
want to shoot a giraffe, I overall support trophy giraffe hunting. They are
legal hunts, performed by professionals on private land. Some may argue that
the population numbers of giraffes across Africa are dropping. According to Dr.
Fennessy, in the countries where you can legally hunt giraffes, their population
numbers are in fact increasing. This shows that if the hunting property and
animals are properly managed, the hunting itself can be very sustainable. Not
only is trophy giraffe hunting increasing population numbers, but it also helps
the local communities. Hunters pay tens of thousands of dollars in order to
hunt these giraffes, along with providing meat to the workers of this practice.
Resources
1. "Hunters
Criticised for Killing Giraffes." Telegraph.Co. Telegraph Media, 11
Oct. 0017. Web. 06
Nov. 2013.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/9019726/Hunters-criticised-for-
killing-giraffes.html>.
2. "Trophy Hunting Giraffe." AfricanSkyHunting.Co.
African Sky, 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2013. <http://
www.africanskyhunting.co.za/trophies/giraffe-hunting.html>.
3. "Trophy
Hunting." OccupyForAnimals.Org. Occupy For Animals, n.d. Web. 06
Nov. 2013. <http://
www.occupyforanimals.org/trophy-hunting.html>.
4. Fortino,
Sebastian. "Sadistic Safari?" TheDailyActivist.Com. The Daily
Activist RSS, 2011. Web. 06
Nov. 2013.
<http://www.thedailyactivist.com/animal-rights-giraffe-hunting-safari/>.
Giraffes and Religion
The giraffe seems to have a positive impact
on religion throughout the world. In New Age religion, giraffes are a symbol
for intuition and flexibility due to their ability to move with such grace
despite having such long limbs. According to a spirit guide, the giraffe is a
symbol of farsightedness or grounded vision. This is because of its ability to
see much farther than most other living things. This aspect relates to humans
being able to see far into the future. They also seem to reach for things that
others wouldn’t even dare to reach for. This connects to a human being able to
see above one’s own little problems and being able to look at the bigger
picture. Scientifically, giraffes have been known to go a month without water.
This is used as a symbol of patience and endurance. There has even been a curing dance created
from observing the species. It has been said that the dance came to a woman in
a dream in the 1950’s. “She
saw a vision of a herd of giraffes running in the rain, their hooves and the
raindrops beating a peculiar melody. The vision became the Giraffe Song, which
spawned a Giraffe Dance, which in turn started spreading like wildfire. For
decades, the Bushmen of the Kalahari area used it as their main hunting dance”
(OneKind).
Resources
1. Poisuo, Pauli. "10 Fascinating Facts About Giraffes." Listverse. Listverse.Com, 12 Oct. 2013. Web.
06 Nov. 2013. <http://listverse.com/2013/10/12/12-fascinating-facts-about-giraffes/>.
2. Watson, Jennifer. "Spirit Guides Giraffe." Spiritual Living
360. SpiritualLiving360.Com, 15 Mar.
2011. Web.
06 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.spiritualliving360.com/index.php/spirit-guides-
giraffe-5718/>.
3. "Giraffe." One Kind. OneKind.Org, n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.onekind.org/be_
inspired/animals_a_z/giraffe/>.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)