Animals are instantly killed for attacking people in the wild, recently 3 bear cubs. It’s unjust.
THERE have been several incidents of animals attacking humans recently. Several shark attacks; two incidents involving bears — one a polar bear attacking a young camper, and another bear and her cubs in Russia eating a young woman; there have been a spate of dog attacks; and elephants and tigers on rampages in India.
After most incidents the animals were shot dead. Even the bear cubs were shot for doing what their mum showed them to do.
I went into a state of grief over the shooting of the cubs and again with the polar bear, rare and precious as they now are. It’s not that I don’t feel profound grief for the parents of the children killed. As a mother of a teenager, my horror at the death of a child is unquestioned.
But where’s the justice? When people kill, they are given a fair trial. The judge hears about mitigating circumstances before a death sentence is pronounced. So let me argue for the animals.
‘‘Your honour, we are starving. There are no more fish in our seas. We see something moving that looks like a seal in deep waters, and we rush for it . . .’’
‘‘There’s no more food, our polar ice- caps are melting due to pollution and human detritus. We see movement. We don’t know that it’s a young man of 16 on camp. . .’’
‘‘My stomach was rumbling, my cubs were starving. I smelled food, my adrenalin shot through the roof.’’
‘‘Your honour, I know that I behaved like ‘a wild animal’, but I was furious, cooped up all day thanks to my owner. I’m not a domestic dog bred for captivity. I’m a pit bull. Suddenly, he’s forgotten to lock the door and I bolt out…’’
‘‘They’ve built cities where I live; they’ve encroached on my habitat. My survival is threatened. Where can I run?’’
We deprive animals of their land, food or freedom, then wander carelessly into their terrain. If you put your hand in a hungry lion’s cage, he’ll bite. Is it then fair you shoot him? Who’s responsible for these attacks? Not those poor children, so tragically killed. But we humans, as a species, are to blame for ignoring the fact we share this world with magnificent creatures who have rights, and have aggressive instincts.
His honour decides the animals’ fate: ‘‘Death by firing squad!’’
Well, judge and jurors, I’m off to Africa at the end of the year. I want to come home in peace, not pieces. But if an animal eats me while I roam his terrain,
I just want you to know that I won’t be surprised he’s not following the 2011 guide to dining etiquette.
Share your views.
Full story The Australian
We’re off to Kenya on safati then into Mali and the Sahara. Please tell me about your experiences
I loved your article on wildly unjust verdicts – but then I object to the death penalty for everyone – non-human & human alike.
I agree with Susan Chernak McElroy’s view that the fingerprint of God is often a pawprint.
I must warn you about Africa – it is addictive – I started off with no desire to go and now visit once or twice a year – I cannot get enough! Where in Africa are you going?
Thanks Veronica and Frances. And yes I am very much excited about my Safari
Thanks Lucy, always so lovely to hear your point of view
It is always easier to blame the animals. US parks are always telling people to beware of bears and their advise is often ignored.
These animals are wild and need to be treated with respect. The do react as they do on TV/films.
Even domestic animals will retaliate. I have a lovely dog which needed to be rehomed as he was said to have bitten an austistic child who was cuddling him The child was unsupervised or watched so who kows what happened. As far as I cna see he is fine with kids but I keep an eye on him.
In the US when dogs are put down for bitinh kids theyare autopsied andcc 70% have had something stuck in their nose, eyes, ears , mouth. If someone did that to you or your child you would fight back too. Plus noone seems to know if the dog (or cat too) warned the child which ignored the warning.
Frances Hrdina
I so agree with you. The problem is that there are too many human animals on this planet. We think we are superior beings. We treat the animal kingdom in a terrible way – we abuse them, eat them, slaughter them by the billions, exploit them and take away their natural habitat. Humans rape this earth. We should learn to live with nature and enjoy it. After all we are the only animal who starts wars, drops bombs, uses guns, knives, drugs and alcohol and destroys this planet. Learn compassion. ( PS I went to Africa last year and it was a life changing experience for me – being so close to such beautiful animals in their natural (well…….) habitats was AMAZING. Want to go again, and again. Then as we flew home we saw on the news that 3 rhino were killed for their horns in the area we visited. Our species is now so far removed from the natural order of life on this planet
I’ve given money to the World Wildlife Fund because of the “Dancing Bears”. It’s atrocious, really, what appalling things so-called human beings will do. I never cease to be amazed at the level of depravity. The older I get the worse it seems to be. And I grieve for children who are enslaved and for human trafficking. One cannot keep thinking about these things and remain sane.
My point exactly
Thanks Meredith. Elephants and tigers on rampages in India, they have no more forests left, what are they supposed to do? I would like to see what humans did if they were driven out of their homes.
Ha, read my column in The Australian I say exactly this! That animals forgot to read the good food guide to eating etiquette. BTW I am not a silly woman, just a flaky one.
Yes of course, because it knows the difference between a human being an another form of food. It says to its partner: “Oh yum a human.” Simple solution to animals attacking is to leave them enough food and stay out of their habitat.
Also they only kill for food, or to take control of a group of females. Humans kill for pleasure and cruelty. Yet we claim to be a superior species
Yes they have an inherent wisdom that we sadly lack.
There are laws in Nature that humans would be wise to follow. They concern entering another animal’s space. It surprises me that people are surprised that wild animals attack them when they are camping under the stars in animal territory. Animals are so much more intelligent than most humans.
I know you said you cared about the children killed – a boy of 16! But you are showing a strange bias. Once an animal has killed a person it will kill again.
For once I agree with you. By enlarge I think you can be quite a silly woman with strange flaky views. But I agree fully with this column. Maybe there should be a pamphlet of good behaviour we can drop for helicopters like they did in the war, informing them that it isn’t good manners to eat perople even though we eat them.
Ruth it is so so sad. They killed a polar bear too. They are rushing out into the ocean to kill every shark they find. Why? How can a shark tell the difference between a sea lion and a person. Idiotic human beings.
Ruth this is a wonderful topic for a column. How can humans justify their cruel and stupid behaviour with regards to the environment. They want to destroy everything then bemoan the consequences when Nature turns against them!
I cried when they shot the cubs. Starving animals deprived of food, doing what they do. How do they know a person is a human being not food. It is horrifying and depressing and like you I grieve for the parents and children but there is rampant stupidity in the human species.