Monday, January 5, 2009
This Newsweek article talks about how hunters screw up natural selection by killing the biggest and most attractive members of a species. This allows the weakest animals to continue propagating, effectively creating a weak species.
Scientists like Charles Darwin suggested that the fittest of a species survive to reproduce and pass along their traits to succeeding generations, while the traits of the unfit gradually disappear. New evidence shows that hunters screw up the entire process. Hunters kill individuals with the best horns or antlers or the largest piece of hide rather than the one that is deformed or diseased. Studies are showing that species such as the bighorn sheep, red kangaroo, and even salmon are growing smaller because hunters are killing so many of the larger animals.
The authors give some great evidence as to why this type of 'unnatural selection' is so dangerous:
"Tusks used to make elephants fitter, as a weapon or a tool in foraging—until ivory became a precious commodity and having tusks got you killed. Then tuskless elephants, products of a genetic fluke, became the more consistent breeders and grew from around 2 percent among African elephants to more than 38 percent in one Zambian population, and 98 percent in a South African one." Tusked elephants, like the old dominant males on Ram Mountain, were "genetically 'better' individuals," says Festa-Bianchet. 'When you take them systematically out of the population for several years, you end up leaving essentially a bunch of losers doing the breeding.'"
When all the 'losers' are left in a species, the species becomes less viable and the survivors are left with a narrower gene pool.
Hunters often claim that the 'sport' is a natural act where they can get back to nature and celebrate tradition. The truth is, modern weaponry and the whole idea of hunting as a sport where competitors vie for the biggest trophy will imperil many of our most vital species including humans. Hunting is cruel, inhumane, unnatural and will be one the the factors in the destruction of the planet if it is not stopped.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
George W. Bush is on his way out the door but before he leaves he wants to torture some animals first.
"Other midnight regulations in the works include rules to allow 'factory farms' to ignore the Clean Water Act, rules making it tougher for employees to take family or medical leave, and rules that would effectively gut the Endangered Species Act." (link)I know that we shouldn't be surprised by these last minute fuck yous from our old pal George but its still disappointing. This is just more for Obama to overturn in January. Hopefully he acts soon and doesn't put it on the back burner because the thing about Endangered Species is THEIR ENDANGERED, once their gone they are gone for good (expect for this little guy!).
Where is Dennis when we need him?
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