Comments on: Can hunting endangered animals save the species?
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- African Oryx "run wild" on BLM Public Lands in New Mexico, parts of far West Texas and Arizona and have for years. And they are "huntable" with nothing more than a standard state hunting permit or drawn hunting tag/permit. It bothers me that the interviewer in this story never mentions why the Oryx species along with many other African animal species are on the verge of extinction or are in fact, extinct. More than likely 60 Minutes would blame it on hunters and ranchers in the state of Texas.
I am a hunter and always will be. And like every hunter that I know personally, I too have an appreciation for wildlife, and its conservation. And I eat what i kill, and I am proud of it. What happens when you take the hunter out of the ecological equation? I am not a scientist, but I believe the end result is "over-population" of the species that is no longer hunted. Take for example the removal of the "hunter" called the grey wolf from states like Montana and Wyoming. What was the end result of that experiment? I believe it was the "over-population" of deer and elk, which eventually led to the re-introduction of the grey wolf back into the Montana and Wyoming ecosystems.
We are talking about a species, or multiple species, that are either extinct or on the brink of extinction in their native ecosystems in Africa. And why are they extinct or on the verge of extinction? Was it thousands of hunters traveling to Africa to shoot "trophy" animals that has led to their extinction? I seriously doubt it. Instead, I believe it to be a combination of factors. Factors like poaching, over-population, and lack of viable grazing habitat, likely caused by over-population.
My biggest fear with a story such as this, is not loosing the ability to legally hunt an "exotic" non-native African species on a Texas ranch. Not in the least. My biggest fear is that the majority of Americans, watching this 60 Minutes episode and the "Liberal Media" in general, will take this story as "fact" and will not do the research or due diligence necessary to draw their own conclusions and apply thoughtful intellect to this topic or any topic that the media tries to shape public opinion through the use of disinformation. - Reply to this comment
- Now, I ain't the "sharpest knife on the tree, nor the brightest star in the drawer", but I just don't understand how killing off an endangered species is s'posed to help save them. Sounds like whomever came up with this idea must have been in charge of saving the passenger pigeons.
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- The main problem here is that some are worshiping the creation instead of the creator. God put animals here on this earth and gave man dominion over all of them. Genesis 1:24-28 God blessed them (Man & Woman) and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. "
Another major problem is when people are more concerned about killing animals than the number of innocent BABIES that are being killed every day in America...why aren't you yelling and screaming about that?
Protect the HUMAN BABIES first then worry about the animals that were put here for us to eat!
AMERICA is in MAJOR MORAL DECLINE and this story is just more proof of it. In every state there is tons of proof that hunting actually helps insure a healthy future for lots of species! It is time to STOP THE INSANITY of these LEFT WING WACKOS!!
God help us before it is too late!! May God BLESS America and have mercy on us for turning our back on Him and His people. - Reply to this comment
- This doesn't feel right at all. I'm not an activist, but just seems wrong. If these hunters really care about the animals, donate the money... Don't kill them. Sad
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- Thanks for bringing this up, I almost did as well.
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- You "animal activists" can't get the big picture. Hunting helps the conservation of all animals so much more than what you people do. Without these ranchers & hunters, these animals wouldn't exist! Not to mention the conservation of domestic animals that hunters provide. For every animal havested there are ten born. Plus, every dollar a hunter spends on a tag and license is spent, by the state or federal government, on conservation efforts. If someone is truly for the conservation of all animals they wouldn't be against hunters.
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- I am Texan and I couldn't agree more with the TX ranchers balancing conservation (and preservation) with economics. The woman that finds this disgusting would rather have these animals totally extinct rather than flourishing in Texas, that's just stupid. If she believes she has a better solution, more power to her, set it up and get it going in Africa. But don't kill them through legislation or judicial action. If a group of Texans had not stepped up to the plate 30 years ago, where would these animals be today? I struggle with people that put their own needs ahead of what is good common sense.....
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- Do your homework! Crediting Pat Condy with being a lifetime conservationist? Seriously, he doesn't even like animals which I think his comments reflected. Exactly what is Fossil Rim doing to save these species?
Teaching them to approach cars for food? - Reply to this comment
- I commend 60 Minutes for showing this informative story on the ranches in TX. I support the efforts of the ranchers and those that care for these animals. Hats off for preserving endangered species for generations to come!
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- Texas ranchers have accomplished something that other organizations simply weren't able to, at least as quickly and efficiently. How can there even be scimitar-horned oryx in the wild at the present for the groups to try to protect if the ranchers, zoos, and wildlife centers hadn't recovered the species from extinction? Animal rights activists should stop and rethink their positions. They don't want captive breeding for a species that is dying out, but want it to just die in the wild? Wy should it matter to them what happens to the animals if they don't understand that many birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians would not exist if someone hadn't taken action to recover them captively and then return them to the wild?
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