the latest controversy-canned hunts » Taronga Western Plains Zoo

11-08-2009

i recall eclectus parrot saying ealier that a small wildlife park was going to feed live rabbits to their wedgetailed eagles. i am opposed to any live animals to be used as food (besides crickets and small fish) because in some cases the prey can endanger the life of the predator.

Just recently i heard of a chinese tiger and bear park that fed live cattle to their tigers in view of the public to demonstrate the hunting skills of the tiger. in the end the tiger just ended up killing the cow and it was taken away by keepers.

here is a link with more info....
http://abcnews.go.com/International/...4261023&page=1

here is a link with pics and a review....
http://www.travelchinatour.com/jim-c...ger-zoo-1.html

to my surprise the reviewer seems to have an interest in animals being humiliated and gives the park a glowing review.

11-08-2009

Typical bureaucrat's knee jerk reaction made with no understanding of the situation.

But as I said in my post above, let's continue to let farms breed puppies in squalor to supply the pet shop industry and if you extrapolate the path of likelihood, ending up being euthanased as unwanted / disposable pets.

The governors need to understand this is targeted to be and should be operated by vetted, licensed and audited facilities and management.

11-08-2009

Another fine example of the Great Australian Crawl!

When will these people get the guts to back their decisions and not run away from media hysteria?

11-08-2009

With some specifically granted exceptions [inaugural captive reptile feeds for example] it is illegal to feed live animals, other than invertebrates, to zoo animals in most [all?] Australian States.

12-08-2009

It is illegal in South Australia, even with fish.

The blackbuck stops here: zoo caught misleading public
31-08-2009

This is back in the news again ...

The blackbuck stops here: zoo caught misleading public

__________________
Sim'

Technical support: please post in the Help and Feedback Forum. Alternatively, use the Contact Form, or email me directly at support@zoochat.com

31-08-2009

Interesting that the news article is only targetting Carmel Tebbut and Tony English. There are a few other people who should be very red-faced over this.



Hix

31-08-2009

whilst we know that blackbuck are considered quasi-livestock in this country and that this is not exactly a case of WPZ selling off "endangered" antelope as the article leads us to believe (in addition there is a statement that makes zero sense about the zoo breeding the animals specifically to sell, after the zoo let their "numbers fall to a historic low")

still, the zoo board should know better. some years ago we had a discussion here about the ethics of euthanasia for population management.

i maintained that, whilst most of us can come to a loose consensus on where to draw a line where we deem it acceptable (generally with prey animals like artiodactyls, so long as their carcasses are utilised for food for carnivores) that it was a very grey area and thus since it would draw extreme criticism from the public, zoos should actively avoid the practise.

i think heres a clear example of why.

31-08-2009

Another appalling attempt by Lee Rhiannon and her animal liberation party, (claim to be greens) to do anything they can to get in the way of zoos or any other form of animal conservation.

She was happy that numbers were at historic low levels. She then makes up another story that they were bred only for sale. Miss-informed public know nothing of inbreeding and needing a large base of animals to ensure this does not happen as it has before. Rhiannon does not mind ignoring facts if they don't suit her goals. I believe the opposite of anything she says.

31-08-2009

It is illegal to hunt them anyway so I don't really see too much of an issue here. The zoo should have stood there ground on this.

28-09-2009

I think it's amazing the level of pathetic involvement and conviction these politicians have. They want to cry foul at breeding for supervised, licensed and audited hunting purposes.

If they think this is such a horror how about they get off their back sides and stop the widespread animal exploitation in most Asia! Go eradicate the bears getting bile siphoned in cages. Wipe out the trade in illegal animal trafficking. The selling of animal parts for down right retarded beliefs.

Politicians on the most part are just a waste of air.

28-09-2009

well now hold on - i think the point was that these animals were not bred for these purposes. but instead under the guise of very a different purpose.

i personally don't think that the outspoken attitude of a certain greens senator does the party any favours - but since the zoo is a public funded, its very much the right and responsibility of state politicians to speak on matters relating to the management of our institutions.

if the australian museum acquired artifacts in an unethical and dubious manner wouldn't we expect our politicians to raise the issue?

regardless of what they say - politicians very much have a right to comment.

28-09-2009

Hear what you're saying Phoenix. I'm not much of a grey thinker really. Just on the scheme of things comments like the following are minimal and just expelled gas.

"The minister responsible for the zoo, Carmel Tebbutt, <snip> said it would include ''what further animal welfare protections should be put in place …"

I know there are portfolios in government but pollies can't even manage children's welfare let alone demand what animal protection plans are in place.

There are bigger issues to address and on a scale of 100 most politicians rate below 20 in thinking wider than one subject at a time.

28-09-2009

yep. for the record i think its hypocritical or naive at best to turn ones nose up at hunting, be it even canned.

i do however, think it is foolish of zoo management to assume that people don't think this way anyway. thus, it was a very stupid decision to sell animals to this individual.