When I started to reply to this post, I had to struggle with finding words for my hatred and anger, but when I started writing, I realized my ignorance on the subject. The irony of the situation is that regardless of how warped of a human being she might be, her actions are actually saving more lions. Before you jump out of your chair, you need to understand why. Unfortunately, Lion killers from the United States and other countries going to Africa bring in a lot of money for the small villages, and the villagers in turn keep the poachers away from the lions. This allows the big game killers to have an easier hunt, and provide them with more lions to pick from. Do the ends justify the means in this case? I can unequivocally say that I am against shooting large cats of any kind, but until the situation changes, the facts are the facts. The lions are poached for their hide, mane, and various body parts that are used for ‘medicinal’ purposes. One of the main groups that are responsible for the decline of these great cats are the ones that have fallen into the pathetic belief that lion parts will cure something, or enhance some lifeless body part. The other problem the lions face is death by the indigenous people. The lions in the African plains often kill domesticated cattle that the villagers rely on. You can’t blame the lions, as they are genetically hardwired to spend the least amount of energy for the largest caloric reward. The problem is the villagers live in an inhospitable environment, and need those cattle to survive. A simple option is fencing their cattle in, but they typically don’t have the money or resources for the fence. Do you think the African continent is going to be willing to spend what resources they have to set aside large tracts of land? Will they hire armed men to keep the poachers out, or provide fencing or education to the people? If you cared enough, or were outraged enough to read or comment on this post; take a look in the mirror for a moment. You see, we are the real problem. Through our inaction, we are no better than someone trying to fill an emotional void by shooting a lion. While their intentions are warped and self-serving, they are actually doing something that has a positive effect on the species as a whole. It gets more and more difficult every time I type that, but it is the truth. Our intentions are good, but by our failure to act, all we do is make noise. Edmund Burke once said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” If you feel that the killing of lions for pleasure or profit is profoundly immoral, then we can consider it evil. If in turn we consider ourselves good by protesting the slaughter, what do we have to substantiate that assertion? When does our supposed good materialize other than words on a screen? Are you going to keep reading, or is the potential requirement for some sort of action going to send you off to candy crush land? Organizations like The International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Wildlife Conservation Society, or The Lion Conservation Fund are doing important work, but they need help from the ‘good’ in the human race to continue. They work with the villagers to educate them about the importance of lions. The fund school projects, try to create jobs in the villages, work to encourage eco-tourism, and create preserves. The Lion Conservation Fund is one good organization that can be helped in several ways. If you go on the website you can request more information about: adopting a lion, donating field equipment, school supplies, or money. Follow the links I posted and educate yourself. Find out how to help these wildlife conservation funds if you want to see these amazing creatures continue to exist in the wild. STOP the act of killing a lion for pleasure doing more good than harm. Will you do good, or will you sit idly by and let evil prevail? You are the only one that can answer that question. My challenge is for everyone still reading to take a look at the links I posted below and visit them. Donate a single dollar if that is all you can afford, or see how else you can help. https://cms.iucn.org/donate/index.cfm# lionconservationfund.org/contact.html wcs.org/
Posted on: Wed, 20 Nov 2013 02:10:52 +0000