Last
month (August 2019) a large group of “European parliamentarians and
conservation groups” called for a ban on trophy hunting of “endangered animals”
according to a piece on Phys.org[1] that apparently
originated with AFP. A Reuters article[2] and other sources
also discuss this. I agree with the proposed ban. I even advocate eventually banning all
hunting.
All
animals are useful. See links later in this article to some true stories about a variety of animals that helped humans in various ways.
I
used to eat meat without even thinking about it. As a boy I often ate meat even
when other members of my family chose not to. But in recent years, I’ve sought
to progress toward a vegan diet, avoiding eating meat, dairy, or egg products.
I don’t agree with PETA’s methods, but I feel they do convey an important basic
message about the cruel treatment of animals raised to be killed for food.
Personally,
I even hate swatting a fly. I’m one of those people who tries to trap them
between a cup and a flat surface, slide a piece of paper between the cup and
the flat surface, then carry the cup outside to release the fly.
Therefore,
you can probably guess how I feel about hunting deer, squirrels, turkeys, rabbits,
etc., just for sport. And, it’s not just wild animals that are killed or
injured by hunters. Though the number may be relatively small, each year some
hunters and innocent bystanders are killed or injured by hunters.
But,
most of the deaths and injuries occur to wildlife. While some hunters may claim
they weed out the weaker animals offering them euthanasia in a sense, most
hunters I know take pride in the health of the animal they kill. They enjoy the
sport of it and less sport is involved in killing a weak, diseased animal.
Killing
something doesn’t seem like fun to me. Not at all!
If
mice are in your home, they can be caught in a glue trap, then taken outside
and released. Even better, we can take action to prevent them from coming in
initially.
Killing
an animal just for the sport of it seems cruel. And some hunters I know who claim
to kill animals for food to reduce their food costs spend so much money on their motor
vehicle traveling to and from the hunting area, guns, hunting dogs, hunting
clothes, etc., that they could buy the meat cheaper.
Of
course some hunters enjoy the outdoor life, being in the woods close to nature
and hiking, more than the sport of hunting. I urge these hunters to give up the
sport of hunting. Why not just enjoy watching the animals, as well as the other
benefits of being close to nature?
Native American
Indians, Pioneer Days, and Now
The
Native American Indians hunted for food and used parts of dead animals for
various purposes. Little went to waste. That was probably true also for some of
the pioneers on the frontier in the early years of the United States.
But,
now we can buy, prepare, and eat food faster that is tastier, cheaper, and more
nutritious without hunting. We can buy clothing assembled from manmade
materials that is cheaper, more comfortable, and nicer looking than homemade
clothing from animal hides. And modern manmade materials can fulfill many other
functions better and cheaper than products made from animal parts.
Stories About
Animals Helping Humans
If
we treat animals well, I think they will treat us well. Stories abound of cases
where an animal befriended by a human returned the favor. You can read numerous
stories about trained dogs aiding humans in various ways. Dolphins have guided
ships safely through treacherous waters and rescued swimmers.
An
article on CheatSheet.com[3] tells about
animals including lions, a gorilla, a pig, a whale, a horse, and a rabbit that
helped a human. A OneGreenPlanet.org
piece[4] includes stories
about a sea lion, a deer, and beavers that aided humans. One of fourteen
stories in an AnimalsLook.com
article[5] is about a parrot
that helped save a baby’s life. A Reader’s Digest article[6] includes a story
about giant rats trained to find land mines and TB. AnimalsAustralia.org[7] tells the story
of a man and a crocodile who became good friends. BlazePress.com[8] and other sources
tell about an eleven-year friendship between a man and a lion.
Furthermore,
you may be familiar with stories from the Bible of other creatures helping
humans. I remember reading about ravens feeding Elijah (see I Kings 17) and
Jonah being rescued by a big fish. I believe both stories are true. Let’s seek
to love all God’s creatures and enjoy the benefits that come from it, including
their efforts to reciprocate.
ENDNOTES:
[1] “Conservationists,
EU MPs urge ban on trophy hunting of endangered species”; Phys.org (apparently
from AFP); August 18, 2019; webpage accessed September 15, 2019; https://phys.org/news/2019-08-conservationists-eu-mps-urge-trophy.html
[2] Forrest Crellin;
“Conservationists push at CITES conference to ban trophy hunting”; Reuters;
August 20, 2019; webpage accessed September 15, 2019; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-hunting/conservationists-push-at-cites-conference-to-ban-trophy-hunting-idUSKCN1VA1CY
[3] Amanda Harding;
“Crazy True Stories of Wild Animals Saving People’s Lives”; CheatSheet.com;
April 23, 2018; webpage accessed September 15, 2019; https://www.cheatsheet.com/culture/crazy-but-true-stories-of-wild-animals-saving-peoples-lives.html/
[4] Aisling Maria
Cronin; “These Five Stories of Amazing Times Wild Animals Saved People in Need
Will Leave You Awe-Struck”; OneGreenPlanet.org; webpage accessed September 15,
2019; https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/stories-of-amazing-times-wild-animals-saved-people-in-need/
[5] “Animals Helping
Humans in Most Critical of the Situations – 14 Stories”; AnimalsLook.com;
webpage accessed September 15, 2019; http://www.animalslook.com/animals-helping-humans-in-most-critical-of-the-situations-14-stories/?f=1
[6] Amanda
Riley-Jones; “Not Your Ordinary Pets: These Heroic Stories Prove Animals Are
True Life-Savers”; Reader’s Digest website; https://www.rd.com/true-stories/survival/surprising-animal-heroes/
[7] “The true story of
Pocho the crocodile: when man and croc become best friends”; AnimalsAustralia;
last updated February 17, 2017; webpage accessed September 15, 2019; https://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/amazing-croc-story.php
[8] “Man and Lion
Become the Best of Friends after 11 Years of Friendship”; BlazePress.com; last
updated March 24, 2015; webpage accessed September 15, 2019; https://blazepress.com/2015/01/man-lion-become-best-friends-11-years-friendship/
NOTE:
This piece being
submitted to Google Blogger on September 16, 2019 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by his friend Paul Craft, on September 15, 2019.
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