Are we domesticating Kenya's wildlife

» SandyMcC - I can so relate!

It is sad what humans will do for that ever-lovin' dollar, eh? In Alaska it angers me every year, the same thing happens. See, for many years we had an open dump for our refuse, and the bears and eagles came there to eat. Soon, tourists came there to see the bears. It didn't take too many summers before there were "Dump Bears", or bears raised to find food at the dump. Bears raised more bears to get food there, and they only ate berries as a "plus" to their diet. We started getting some scrawny looking bears after a while, no nice thick shiny coats.

Then - they capped the dump and began shipping our biodegradables south! All these bears and eagles that knew only of the dump to fill their bellies were now starving. Then, they came into town and now it's not uncommon to hear of an eagle carrying away someone's housepet. Nor is it uncommon to hear that a bear was shot last night because it got into somebody's trash! In the summer of 2000 sixteen black bears were shot - just in THIS town because they were finding food in a place they'd gotten it for years! As if being hungry is a crime. Now we need to train the people to treat their refuse correctly, but some just won't change old habits. They still put salmon remains in their cans and then don't lock them down.

So, yes, they're not only domesticating the leopard and alligators, but if these animals raise their young to get food there, they could do damage they know not of, yet. Good write, Jane, thanks!

-- posted by SandyMcC

Permalink Print Discussion Email Discussion Join the latest discussions