Comments on: How not to conserve wildlife http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 08:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Gunker http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485371 Gunker Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485371 If a poor country does a good job of conserving wildlife and finds it has spare, why not take money from rich hunters ? If a poor country does a good job of conserving wildlife and finds it has spare, why not take money from rich hunters ?

]]> By: Gunker http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485369 Gunker Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485369 in many countries, elephant are not endangered. In fact, countries like Botswana and South Africa do such a good job conserving them, that they need to cull them, as the land cannot support them. in many countries, elephant are not endangered. In fact, countries like Botswana and South Africa do such a good job conserving them, that they need to cull them, as the land cannot support them.

]]> By: eraserbones http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485279 eraserbones Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485279 I have no particular opinion about Juan Carlos himself, but it's not immediately obvious to me that the values of hunting and wildlife conservation are at odds.  There are many examples of recreational hunters and fishers working in league with ecologists to preserve habitat -- take, for instance, Ducks Unlimited or (more broadly) your local Department of Natural Resources.  And, habitat preservation is where it's at -- if there's nowhere for the elephants to live, there's not much point in /not/ shooting them. I have no particular opinion about Juan Carlos himself, but it’s not immediately obvious to me that the values of hunting and wildlife conservation are at odds.  There are many examples of recreational hunters and fishers working in league with ecologists to preserve habitat — take, for instance, Ducks Unlimited or (more broadly) your local Department of Natural Resources.  And, habitat preservation is where it’s at — if there’s nowhere for the elephants to live, there’s not much point in /not/ shooting them.

]]> By: Ashen Victor http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485243 Ashen Victor Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485243  One has to be Spanish to understand that reference! But good point sir. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%BFPor_qu%C3%A9_no_te_callas%3F  One has to be Spanish to understand that reference!

But good point sir.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%BFPor_qu%C3%A9_no_te_callas%3F

]]> By: LowerHater http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485236 LowerHater Sun, 22 Jul 2012 18:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485236  Juan Carlos, unpopular?  In Spain? Hmmm.... this hunting thing aside (yeah, I'm squarely on the WTF with that), the monarch is pretty much A-OK in most Spaniards eyes. Juan Carlos was groomed to be a real king and was handed the country to rule as its next fascist dictator, a la Bashar Assad. But instead of maintaining the status quo, hey calmly (but unequivocally) gave it up and facilitated the transition to liberal democracy. Get's pretty high points for that in my book (and among a majority of Spaniards).  Juan Carlos, unpopular?  In Spain? Hmmm…. this hunting thing aside (yeah, I’m squarely on the WTF with that), the monarch is pretty much A-OK in most Spaniards eyes.

Juan Carlos was groomed to be a real king and was handed the country to rule as its next fascist dictator, a la Bashar Assad. But instead of maintaining the status quo, hey calmly (but unequivocally) gave it up and facilitated the transition to liberal democracy.

Get’s pretty high points for that in my book (and among a majority of Spaniards).

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485165 Snig Sun, 22 Jul 2012 15:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485165 In his defense, he had six different guides, and they separately led him to believe he was actually hunting a wall, a snake, a spear, a tree, a fan and a rope. In his defense, he had six different guides, and they separately led him to believe he was actually hunting a wall, a snake, a spear, a tree, a fan and a rope.

]]> By: Nathan Hornby http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485112 Nathan Hornby Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485112 I've always thought the job of the poacher-catchers looked awesome.  Spend the day hunting hunters; it's essentially the same past-time, but for the good guys. My suggestion has always been to reinforce this.  Why not turn hunting poachers into a real sport?  We could start by circulating rumors that the penis' of men that hunt elephants are an aphrodisiac, but only if removed and dried.   Let the conservation begin! I’ve always thought the job of the poacher-catchers looked awesome.  Spend the day hunting hunters; it’s essentially the same past-time, but for the good guys.

My suggestion has always been to reinforce this.  Why not turn hunting poachers into a real sport?  We could start by circulating rumors that the penis’ of men that hunt elephants are an aphrodisiac, but only if removed and dried.  

Let the conservation begin!

]]> By: Nathan Hornby http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485111 Nathan Hornby Sun, 22 Jul 2012 12:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485111 In his defense wiping out the human race would be one of the most effective ways to save wildlife (we're a parasite); and we are grossly over-populated. Crass thing to say?  Totally.  But you can't knock his conviction. In his defense wiping out the human race would be one of the most effective ways to save wildlife (we’re a parasite); and we are grossly over-populated.

Crass thing to say?  Totally.  But you can’t knock his conviction.

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485062 niktemadur Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485062 May Prince Philip return as a lactobacillus, have him do the lion's share of grunt work to keep my colon functioning spiffily. May Prince Philip return as a lactobacillus, have him do the lion’s share of grunt work to keep my colon functioning spiffily.

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485061 niktemadur Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485061 An additional catch, however.  "Hunting" for Bush and Cheney consisted of a fully catered killfest, they released flocks of caged birds in front of their line of sight and all they had to do was shoot at will, straight ahead.  A disgusting practice and if that's hunting, then I'm... I'm... the king of Spain! An additional catch, however.  “Hunting” for Bush and Cheney consisted of a fully catered killfest, they released flocks of caged birds in front of their line of sight and all they had to do was shoot at will, straight ahead.  A disgusting practice and if that’s hunting, then I’m… I’m… the king of Spain!

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485060 niktemadur Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485060 Ooh, zing!  And totally true as well. Anyway, I can't pass up an opportunity to post one of my favorite early-nineties bands here on Boing Boing. Galaxie 500 - "King Of Spain". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=won3F_fEr_0 Ooh, zing!  And totally true as well.

Anyway, I can’t pass up an opportunity to post one of my favorite early-nineties bands here on Boing Boing.
Galaxie 500 – “King Of Spain”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=won3F_fEr_0

]]> By: atimoshenko http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485057 atimoshenko Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485057 On a related aside, the only African countries in which elephant populations are not being decimated by poachers are ones that allow controlled elephant hunting. It sucks that we humans cannot seem to protect anything until it is a valuable economic commodity, but until we can come up with a better, practically functioning solution, less beautiful creatures needlessly dying >> more beautiful creatures needlessly dying, in my book. Still, big game hunters are, at best, a necessary very-evil, not people to head conservation efforts. On a related aside, the only African countries in which elephant populations are not being decimated by poachers are ones that allow controlled elephant hunting. It sucks that we humans cannot seem to protect anything until it is a valuable economic commodity, but until we can come up with a better, practically functioning solution, less beautiful creatures needlessly dying >> more beautiful creatures needlessly dying, in my book.

Still, big game hunters are, at best, a necessary very-evil, not people to head conservation efforts.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485056 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 22 Jul 2012 06:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485056 Well, Juan Carlos was Franco's lapdog. Well, Juan Carlos was Franco’s lapdog.

]]> By: Frank W http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485040 Frank W Sun, 22 Jul 2012 04:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485040 You've got it all back-asswards. If you want to hunt elephants, you can't have poachers kill 'em all off, right? You'll have to preserve them. The WWF was the idea of Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterveld of the Netherlands, himself an elephant hunter. The Bilderberg group was also his idea. You’ve got it all back-asswards. If you want to hunt elephants, you can’t have poachers kill ‘em all off, right? You’ll have to preserve them. The WWF was the idea of Prince Bernhard von Lippe-Biesterveld of the Netherlands, himself an elephant hunter. The Bilderberg group was also his idea.

]]> By: Tchoutoye http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485038 Tchoutoye Sun, 22 Jul 2012 04:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485038 The World Wildlife Fund as a long tradition of being run by royal and corporate scumbags. I suspect its true ideology is eugenic. Here's a quote from another honorary WWF president, Prince Philip: "In the event that I am reincarnated I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to overpopulation." The World Wildlife Fund as a long tradition of being run by royal and corporate scumbags. I suspect its true ideology is eugenic. Here’s a quote from another honorary WWF president, Prince Philip: “In the event that I am reincarnated I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to overpopulation.”

]]> By: zarray http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485033 zarray Sun, 22 Jul 2012 04:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485033 Less or more popular than the last … guy? Less or more popular than the last … guy?

]]> By: Snig http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485023 Snig Sun, 22 Jul 2012 03:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485023 For those who lack Moxy in their lives: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Aq-Vo4QZ0&feature=related For those who lack Moxy in their lives:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Aq-Vo4QZ0&feature=related

]]> By: billstewart http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1485016 billstewart Sun, 22 Jul 2012 03:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1485016 While I disrespect them all for killing animals just for the fun of killing, at least when GHWBush went hunting doves and (ahem) quail, and when Dick Cheney went hunting quail and politicians, they weren't hunting endangered species.  (Though on one hunting trip with Ann Richards, GHWB did hit a federally protected bird by mistake.  But it's one thing to misidentify a dove-sized bird, and quite another to claim that you went on an elephant-hunting trip by "mistake".) While I disrespect them all for killing animals just for the fun of killing, at least when GHWBush went hunting doves and (ahem) quail, and when Dick Cheney went hunting quail and politicians, they weren’t hunting endangered species.  (Though on one hunting trip with Ann Richards, GHWB did hit a federally protected bird by mistake.  But it’s one thing to misidentify a dove-sized bird, and quite another to claim that you went on an elephant-hunting trip by “mistake”.)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484967 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484967 As European monarchies go, they're pretty unpopular with their own people. They're not very likeable. Queen Sophia, in particular, could handily win the title of Grumpiest Woman in Europe. As European monarchies go, they’re pretty unpopular with their own people. They’re not very likeable. Queen Sophia, in particular, could handily win the title of Grumpiest Woman in Europe.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484951 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484951 Given that he apparently pulls 270,000 euros a year, for doing whatever it is that contemporary kings do, I'm guessing he'll be ok... Given that he apparently pulls 270,000 euros a year, for doing whatever it is that contemporary kings do, I’m guessing he’ll be ok…

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484949 SedanChair Sat, 21 Jul 2012 23:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484949 Elephant: (elephant noise) Juan Carlos: ¿Por qué no te callas? *BLAM* Elephant: (elephant noise)
Juan Carlos: ¿Por qué no te callas? *BLAM*

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484931 niktemadur Sat, 21 Jul 2012 22:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484931 In the modern world, now that spanish kings cannot plunder, subjugate and eradicate advanced civilizations that lack firearm technology, the last little pleasure left that satisfies the sweet tooth is shooting animals into extinction.  I guess. In the modern world, now that spanish kings cannot plunder, subjugate and eradicate advanced civilizations that lack firearm technology, the last little pleasure left that satisfies the sweet tooth is shooting animals into extinction.  I guess.

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484929 niktemadur Sat, 21 Jul 2012 22:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484929 This fool of a king has been honorary president of Spain's branch since 1968, @boingboing-de26c8e50deca7dbd638148d8799ce74:disqus says Juan Carlos and his family have a history of being callous, incompetent and obstinate with guns, a bit of Googling confirms this, he accidentally shot his own brother once, for example, and <b>still he fucking hunts</b>.  His grandson recently shot himself with a shotgun. The ultra-rich get a lot of leeway even from international organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, it seems. However, the other aspect to the story is Botswana's elephant hunting "tourism industry". What incentives (as opposed to sanctions) are in place to eradicate such practices in countries scraping an economic existence? This fool of a king has been honorary president of Spain’s branch since 1968, @boingboing-de26c8e50deca7dbd638148d8799ce74:disqus says Juan Carlos and his family have a history of being callous, incompetent and obstinate with guns, a bit of Googling confirms this, he accidentally shot his own brother once, for example, and still he fucking hunts.  His grandson recently shot himself with a shotgun.

The ultra-rich get a lot of leeway even from international organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, it seems.

However, the other aspect to the story is Botswana’s elephant hunting “tourism industry”. What incentives (as opposed to sanctions) are in place to eradicate such practices in countries scraping an economic existence?

]]> By: Cyran0 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484885 Cyran0 Sat, 21 Jul 2012 21:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484885 An elephant, an elephant! My kingdom for an elephant! An elephant, an elephant! My kingdom for an elephant!

]]> By: voiceinthedistance http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484851 voiceinthedistance Sat, 21 Jul 2012 19:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484851 It takes great bravery to shoot an elephant from an armored SUV at 100 yards, plus tremendous tracking skills to find such elusive and hard to spot beasts.  I bet the ones he hunted were even chained to a stake with a barely adequate chain. It takes great bravery to shoot an elephant from an armored SUV at 100 yards, plus tremendous tracking skills to find such elusive and hard to spot beasts.  I bet the ones he hunted were even chained to a stake with a barely adequate chain.

]]> By: Ashen Victor http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484815 Ashen Victor Sat, 21 Jul 2012 18:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484815 What I dont understand it´s why he was  honorary president of World Wildlife Fund to begin with. He loves to shoot animals in the face. He was a hunter already in his teens. ¡He has a terrible record of hunting endangered species and drunken bears in Romania, Russia and other eastern European countries! Christ!  He is an asshole! What I dont understand it´s why he was  honorary president of World Wildlife Fund to begin with. He loves to shoot animals in the face. He was a hunter already in his teens.
¡He has a terrible record of hunting endangered species and drunken bears in Romania, Russia and other eastern European countries!
Christ!  He is an asshole!

]]> By: Chuck http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484779 Chuck Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484779 But doesn't that weed out the ones that can't out-run a bullet? It strengthens the herd, right? Isn't that how it works? But doesn’t that weed out the ones that can’t out-run a bullet? It strengthens the herd, right? Isn’t that how it works?

]]> By: Kurt http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484766 Kurt Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484766  Now he vacuums the turf at skydome.  Now he vacuums the turf at skydome.

]]> By: ravenlunatick http://boingboing.net/2012/07/21/how-not-to-conserve-wildlife.html#comment-1484759 ravenlunatick Sat, 21 Jul 2012 17:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=172479#comment-1484759 Once he was the king of Spain. Now he eats humble pie... Once he was the king of Spain. Now he eats humble pie…

]]>