Posted by:
obeligz
at Thu Apr 16 12:45:11 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by obeligz ]
What is a wild animal?
Does the US government have a good stable definition of "wild animal"? if so, what is itīs scientific basis?
If not, is it possible to urge the government to put this act on hold until a good definition which is founded in science is produced?
Some scientists argue with reason that the domestication process starts out in nature, not in captivity.
In wikipedia term "wild" was not defined. wildlife was defined as the opposite of domesticatedlife but I think "domesticated" was not very well defined either.
"all non-domesticated plants, animals, and other organisms"
Thousands of years ago humans were stupid and apent hundreds of years to learn to sucessfully domesticate a single species, like the cat or the buffalo for example.
Both cats and buffalos who live with humans are domesticated, or tamed to some degree but both of them have a "wild" element in them.
Lions in the african savanna used to be wild a few hundred years ago but they are tamed to a significant degree today. Even though they still live "in the wild" (national parks) they are getting quite used to americans who like to visit them in their natural vivarium (national parks).
These days, with litterature, terrariums, timers and other advances in technology it is possible for us to domesticate animals alot faster than before.
If definition of "wild" is based in science, there is a vast grey area separating "clearly wild" and "clearly domesticated" animals. Most animals will fall somewhere in the grey area and should be considered both wild and domesticated to some degree.
What is defined as "dangerous" is also subject to history, culture and the owner. I think horses are dangerous because they scare me but I donīt think that large pythons are scary or dangerous because I understand them much better than horses.
The legal definition of dangerous animals should be based in statistics and science, and not only irrarional fear amongst some of your politiciansa. Since this act has a vast potential to negatively affect animal welfare and the american population the authorities should set clear definitions to improtant terms before enacting this bill.
I fail to see a sound scientific basis of this act or thesufficient statistical justification for it.
regards
oby
wild arrow frogs are lethally poisenous while domesticated ones like mine are not poisenous at all
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RE: CT Bannings - obeligz, Thu Apr 16 12:45:11 2009 