Posted by:
Jeff Schofield
at Thu Dec 4 23:07:40 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Jeff Schofield ]
When you look at the MILLIONS of $$ that have been spent to retrieve,breed and repopulate species such as the CAL Condor you can see how misappropriated monies work in beaurocracy. If steps had been taken but a few years earlier the cost would not only not have been as great but several other species(some which ARENT warm and fuzzy)could be saved as well. There are LOTS of problems like this simply because the people making those management decisions havent DONE science in so long that they are literally OUT OF THE LOOP.Only recently have agencies really realized some of the benefits of herptoculturists and other advances that frankly should have been LED by government funding instead of them being so far behind.We all know of the examples of trickle-down technology from say the defense agencies....What COULD be done with studies and monies(both state and federal)is staggering.Sadly,people like Richard are doing the right thing for the right reason pay the price.
Back to the ringneck story though.....should not our history of reintroducing species in itself be a deterrant? There is far more to lose than there ever will be to gain.With the advances in DNA testing though we should all be aware of such studies and be generously providing scientists with samples ad infinitem! Genetic flow can easily be measured in captive situations that already exist rather than picking 2 animals out of a field guide...And one last point, we all seem to keep many of the SAME species(kings,milks,rats,boas,etc)yet there are SO many really neat snakes in the world....those of us that have bred before I challenge you to accept NEW species,NEW husbandry requirements,NEW ideals into captive breeding!Even if they are "just" ringnecks! Jeff
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And doesnt it always seem to come down to $$? And NEW species..... - Jeff Schofield, Thu Dec 4 23:07:40 2003