Chris,



You have a gift for pointing out the little ironies that make me smile (and I would put in one of those spinning smiley faces here if I could figure out how to do it, but since I can’t I’ll give you this link http://www.myshutter.com/flash/smiley-back.swf).



I thought about this a lot last night, and I was wondering if anyone has ever considered the falconers model! Falconers, unlike WE herpers, have conducted successful captive propagation programs of endangered (e.g. peregrine falcon) species for use by other falconers and for re-release into the wild. Granted birds do not suffer from the same kinds of localized genetic effects that herps are susceptible to, and they are endotherms so were comparing apples to lettuce here, but it is the only model for a successful program that I can think of that we can use as a pattern of sorts for our own CB program. Of course the biggest difference is that you have to be licensed to own a falcon of almost any kind, and in order to get that license you have to go through an apprenticeship where you must pass tests on your knowledge of the proper care of the animals and you must also pass inspections of your facilities and care on a regular basis making corruption very difficult (in other words the falconers have some credibility with the authorities, which I keep preaching for here). For more information check out the largest and I think the best organized of the falconry clubs, the California Hawking Club, at http://www.calhawkingclub.org/



Anyway, I just thought their model might provide food for thought for this discussion.



Big Brother

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