For those outraged at the death of the giraffe...

1. 87

   modern housewifeposted 10 years ago

   For those outraged at the death of the giraffe...
   
   I am not being argumentative; just curious about this aspect of the situation. If we are going to keep lions in a zoo then Animals must be killed to feed them. Cows, horses, pigs, sheep, deer are routinely killed in a manner very similar to the giraffe and used to feed zoo lions and tigers.
   Are you equally disgusted and outraged about the killing of these other animals?
   Why is the giraffe different?
   Is it appalling for documentaries to show lions take down and eat prey in the wild?
   Do you eat meat?
   Please keep the conversation respectful as we discuss our views!

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2. 67

   Rod Marsdenposted 10 years ago

   Killing animals in front of children I feel takes something away from the zoo experience. Sure, lions eat meat. Yes, we do eat meat. Yes, I would be disgusted if a cow, horse, pig, sheep or deer were killed in front of children at a zoo.
   
   The object of a zoo is to preserve life and not to destroy it. This is the lesson we would like the young to get on their visit to such a place. Sure, animals must occasionally be put down because they are sick and in pain. The thing is you wouldn't expect your local vet to put down your pet who has reached the end of the road in front of you or those who have formed some kind of attachment to the animal. Likewise it is not expected that zoo members be callous in the treatment of say a giraffe that needs putting down for whatever reason.
   
   Was it possible to find this  giraffe a home in another zoo rather than have it killed and fed to the big cats? Was another option to the killing  even contemplated? One would hope so. Again I say zoos should be about life rather than death when it comes to visitors, especially young visitors.

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   1. 52

      tbHistorianposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      veterinarian experience is good for children. it is a valuable lesson in the circle of life. the families in attendance knew the event was scheduled and so the parents decided to expose their children to reality. do you think farmers do any less?

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   2. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well, the media got involved and more than just those who wanted to have their children exposed to such a thing were exposed. It is not the circle of life. Giraffe was healthy. In the wild the giraffe would have stood a chance to get away from lions.

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   3. 87

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You both bring up good points. I agree about TB's "vet experience" completely; Rod, that is a good point that others were exposed unvoluntarily, but a lot of media reports appall me; I don't advocate they be stopped. I don't have to watch...

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   4. 52

      tbHistorianposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Rod - the truth is that animals are slaughtered daily to provide food for everyone world wide. The giraffe was owned by the zoo and they have every right to do training and education support during such activity. USA farmers do the same daily.

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3. 38

   ChristinSposted 10 years ago

   I do not eat meat anymore because I am horrified by the practices of farms these days.  Anyone who sees what these animals actually go through with factory farms would likely stop eating meat too, at least from those sources.  I also support trap and neuter in my area with all the feral cats - because, it is the humane and responsible thing to do to keep populations under control.  People tend to turn a blind eye to the mass killing of animals.  Cats and dogs are murdered by the thousands every day through no fault of their own.  People don't really ponder the way in which their meat is manufactured.  People have idyllic images in their head of happy cows and pigs grazing and living on a pristine farm somewhere.  That isn't the reality of the situation.  I think people are outraged partially because it makes them take a good hard look at things they don't want to consider.
   
   The fact that other zoos offered to take this Giraffe and that he was healthy is indeed outrageous.  I was disgusted by this story and found it heartbreaking.  It was the responsibility of that zoo to do the right thing - and let's be honest. Killing him was probably cheaper than transporting him.

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   1. 52

      tbHistorianposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      killing plants is the same as killing animals. anyone who eats to live is simply normally responding to the circle of life. one is neither better or worse than the other.

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   2. 38

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No, plants are not the same as animals - don't be ridiculous.  If you kick a head of lettuce does it scream in pain? No? I bet an animal would. If you value life so little that's scary.

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   3. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I suspected but didn't know that other zoos had offered to take the giraffe. Some zoo! They are supposed to look after the animals in their care. In the wild healthy young animals are not easily hunted down and killed by predators.

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   4. 87

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good point.  What do you think about the animals being killed to feed the lions, whether they are giraffes, deer, cows, whatever?  Is this giraffe's death worse than that of those animals or is it the publicity that bothers you?

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   5. 38

      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Giraffe's are endangered - cows, pigs etc. are not. Zoo's killing healthy one's cheapens the argument about stopping poachers in Africa. It was a shameful display and publicity stunt.

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   6. 52

      tbHistorianposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ChristinS - the giraffe is not listed completely as endangered. there are some subspecies that are listed, but the giraffe in Denmark was not of those breeds. Therefore, it equaled the cows, pigs, etc.

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   7. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with ChristinS. Yes killing a giraffe in a zoo when the animal is healthy does damage the argument for stopping poaching in Africa. Yes if done as a publicity stunt shameful indeed.

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4. 75

   Peter Dickinsonposted 10 years ago

   It is big subject which I have dealt with some years ago in my hub 'Zoos and Euthanasia'. I do eat meat....probably more species of animal than most people. That said I care for animals, really care and have devoted my life to them. I believe that the euthanasia of the giraffe in Copenhagen was the right move. It has caused a lot of discussion and hopefully those people who did research beyond the manipulative headlines of some newspapers they will have learnt something.
   Rod Marsden....the giraffe was not killed in front of children. There are zoos and then there are zoos...they are not all the same. The good zoos, such as Copenhagen are about preserving genetically sound populations of species through specimens. It doesn't mean they don't care about the specimens because they do and I daresay quite a few tears were spilled over the giraffe....but they can see the bigger picture.

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   1. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If they cared and there was a chance of sending the giraffe to another zoo why not do it? Well, it was part of the screaming headlines that the killing did take place in front of children.

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5. 52

   tbHistorianposted 10 years ago

   There is no difference between the giraffe and any other animal that is used for food.  The food chain is filled with many elements that must be used during the appropriate time to fulfill the life needs of another.  The giraffe was simply one of those elements.

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   1. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      tbHistorian, you seem to glorify in death.

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   2. 87

      modern housewifeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Rod, do you eat meat?  I don't see TB or Peter glorifying death; the truth is, if you are going to keep lions in a zoo, you must kill animals for them to eat.  What makes this giraffe different than a cow or horse, which are regularly fed to lions?

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   3. 52

      tbHistorianposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Rod - I recognize truth about the consumption of animal meat regardless of who, what, when, or where. You should also recognize the circle of life that is provided by such activity whether it be cow, pig, rabbit, moose, giraffe, or any other animal.

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   4. 67

      Rod Marsdenposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Modern housewife I do eat meat but that isn't the point. The giraffe is different from cows, etc. Animals brought in from elsewhere in the world and their offspring are expected to be looked after. Killed on the quiet I might agree with.

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