Polar bear

[pmjblue]

what do you all think of this story about a polar bear some animal rights activist thinks should be killed as it has been abandoned by its mother - it bought me to tears
http://news.aol.co.uk/animal-activist-wants-cu ddly-knut-killed/article/20070320100309990001

[fairkatrina]

I see no justification for killing a healthy, endangered animal just because to raise it is an infringement of its "animal rights" - surely its death would be the biggest infringement of all? The zoo are perfectly right to try to raise it; and it's not like someone has taken it away from its mother in the wild - it was born in captivity and will never know any other life.

[cruella]

I was in tears when I read the article.
It deserves to have a chance to live especially as it has survived all this time.
When did we start playing God!

[angie1981]

only an idiot could come up with a thought like that. If they had a single brain cell between them ,they would realise that their idea is a stupid one! They are endangered species, its being cared for sufficiently and, ok, it might never be able to be released into the wild but at least its one more saved.

[coco pops]

IT should not be killed. It is not ideal being kept in a zoo but it
is alive and being well cared for. It hasn't been taken from the wild from its mother to be hand reared it looks happy and is healthy. How can so called animal lovers want it dead.

[pmjblue]

found some more information, and some adorable photos
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/03/20/wbear120.xml

http://www.bears-news.com/

[garner]

Do you know it makes my blood boil,call themselves animal rights they dont know the meaning of the word

[pmjblue]

Spot on Garner. The other site I found states that a bear was killed by lethal injection recently because it was rejected by its mother at another zoo. How do these people live with themself.

[garner]

And while we are at it pmjblue there is poor Jim Cronin dies at the age of 51 who has done so much for ill treated apes there just seems to be no justice does there.

[jedimistress]

Yes it was sad news about Jim Cronin.
I would say that this one person DOES NOT SPEAK for all the animal rights activists but I will say that the media are making the very most of one mans comment to further discredit anything done or said by animal rights campaigners and that makes me sick. The protests are generally about the lifelong incarnation of animals. Typical media ignore all they say or do but jump on one mans words and hype it all up. Cynical and everyone is falling for it.

[jedimistress]

Incarcination sorry. All life is sacred and I would never wish the bear to be put down, but it still upsets me that it is now a good idea to have a go at animal rights people who dedicate their lives and liberties to try to protect and save fellow ceatures.

[wiggal]

I just cant see how anyone can say it would be better off dead?
If its being raised in a zoo, how is it going to be better off dead? Or not be able to live in the wild?
How many animals in zoos actually get returned to the wild after being held/born in captivity!?
Im guessing they would have the same argument if any other animal had died giving birth, so the baby had to be hand reared? I guess they should all be killed to?

[pmjblue]

one of the columnists in dog world thinks that any dog having a large litter should have half the litter culled to ensure the other half stand a better chance. And any poorly sickly puppies should be put to sleep - how ruthless is that?

[wiggal]

How would you decide which ones to kill?
We had the recent problems with our litter, the first one that died was a healthy one, well it seemed healthy to the vet!
The mum lay on her and killed her & the vet said that this was probably because she knew things we didnt about the kitten & maybe 5 kittens was to much for her.
The animal will decide on its own!

[smiffy65]

animal rights activists, human rights activist,and any other activists starting playing god a while back, they cause more distress than good in this world, do gooders the lot of them,we would be better off without them and so would the poor animals

[melons]

Just read the article, i thought it was terrible. Like an earlier comment who are we to decide to play god.
Ok my opinion - i think that there are enough endangerd species out there with out people adding to it just because it has been abandoned by its mother. I can understand them helping it and putting it somewhere safe but killing it is so wrong!
makes me sick to think that they would even do that!

[k8bailey]

if it was going to live in the zoo anyway, it would have to be reliant on humans for food whether the mother raised it or not, i don't think the activists have a leg to stand on surely they should protect animal life, unless the animal is in pain and cannot be helped.
This polar bear doesn't understand human issues and concepts such as dignity, it just has its survival instinct and will be happy to take food from wherever its avilable!
we should be doing all we can to help keep it alive, esp. since its endangered, would these people prefer the species becomes extinct?

Whats next, don't keep pets because its not natural for them to be fed out of a tin?

[Maggoty]

Does is mean that he thinks all babies given up for adoption should also be "culled".....??

[Bigeye74]

Some pretty pump answers there. The point the chap was trying to make (IMHO) and was also reiterated on the BBC news by a Born Free spokesman was that the money spent on raising the bear in captivity would be better spent on the welfare of bears in the wild. Euthanasia (?) of rejected animals happens all the time in zoos and the vast majority of captive polar bear cubs die in the first year. As for being endangered, the population has doubled in the last ten years (22000 now). At the end of the day zoos are businesses and this cub is an attraction, thats why it still alive.

[Bigeye74]

Following a bit of research, I apologize about the endangered comment.

[sebtred]

The animal rights activist wasn't serious.
He was making a point about the damage being done to these animals and their environment in general. The story was blown up by the media and a lot of gullible people who like to have something to be outraged about.