Comments on: Taunted Tusker Killed

By: plant girl

plant girl — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 20:21:38 +0000

When will people learn that animals have fears and feel pain just like humans do.

By: kittenz

kittenz — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:32:56 +0000

I’d love to see Zimbabwe too, but I would want some reasonable assurance of leaving there alive.

By: dogu4

dogu4 — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:56:52 +0000

Kittenz: re your stated apprehension regarding Zimbabwe, perhaps this archived interview from NPR’s Fresh Air in which Terry Gross discusses the plight of that beautiful country with Zimbabwe journalist Petry Thonycroft would shed some ilight on the subject.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15806122
You can imagine how poisonous it must sound to hear the name of the monster Idi Amin in the same sentence with the name of any African nation already facing enough challenges, and in the case of Zimbabwe especially where that would be just one more injury. Cheers

By: dogu4

dogu4 — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:38:08 +0000

I would love to go to Zimbabwe now more than ever. Were people to stop visiting, the problem would only be compounded. I’ve also heard that despite the sad state of their national affairs, the people themselves are very nice and feel no resentment towards those who come to admire their breathtaking natural beauty; some say Africa’s best. If ardent wildlife conservation minded visitiors came to support these preserves the nation would be stronger in its efforts to protect and manage them responsibly. Don’t take out one’s dismay at the leadership’s unfortunate decisions by depriving economic tourism those who are working to preserve this spectacular gift for their future which will one day come…and I hope very much to see it.

By: kittenz

kittenz — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:31:20 +0000

The political situation in so many African countries is deteriorating so rapidly. It’s awful, for the people and for the animals. Some of these things remind me of the dark time when Idi Amin was in power.

By: kolobe

kolobe — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 07:51:52 +0000

As kittenz says Zimbabwe is falling to pieces at present and all the wildlife parks and game reserves are in most cases in utter disrepair and the animals are suffering due to constant poaching and lack of water which is made worse by the drought being suffered by most Southern African countries at present. What game gaurds are left in Zimbabwe cannot control the guests and if they intervene are threatened with their lives. Most of these party goers etc are all armed with illegal firearms and are very quick to point them at some one or something.

I would not even venture to visit this country at present.

By: Quacker1

Quacker1 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:06:46 +0000

The music most likely set him off.

By: things-in-the-woods

things-in-the-woods — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:56:16 +0000

kittenz- hows it allowed to happen that people have drunken parties in a game reserve?

well, kolobe might know how common such a thing is, but we should bear in mind that this is zimbabwe (not Kenya, ETxArtist), which is tragically pretty much a failed state (millions going hungry or driven from their homes by the government, inflation of around 8,000%, etc.,). Under such conditions one can imagine that game park regulations might not be enforced terribly well.

still, a real shame.

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:06:24 +0000

Very well said Kolobe. Sad but true. Like you said, it must be heart wrenching to have to put an animal down, especially because of the actions of the stupid.

By: DARHOP

DARHOP — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:55:15 +0000

ETxArtist responds: but I’m just saying we should not be quick to judge the actions of others, especially those of different cultures.
Some good points, but, it does’t matter what culture a person is from. Taunting animals to the brink of attack is just plain wrong. It is the animal that is being destroyed because of stupid peoples actions. Just because a culture see’s animals different than most of us here in the US, ( because we also have our idiots here to. ) It doesn’t make it right to taunt animals. I hope these party gowers had a great party, and remember the eveing. Tusker sure won’t remember it that’s for sure. I wonder if any other elephants saw what happened. I’m sure they won’t forget if they did.