[Dog]

This is nuts.

[ClearCase_guy]

the re-wilding plan would offer ecotourism and land-management jobs

And medical jobs. And lawyer jobs.

[freedomcrusader]

A solution in search of a problem. And a ludicrous solution at that.

[yoe]

Oh Brother! Who will give grants and funding for this totally hair brained idea? Can't they just be happy with the bobcat or the Coyote - the animal de jure, who needs no care, funding, or grants, just your pet cat or dog occasionally?

[tfecw]

So they think that by letting lions and elephants run around it'll stop global warming or something?

Doesn't the Sahara creep up on the African planes every year? If so, I'd say you need more than Lions and Elephants.

[babyface00]

If we can hunt and kill them, this might not be such a bad idea...

[KarlInOhio]

Only native species allowed. If we start importing cheetahs and elephants, they may spread like kudzu.

We need to recover the DNA of wolly mammoths. However, since it has warmed up since the last ice age, we'll need to genetically engineer them to be short haired.

[Smokin' Joe]

I guess this bunch of distinguished biologists does not recognize the Indian Elephant as "megafauna" no the tiger, etc., etc.... Geniuses, every one.

[PoorMuttly]

Fine...but forget the Predators.

WE can take care of that even better. Science, you know.

FOOD science.

[PJammers]

"Dr Donlan said that large tracts of private land are probably the most promising place to start, with each step carefully guided by the fossil record and the involvement of experts and research."


Can you say "land grab". If they can prove that this project could increase tax revenue then they have the full backing of the supreme court.

v/r

[big'ol_freeper]

There is precedence for this. I was stationed at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and when I arrived there I was fascinated that African Oryx has been introduced to the range. From the WSMR website:

"Because White Sands is a military installation which is off-limits to the public, much of its 3,200 square miles acts as a de facto wildlife refuge.

One of the more interesting animals found on the missile range is the oryx. This antelope is from the Kalahari region of Africa. It is a big animal, weighing between 400 and 500 pounds and is noted for its long black horns.

The animals were first introduced onto White Sands in 1969 by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department as part of its exotic game animal introduction program. Ibex and barbary sheep were introduced elsewhere in the state as part of the program."

[Clemenza]

I knew a guy who wanted to release monkeys throughout the state of Florida. Of course, this guy can often be seen asking for spare change these days.

[bobjam]

I'm sure these critters would provide a huge boost to the firearms industry.

Are these researchers accusing Native Americans, whom everyone knows are at one with nature, of driving these creatures to extinction?

Note to Cornell: my mom's backyard is not your playground.

[bobjam]

I'm sure these critters would provide a huge boost to the firearms industry.

Are these researchers accusing Native Americans, whom everyone knows are at one with nature, of driving these creatures to extinction?

Note to Cornell: my mom's backyard is not your playground.

[headsonpikes]

"...with each step carefully guided by the fossil record and the involvement of experts and research.

"We are not advocating backing up a van and letting elephants and cheetah out into the landscape," he said. "All of this would be science driven."

"Science driven" --- Got it.

[hosepipe]

[ The pronghorn, for example, has lost its natural predator and only its startling speed - of up to about 60mph - hints at its now forgotten foe. ]

I see... and the Porkupine hints that an animal with big teeth needed a toothpick... brilliant logic..

[jbwbubba]

Didn't these people see Jurassic Park! But this is just dumb.

[mountainlyons]

Wolves in Yellowstone were not such a good idea now I can imagine being visited by lions, tigers or even rogue elephants. Where did I put the ammo for the 458?

[HairOfTheDog]

This would save me a lot of money on that African photo safari I've always dreamed of going on.

[doc30]

This really is silly, even though it is slightly fascinating to me. With the way Africa is going, the big game will be table scraps for the starving in Zimbabwe, so this might be a way of preserving some species. I did hear of a millionaire in Texas who has a rhino ranch. Turns out Texas has a similar climate that the rhino's liv in Africa.

The only problem that i have is that the Pleiscocene animals went extinct for a reason. Climate had a lot to do with that. Also, how would they compete with native animals? In Florida, there are now several non-native parrot-type species that have become well established. Also, would they be carriers of exotic disease that may pass to native plants or animals that lack resistance? Introducing non-native species into local ecosystems, IMHO, is a big mistake.