Four endangered gorillas found shot dead 'Huge loss' for population that numbers just 700

MSNBC ^ | 7/26/2007 | MSNBC

[Red in Blue PA]

Three female mountain gorillas and a male silverback gorilla were found shot dead this week inside a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a conservation group said Thursday.

The bodies were discovered inside Virunga National Park but it was unclear who killed them and why, the International Gorilla Conservation Program said in a statement.

"Just over 700 mountain gorillas survive in the wild today, and none exist in captivity," the group said. "For such a small population, the unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of four mountain gorillas is a huge loss."

[Red in Blue PA]

Ever hear of the expression “white hair does not engender wisdom”?

[ElkGroveDan]

No they weren’t. That the liberal press continues to lament the death of animals with great sadness while human babies are being slaughtered every day with very little comment is cause for that question to be asked over and over again.

[ElkGroveDan]

Of course my comments were foolish. They were supposed to be. What’s your excuse?

It's a good question. Why do we constantly get emotional tear-jerker stories about soul-less animals being killed, when thousands of innocent human babies are being slaughtered every day with not the slightest mention.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

If chimpanzees lifespans could be drastically reduced, they could be farmed and they'd be a valuable source of meat. (sort of an aside).

Because chimpanzees are so closely related to us and because they therefore host diseases and parasites which specialize in large primates like chimps and humans, this is a spectacularly bad idea.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Are you?

You seem to be placing these animals on a higher level than they deserve.

Contrary to what you posted, it is relevant that these animals may not have been wantonly slaughtered: if it was by poachers trying to make a little money (it doesn't even have to be a poacher trying to make a little money to help his starving, impoverished, AIDS ridden family full of little children) then it isn't wanton, and your use of the term is misleading.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

If they were farmed, it is probable that they wouldn't be as diseased as wild chimpanzees.

And it is because they are so similar to humans that they'd be such a valuable source of meat; the body would have less work set out for it to turn the food into muscle and other things which keep humans functioning).

[r9etb]

Wow. So after every piece of news is presented to you you ask the same question? Abortion is wrong. So is the slaughter of innocent creatures.

If Bush had controlled the borders, those gorillas would still be alive. /one-issue-poster

[swain_forkbeard]

As a matter of law and depending upon one’s ethics, a chimp may not be a “higher” animal than a cow. Whatever you mean by “higher”. But there are many to reasons to feel that chimps are much closer to men than cows are.

But why limit our considerations to two mammals? Would it also be fair to say that dogs are no “higher” than earthworms? How about dolphins and planaria? Parakeets and starfish?

[Red in Blue PA]

My view of religion is close to that of Leo Tolstoy.

As such, to be consistent in my beliefs, I am a vegetarian and do not use or wear leather.

[swain_forkbeard]

Bush lied. Gorillas died.

[Liberty Valance]

The silverback gorilla

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: If they were farmed, it is probable that they wouldn’t be as diseased as wild chimpanzees.

Ever heard of Mad Cow disease?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

What sets a gorilla or a whale above a frog, horse, fish, or bacterium?

All (except the last) are animals. If one is endangered, and is vital to the stability of the ecosystem, effort should be put in place to preserve those animals. While killing animals for fur or jewelery (what is you opinion about oysters? Is killing them for pearls obscene to you?) could be unnecessary, you seem too full of hatred for your fellow humans, who--even if they are poachers--are worth more than the animals they are killing.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Comment 53 seems to answer your latter questions.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

If they were farmed, it is probable that they wouldn't be as diseased as wild chimpanzees.

The problem remains that a disease or parasite outbreak in a large population of farmed chimpanzees could spread to human consumers much more easily than a disease originating in less closely related animals. And we've seen that disease outbreaks occur in farmed animals all the time.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

And yet the beef industry is still a thriving, multi-billion dollar business.

(And if they were free-range cattle, and didn't eat processed brains and nerves, they wouldn't have have gotten infected).

[The KG9 Kid]

A chimpanzee steak is not more offensive than a beef steak (or a whale one), in that a chimpanzee is not a higher creature than a bull.

Brilliant. Now you're only one logical hop away from Ingrid Newkirk of PETA who believes that a 'chimp is a slug is a dog is a boy' thereby refusing to distinguish between any level of life forms.

Doesn't your bible say something about good stewardship over animals, or is there no difference between a gnat and a gnu in your belief system?

[Alter Kaker]

On another note, 4/700=0.57% So, 0.57% is a hugh and series hit!

If .57% of the human population were to die, that would be somewhere north of 34 million people, if that puts things in perspective.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

What sets a gorilla or a whale above a frog, horse, fish, or bacterium?

In both cases, rarity and intelligence. The world will not be a better place with no gorillas or whales in it, nor will it be to humanity's credit that we annihilate the few creatures with intelligence approaching ours. Even if you're religious, it's hard to envision the deity of any religion applauding such an action.

[lovecraft]

Bush lied. Gorillas died.

LOL....

I don't care who you are that's funny right there.