Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!decwrl!apple!chuq
From: chuq@Apple.COM (Smile when you say that)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Smuggling/slight "indoor" slam
Message-ID: <43165@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 20 Jul 90 00:02:44 GMT
References: <90198.165720JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET> <1990Jul19.150155.7196@cbnewsj.att.com>
Organization: Out in Left Field
Lines: 81

duane@cbnewsj.att.com (duane.galensky) writes:
>i'm
>not one to be overly concerned about offending someone's
>feelings on the matter!  it's not only against the law, it's
>an abhorrent, immoral act that should be deplored by anyone
>who respects the dignity of these animals.  sadly, those who
>would purchase birds and other animals imported as such are
>probably  too consumed in their own personal egos to give
>a whit about their dignity as wild creatures.

Well, you succeeded in offending THIS person's feelings.

First, not all imported birds are smuggled. Many are imported legally. Like
mine was. That little piece of reality seems to have slipped past you.

Second, I'm REALLY upset at your assumption (and massive generalization on
top of it) that folks who buy imports don't care about the animals. You're
completely full of c..p.

From talking to lots of bird owners, MOST import buyers seem to fall into
two categories:

1) limited budget. If a hand-fed bird is out of their budget, it comes down
   to a choice of no bird or an import.

2) Nobody told them. Many folks who bought imports didn't know there was a 
   difference, didn't understand the implications of an imported bird and
   weren't educated about the problems that wild-caught birds imply.

I, for the record, fall into both categories. My umbrella is wild-caught and
legally imported. I couldn't really afford a hand-fed and I hadn't really
researched the implications of how wild-caught birds are imported and what
it does to the habitat. I won't buy another import, and I don't encourage
people to buy imports -- but rather than get on your high horse and
pronounce import buyers as egotistical twits, get involved with the groups
trying to fix the industry and educate the buyers instead. 

You don't fix problems by feeling superior. You fix problems by working on
the problem. The problems are:

o Stopping smuggling. You won't do this by making legal imports illegal.
  That makes the problem worse, not better. you do it by better enforcement
  at the border, better enforcement at the pet shop and reseller and by
  education. My feeling is simple: any reseller found to be selling a
  smuggled bird should have their stock impounded and their license revoked.
  Make birds a priority with customs as well.

o Education. teaching shops and sellers to educate buyers on the advantages
  of hand-fed birds. Working to get the word out to people interested in
  birds about why the extra cash is worth it, what the implications are of
  imported birds, and MOST importantly, how to tell a smuggled bird from
  a legal import or hand-fed.

>even so, it's 
>hard to look at the animal and not feel regret that he's doomed to 
>a life in a domestic setting.

On the other hand, mortality of birds is MUCH higher in the wild. Life
expectency is much lower. Your little white cockatoo doesn't have to worry
about being eaten in the middle of the night, or starving to death, or heat
stroke. Properly handled birds in captivity are happy and satisfied, live
longer and are healthier. Yes, birds belong in the wild -- but that doesn't
mean they can't be happy in captivity as well. 

I know MANY birds, mine for one, that given a choice of staying at home or
being sent out to 'freedom' would go running for the cage as fast as their
little legs could carry them. Free food, free shelter, lots of toys and
affection -- whatta deal (I know this one for a fact. My bird has a perch
out on the patio that she uses when we're out there. Her only real interest
is in getting back inside where she belongs...)

My comment is this: it's easy to act superior. It's important to be part of
the solution, instead. Don't make broad (incorrect) general statements from
ignorance. Learn the facts and get involved, instead.


-- 
Chuq Von Rospach   <+>   chuq@apple.com   <+>   [This is myself speaking]

We tend to idealize tolerance, then wonder why we find ourselves infested 
with losers and nut cases -- Patrick Nielsen Hayden