Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!rutgers!att!cbnewsj!duane
From: duane@cbnewsj.att.com (duane.galensky)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Re: Smuggling/slight "indoor" slam
Message-ID: <1990Jul19.150155.7196@cbnewsj.att.com>
Date: 19 Jul 90 15:01:55 GMT
References: <90198.165720JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 47

In article <90198.165720JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET> JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET writes:
>The following article is reproduced without permission from _Our
>Planet_, the official organ of the U.N. Environmental Program.
> 
>BIRD SMUGGLER ARRESTED: Police protection for endangered species
> 
>     "This shows once again that the assistance of the inter-
>national community is essential to help countries fight against
>the pillaging of their natural heritage," said Obdolio Menghi,
>CITES' scientific coordinator for Latin America. "The prices that
>live animals from South America command in North American and
>European markets attract dealers from all over the world. It's
>very difficult to stop this trade when wealthy buyers are behind it."
> 
> 
>----
>The point is NOT "don't keep indoor birds" but should perhaps be
>"don't keep endangered species indoors" unless you're a zoological
>garden.  I have no real wish to start up a flamefest on the moral
>value of caging wild birds (though I suppose my bias already shows),
>but merely wish to draw to everyone's attention the fact that keeping
>some birds is illegal (if they appear on the CITES appendix 1).
>Comments are welcome; I suppose flames are, too, if you must. Use
>your best judgement when deciding whether to post or e-mail, however.
> 
> 
>Josh Hayes, Zoology Department, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056

what's to flame?  these magnificient species are DYING...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.

i'm troubled by humankind's presumption that we can "own" such
creatures in the first place...  i was fortunate enough to inherit 
a white cockatoo which was a legally imported bird.  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...he has such elegance and intelligence...
i'd prefer that he not be captive, but given that he's living
at my house, it's my responsibility to make his life as
good as possible.   

duane