On Hunting

When it comes to keeping animals as pets, I have a very strict opinion - Dogs should live with Dogs, and Humans with Humans. I wouldnt want to live amidst a pack of dogs however cozy an environment they may provide. Why would a cat or dog think otherwise? - Kindly note, even Henry Bergh, the founder of ASPCA, dint keep any pets. But then I am not against pet-owners, as at least they love their pets and provide for everything they think is best. No ill-treatment at least.

Having said that, last morning heard a broadcast on NPR about hunting which disturbed me a lot. They were highlighting how the number of women hunters has been increasing over the years. But, in course of the narration, I heard a family woman mentioning about how their family went on Elk hunting for a get-together and how they each shot their own Elk and how that turned out to be one of the memorable family memories for them. I was shocked.

Forget about the species endangerment, extinction or ecological imbalance etc etc that arises because of hunting, the mere act of killing an innocent animal for pleasure is outright disgusting. Just because you are on top of the intellectual chain and an elk or a deer does not know how to use a rifle does not give us humans any moral grounds to go about killing them for pleasure. Most hunters wont even stand a chance against these animals if they were unarmed. In fact, humans seem to be the only living thing that goes about killing members of other species for no good reason. A lion does not hunt a deer unless its hungry - thats nature. A bear wont try to attack you unless you threaten its life. Why would we do that just for the heck of it. What does a person get by hanging a deer's head in his living room? Though unsustainable and debatable, the act of killing animals (chicken etc) for food is atleast understandable - You consume it to live. But killing an innocent creature for no good - thats when you feel ashamed to be a part of the same humanity that these hunters come from too.

The post for today's pic is from San Diego Zoo. The innocent expression in that small monkey's face goes well with the essence of the post while the blurred cage wires adds to the message giving a cornered feeling for these animals.