Modern man, it seems, has but two attitudes towards other species. They either choose to “domesticate” them, or they annihilate them. Instead of “live and let live”, human thinking is that other species should be subject to our whims, if indeed they are allowed to live at all. Those species that have acquiesced to human domination, like horses, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and dogs are allowed to live only as long as humans wish them to; then they are killed for food. Those species that have not been domesticated, are hunted (trophy hunting) made to perform in a circus, put on display in a zoo, or in the case of insects, exterminated. The entrapment of fish and marine species in nets is a whole other story. Because we have become the dominant predator, we believe that we alone get to decide who gets to live and who must die. House cats are one animal that has been domesticated, but many retain their natural wildness.
When did humans decide that it was okay to keep birds in cages, preventing them from using their god-given right to fly? I remember going into a Kmart® when I was a young girl, seeing a small aquarium stuffed full of parakeets, as though these birds had not the least bit of intelligence or feeling. Presumably, most of them died shortly after being taken home by the clueless consumer; and many probably died without ever leaving the store. Millions of fish are sold in pet stores that end up dying within a few months, only to be flushed down the commode. Animals found in the wild are often taken with the assumption that they can be made into a “pet”, only to die a short time later. Conversely, “exotic pets” purchased at pet stores, or on the black market, soon become problematic and are released into the wild, usually in an area that is not their native habitat. Monkeys and rats are often kept isolated in caged environments, where they undergo numerous forms of toruture and experimentation in the name of science.
A few of today’s scientists have more empathy for the animals they study. They are learning that many species – even surprisingly, some of the stranger looking sea animals like octopus – have very high intelligence. We could pass laws banning the pet industry from selling non-native species. We could ban the use of animals in scientific experiments; but these laws rarely stop practices that are based purely on consumerism. Most likely, the illegal pet trade, like poaching, will continue. Our only hope is in educating people. We cannot make people care about endangered species, or for that matter, any animal, bird, fish, or amphibian. At best, we can show by example, through our own acts of kindness to animals and by sharing our knowledge, so that each person can come to understanding, on his or her own. Animals can teach us too, but we must first realize that we are NOT special. We are simply ignorant.
