Culling

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

Here is a news item about culling of the Grand Canyon bison.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57017028

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Over 45,000 people have applied to cull bison in the Grand Canyon after the US National Park Service (NPS) requested volunteers to help with overpopulation.

The famed national park in Arizona is seeking 12 "skilled volunteers" to reduce the herd, which has grown large enough to cause environmental damage.

The event is not being classified as a "hunt", as hunting is forbidden in US national parks.

Some environmentalists have warned the move could set a dangerous precedent.

The lottery opened on Monday and closed after 48 hours with 45,040 applicants.

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I thought natural selection decided the population of any species.   We humans may be a part of nature but it does seem wrong for some park authorities to decide which species is over populated in any given area.... given that we are one of the the most overpopulated species on earth and are causing the greatest damage to the environment. 

Cheers.

Sriram 

[jeremyp]

Hi everyone,

Here is a news item about culling of the Grand Canyon bison.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57017028

************

Over 45,000 people have applied to cull bison in the Grand Canyon after the US National Park Service (NPS) requested volunteers to help with overpopulation.

The famed national park in Arizona is seeking 12 "skilled volunteers" to reduce the herd, which has grown large enough to cause environmental damage.

The event is not being classified as a "hunt", as hunting is forbidden in US national parks.

Some environmentalists have warned the move could set a dangerous precedent.

The lottery opened on Monday and closed after 48 hours with 45,040 applicants.

*************

I thought natural selection decided the population of any species.

It does, but its methods are often brutal. Left to itself, this herd would increase in numbers until its food supply collapses and then lots of animals will die.

it does seem wrong for some park authorities to decide which species is over populated in any given area.... given that we are one of the the most overpopulated species on earth and are causing the greatest damage to the environment. 

There would be no bison in the Grand Canyon area at all if humans hadn't put them there.

[Anchorman]

Sometimes, to maintain biodiversity, in lieu of a predator species, culling is a necessary eevil. There's a glut of red deer here, which is really damaging the reforestation efforts.We either shoot 'em or reintroduce the lynx or, more controversially, wolf.

[Robbie]

It does seem sad but it sounds as though a bison cull is necessary.It's important that something like this is done humanely, i.e. crack-shot marksmen/people, a quick, clean death.The meat can be sold for food presumably.