[Taxacom] Killing of zoo giraffe to avoid inbreeding

[Ken Kinman]

Hi Curtis,
           I think the phrase "deaths of unneeded offspring" would pretty well sum up why some have called Copenhagen Zoo's actions "arrogant".   And I'm just talking about the decision to cull Marius, not the even more insensitive public dismemberment that followed.  And the claim that contraceptives are problematic seems to now be somewhat outdated.                                                               In any case, although Marius was apparently unneeded for their particular program, that does not justify their excuses for not finding a suitable zoo or wildlife park very willing to take him.  And just where is their replacement for Marius going to come from?  Perhaps a male that might serve better in an "in situ" conservation program?  I would be hesistant to send a giraffe to Copenhagen Zoo from Africa unless it was imminently in danger of death in Africa.  And even then, I would tend to look at zoos elsewhere less likely to cull a healthy giraffe just for being too ordinary genetically in their view.                                    ----------------Ken
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> Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2014 21:59:54 -0800
> From: lists at curtisclark.org
> To: taxacom at mailman.nhm.ku.edu
> Subject: Re: [Taxacom] Killing of zoo giraffe to avoid inbreeding
> 
> On 2014-02-10 4:45 PM, John Grehan wrote:
> > Only thing I am still puzzled about is how did the zoo allows this
> > particular giraffe to be produced by 'inbreeding' in the first place.
> 
> That was my question as well, but I read that Danish zoos allow animals 
> to breed (rather than using contraceptives) for their physical and 
> psychological well-being. In effect (according to the article), they are 
> trading the deaths of unneeded offspring for better lives for all the 
> animals in their care.
> 
> -- 
> Curtis Clark http://www.csupomona.edu/~jcclark
> Biological Sciences +1 909 869 4140
> Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona CA 91768
> 
> 
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