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Joined: May 2003
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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OP
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From the Associated Press: Lions stalking deer in the stubble of a Nebraska cornfield. Elephants trumpeting across Colorado’s high plains. Cheetah slouching through the West Texas scrub.
Prominent ecologists are floating an audacious plan that sounds like a “Jumanji” sequel — transplant African wildlife to the Great Plains of North America.
Their radical proposal is greeted with gasps and groans from other scientists and conservationists who recall previous efforts to relocate foreign species halfway around the world, often with disastrous results.
The authors contend it could help save Africa’s poster species from extinction, where protection is spotty and habitat is vanishing.
“We aren’t backing a truck up to some dump site in the dark and turning lose a bunch of elephants,” said Cornell University ecologist Harry W. Greene, one of the plan’s authors.
While most modern African species never lived on the American prairie, the scientists think today’s animals could duplicate the natural roles played by their departed, even larger cousins — mastodons, camels and saber-toothed cats — that roamed for more than 1 million years alongside antelope and bison.
But the scientists’ plan, which appears in today’s issue of the journal Nature, is triggering thunderclaps of criticism, with discouraging words such as “stupid” and “defeatist” raining down.
Critics point to Australia, which was overrun by rabbits and poisonous cane toads after misguided species relocations.
Some conservationists said the plan would further damage the prospects of African species on their native turf, as well as that continent’s hopes for sustainable economic development.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
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Banned from the DCMBs since 2002. 15000+ posts
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,233 Likes: 1 |
We have a really really big problem with cane toads. Damn things are indestructible.
Big herbivores are a good idea though. While elephants cause serious damage to forests and hippos are violent and territorial, giraffes, antelopes, and zebras should be fine.
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Joined: May 2003
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Of course, if you bring in giraffes, antelopes, and zebras w/o predators. they'll probably overrun the native herbiviores like deer, Buffalo, etc.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,030
6000+ posts
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6000+ posts
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This just does not sound like a good plan.
We all wear a green carnation.
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,747
I've got more guns than you. 6000+ posts
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I've got more guns than you. 6000+ posts
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,747 |
Quote:
We have a really really big problem with cane toads. Damn things are indestructible.
Sey hello to Mr. Sledgehammer.
"Ah good. Now I'm on the internet clearly saying I like tranny cleavage. This shouldn't get me harassed at all." -- Lothar of the Hill People
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,524
1500+ posts
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1500+ posts
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"Say hello to my leeeetle frien'..." 
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Joined: May 2003
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Quote:
Jim Jackson said:
This just does not sound like a good plan.
Yeah, for some reason, all I can think of is the scientists in movies like "Jurassic Park" telling us how "nothing can go wrong" right before it all goes to hell.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 30,833 Likes: 7
The conscience of the rkmbs! 15000+ posts
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The conscience of the rkmbs! 15000+ posts
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Quote:
First Amongst Daves said:
We have a really really big problem with cane toads. Damn things are indestructible.
I fuckin' hear that. I had to live in Hawaii and Arizona for awhile. Friggin' breeding grounds for cain toads. They almost killed my dog.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Timelord. Drunkard. 15000+ posts
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Timelord. Drunkard. 15000+ posts
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Quote:
the G-man said:
Quote:
Jim Jackson said:
This just does not sound like a good plan.
Yeah, for some reason, all I can think of is the scientists in movies like "Jurassic Park" telling us how "nothing can go wrong" right before it all goes to hell.
They killed lawyer in that one, you know.
whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules. It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness. This is true both in politics and on the internet." Our Friendly Neighborhood Ray-man said: "no, the doctor's right. besides, he has seniority."
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Joined: May 2003
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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Officially "too old for this shit" 15000+ posts
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At which point it all went to hell, remember?
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Joined: May 2003
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It was on its way before that.
But you know...I was thinking...this move to the Great Plains of various African animals...it might be necessary if we are to preseve these species on the planet. If they and their habitats are being systematically destroyed in Africa, perhaps this is a means of preserving the species.
We all wear a green carnation.
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,524
1500+ posts
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1500+ posts
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And there's plenty of Christians to feed them!
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,657
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Quote:
Poverty Lad said:
And there's plenty of Christians to feed them!
Send them to San Francisco! We could use them to clean out the last vestiges of Christians here! Mop 'em up and we can all fuck each other in peace!
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