Re: Native parrots

Y'think? :) Seriously, Vic, you (dare I say it? and please don't get mad at me) *need* to get your emotions separated from the *perceived* emotions of wild animals. Nature can sometimes be *very* cruel...survival of the fittest, remember, which is ultimately *good* for any species (I sometimes wonder if war was "created" for lack of a better word, to control humans!).

Wild horse herds change naturally all the time. Stallions fight each other for control of the mares, mares fight with each other to see who becomes the lead mare. And they can get *really, really* nasty! Herds get split up from other causes, too...all for the natural purpose of reducing inbreeding, i.e., keeping them healthy.

Now, having said that, *I* believe animals have emotions; how can any pet owner not believe that? But to foist our emotions on wild animals is a totally different ball game. We *need* to keep emotions out of species control if we're going to help any species survive.

Since humans have become the controlling population, we have to use our brains to help the others and sometimes that means creating uncomfortable (to *some* people) situations, such as hunting (wow, I'm really setting myself up here! HELP! lol) . The predator species (wolves, cougars, fox, etc.) are no longer numerous enough to keep other species' numbers healthy. Of course, that's mostly because of man's encroachment into their territory and having hunted some of them to near extinction before we realized the damage we were doing. That's where the NWS comes into play and why laws have developed to control species populations. One can wish to their heart's content that there would be no violence in the natural order of things but, ultimately, it's truly for the better.

As I said in my previous post, they're controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. I don't know, but assume (dangerous, I know!) they put the money back into managing the herds.

I hope this "little" diatribe was clear and doesn't start another war of words! :)

Joan

Brilliantly put, Joan! That's what I mean when I say 'an animal deserves the dignity of being treated as an animal and not as a pseudo-human-being'.

Here in Oz, we have the Brumbies. They're not entirely analogous to your Mustangs, since most of them are escaped farm horses and all are decidedly feral. Very few of them are worth much at all, since years and years of in-breeding has caused an awful (and I do mean *awful*) lot of genetic defects. It's very rare to find one that would be worth using for anything, so they're a far cry from the gorgeous descendants you have of the Spanish Andalusians and Jennets.

But they're there. They starve in drought years. They're a host for an enormous population of parasites and disease. They actively pursue domestic mares to enlarge the mobs. They break fences, kill domestic animals and basically pose an enormous problem for those who farm in the areas where they roam.

Recently, when Equine Influenza hit our shores for the first time, everyone was petrified it would get into Brumby mobs, for if it had, there'd have been no stopping it! As it is, there may yet have been a Brumby or two incubating the virus and it'll be a good while till we know for certain.

No one loves animals more than I do, but IMHO it's necessary to be a bit more pragmatic than sentimental when it comes to their care and handling. Otherwise, you wouldn't be able to bear the burden of responsibility for their lives!

Ditto - reality check for you, Vic. People who purchase the wild horses from the auctions are vetted - it's more like rescuing cats/ dogs from a shelter - just bigger! And much better than the old days of culling the herds for other far less humane purposes.

Ellice