The spectator sport China DOESN'T want you to see

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by ernie

I realize that such a spectacle isn't for everybody and I'd not bring my kids to see such a thing in a zoo. That's my choice. I would however pay good money to have my family witness such a thing in the wild.

I understand this is different in that the lions clearly don't have to work for the food here and it is inevitable the goat is killed...but that is inevitable anyways.

It's sad to a point but it's pretty far down on my "what makes the world suck" list.

Watching a regal and powerful predator stalk its prey is awe inspiring... but its not something you stand up and cheer, especially when its such a hopeless display. Sometimes the Antelope/Gazelle/Human/other mammal gets away.

[4X4]

1. Throwing a goat from that high up is going to break it's legs (or whatever it lands on).

2. Why are there so many lions in the same pen?

3. Was that goat christian?

[Jason14h]

I'd probably watch, and not think too much of it. In fact, letting people see Lions actually killing a live animal and eat it can be educational, which are what zoo's are there to do.

[ernie]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Watching a regal and powerful predator stalk its prey is awe inspiring... but its not something you stand up and cheer, especially when its such a hopeless display. Sometimes the Antelope/Gazelle/Human/other mammal gets away.

And I understand that but as I said it is extremely far down on my list of stuff I care to spend my time on changing. It's not ideal, it's not great but i can also see how people might like to see a semi-realistic predator-prey interaction first hand and this being the only way they can do so. It's shooting fish in a barrel and the outcome is obvious but I can understand the attraction.

[You Need a Thneed]

I don't see how this is significantly different then putting a feeder goldfish in a tank to feed a turtle, or another fish - Provided that the zoo is actually intending that this is part of the feeding regimen for the lions.

Sure, it may seem weird, but on second thought, focussing on situations that are actually wasteful seems like a better use of our time.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by 4X4

1. Throwing a goat from that high up is going to break it's legs (or whatever it lands on).

2. Why are there so many lions in the same pen?

3. Was that goat christian?

Nope. Might be Jewish though.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I'd probably watch, and not think too much of it. In fact, letting people see Lions actually killing a live animal and eat it can be educational, which are what zoo's are there to do.

I'd probably watch too... but be disappointed that the Lions are given such an easy task. What would disgust me is the cheering and clapping.

It be like if we set up bleachers at the slaughterhouse and clapped when a cow was butchered.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I'd probably watch, and not think too much of it. In fact, letting people see Lions actually killing a live animal and eat it can be educational, which are what zoo's are there to do.

It would be more interesting and educational if they would release a gazelle into the pit and allow it to run. Then we can watch the lions hunt.

Tossing a goat 50 ft to it's death isn't interesting beyond a perverse interest in violence.

[Russic]

I have nothing overwhelmingly original to say. I'll echo the feelings of those that say China has a brutal record when it comes to treatment of animals. Yes, we in north america kill animals too.

To me the big difference is the attitude that the population shows towards it. Can you imagine if somebody threw live animals at the lions at the Calgary zoo? I can assure you very few people would clap.

We do slaughter all sorts of farm animals for meat, but we at least try to use as much of the animal as we can. This is quite a contrast to the way the Chinese obtain shark fins for their shark fin soups. Hacking off a fin and throwing the live animal back in the water to drown is something that north americans just wouldn't stand for.

[Canada 02]

as horrific as that was, cruelty to animals is not unique to China or non-western nations. Rodeo, circus, zoo, lab animals - we do our own share of torture that we like to turn a blind eye to

[PsYcNeT]

Is this the thread where we complain about the seal hunt?

Oh right, Canadian board.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Is this the thread where we complain about the seal hunt?

Oh right, Canadian board.

I agree... the seal hunt is quite savage. Its a black mark on the country.

However, its not a public spectacle and the vast majority of the seal is used for food, clothing, etc.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Is this the thread where we complain about the seal hunt?

Oh right, Canadian board.

Equally abhorrant however if it were WASP's clubbing seals for sport and pleasure I'm sure it would have been outlawed many years ago.

[peter12]

Is this what it takes to piss people off about China? I thought the whole Falun Gong organ harvesting thing might have done the trick.

[Jason14h]

No Goats are far more important... Especially when they are used as food and not their hundreds of other important uses

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

No Goats are far more important... Especially when they are used as food and not their hundreds of other important uses

You must be scottish.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Is this the thread where we complain about the seal hunt?

Oh right, Canadian board.

OT: But can I get some links to information about the seal hunt and what's so wrong about it (from you or someone else). Preferably not a sensationalist PETA scare video though. Thanks.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by arsenal

How is it any different than watching lions and tigers hunt in the wild? Have none of you seen a nature show about large cats? What would make this more humane? Let dinner run around more?

That being said, it should not be done for purely entertainment purposes. That's just sick.

Sorry, but I think you're contradicting yourself here. People watch nature shows for entertainment purposes. I've seen some pretty savage scenes, where a lion or tiger hunts down its prey. The only difference I see is that this is a live feeding rather than taped.

I honestly don't see the difference between this and a person feeding their pet snake live bait. I guess the fluffy factor is a little higher with a goat than a mouse maybe?

[Bertuzzied]

I'm still in shock that Beijing got the summer games this year. They don't deserve it but when you throw around billions of dollars you can buy anything.

You DO NOT want to see what they do with dogs in China. ridiculous.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

There's a reason those machines are behind the closed doors of a slaughterhouse, many people in western society would be disagreeable to seeing what actually goes on. This however is a public spectacle being enjoyed by the masses and sold at a profit. This goat wasn't fed to the lions because it was part of their normal and neccessary diet. It was because an audience paid to see it thrown into the lion's den to run for it's life and then be mauled to shreds. There's a vast difference between the large scale industrialization of the processing of animals for neccessary food...and the cruel treatment of animals for entertainment purposes,

I dunno Dude, Lions are meat eaters and whether or not the meat was killed behind closed doors or in front of a paying audience it doesn't matter to the goat...the only thing that matters is if it suffered...

Do I think that this is twisted? Yes.

But do Lions need to be fed meat?...Yes.

Do I think that the Goat in this case suffered less that the Cow that was killed to feed the lions at the Calgary Zoo...who knows?

In some ways, I feel that Western culture is quite hypocritical about animal rights...many people get on a soapbox Re: Animal cruelty but don't do much to stop it...kind of like eating a cheeseburger on the way to an SPCA meeting.

I am 100% against unnecessary animal suffering (I hate the idea of Hunting, buy a goddamn camera), but I think this case is being singled out unfairly because of the spectacular nature of the Goats demise...