Impact of Human-Animal Interaction on Welfare - Essay Example

Essay discussing the impact of human-animal interaction on welfare and the role of selective breeding. In the contemporary system "people - environment" there is a long established historic development subsystem "Human society-production - nature". The relevance of studying the problem "Man - Environment" was that on the modern stage of development, humanity is experiencing an era of rapid population growth, scientific, technical and socio-economic development. Man became a powerful factor for socio-organized nature, the effectiveness of the impact of which on the environment and the person grows exponentially as the socio-economic development. The world today is characterized by the extraordinary complexity and contradictory events, it permeated the opposing trends is complicated alternatives, concerns and hopes. The end of the XX-th century is characterized by strong falls in the development of scientific and technological progress, increased social contradictions, the dramatic population explosion, environmental degradation of the human environment. Indeed, our planet has never previously been subjected to such physical and political pressures as it faces at the turn of XX - XXI century. The man had never before collected from nature so much data and not been so vulnerable to power, which was created by themselves. The interaction between people and nature caused many problems and changes in nature. In South Africa, breeding of lions in captivity is widespread. There are many cattle farms that specialize in predatory cats. And these lions are only the part of a huge hunting industry. Particularly popular is "prepared hunting" - hunting for animals raised in captivity. Hunting in the wild has always been difficult and expensive, it increases interest in breeding lions. African journalist Stefan Shtaf says that breeding lions is practical for further shooting. This is the type of legal hunting. The South African Government does not modify the laws, because this business brings much income (Harris,1997). Marius Prinslu owns a farm in South-East Africa, he is one of the successful entrepreneurs who are engaged in breeding lions. Breeding lions in captivity in Southeast Africa is legal and profitable - in the country there are about 50 such farms. Rancho Prinslu now contains 100 predatory animals, among which there are also rare white lions. Animal breeding is taking place in the primary hunting area. The fact that lions are becoming hunting trophies is not the cause of experiences (Hawthorne, 1995). The main method "prepared hunting" attracting predator for hunting bait. Sometimes predators are shown pictures irritants. In these cases it is a safe type of hunting, when a lion is killed by an unexpected shot at close range. There is erupted debate about this form of hunting among the defenders of nature and owners of industry of wild animals. Ferdi Nel defends the liberal laws in his country. The wealth of his company depends on whether many customers arrive in South Africa. These are the hundreds of millions of euros, earned by hunting every year. And this is not just about money, but about the workplaces (Moran, 2006). Animals grown in captivity lose their natural caution. Can we consider them as the hunt for the hunter? There is still emotional debate about this. Industry of hunting for wild animals gives earnings, which can also be invested for protection of wild animals. The Ministry of Environment left authentic breeding of wild animals, followed by hunting for them. "Animals should live in the wild, not dying from the hands of people" – this is the statement for defenders of nature, but it is meaningless for businessmen. Louise Jaber, activist of action group "wild life", said that when the hunting for lions raised in captivity will be legalized, it will be possible to cultivate young lions in the cage, and then shoot them. Louise Jaber is fighting against wildlife industry. She wants to protect lions and other wild cats, which were grown only to become prey hunter. She said that the breeding of wild animals is immoral and has nothing to do with their protection. In South Africa they are waiting for the legalization of legislation (Hawthorne, 1995). So far, Jaber leads the fight against this kind of farms. She estimated that about 3000 lions were grown in captivity in South African. Breeding is the craft with boundless consequences, because the withdrawal should be a certain number of young individuals capable of reproduction. But people think about cultivation for sausage products. So you can do to stay without genetic results (Moran, 2006). But the lions business in South Africa develops further. These businessmen, as Marius Prinslu, think only about hunting. South Africa remains the purpose of travel for hunters all over the world - if there are sufficient resources here to hunt for almost anyone. Here the laws of free market economy. Officials in charge for nature conservation in South Africa, eventually, after considerable pressure from the Society for the Protection of Animals published in the Government Paper 25090 the notice 874 from 13 June 2003 "Norms and Standards for the possible use of large predators" (Moran, 2006). This latest assignment of democracy, of course, is welcome, but the fact remains that this tactic was developed in secret, was adopted at a meeting MINMEC in September last year and has already been tested in the regions (Hawthorne, 1995). Prepared, in the understanding of the public, is hunting for animals bred in captivity. The policy does not prohibit prepared hunting for lions. It even does not restrict it. Instead legitimizes and extends to other predators. Fully underestimating the public opinion (due to the lack of open and clear communication with the people) sponsors of the bill sought an opportunity to impose some restrictions on the size of hunting camps and at the time that predators there must be immediately before the hunt. But empty bustle around hectares and the preliminary time is unable to respond to public concern (Moran, 2006). There are some statements of the project, which are the most interesting: - the definition of "prepared hunt" has been thoroughly distorted to allow hunting of lions, contained in captivity, as if in reality they are not in captivity, when a hunter shoots them. This policy has too many flaws to comment on them all, but full criticism on items dealing with members of the protection of animals. Once everything is disclosed, and society will be able to see that this is the politics: A brutal mercenaries to defend their views and distribute dirty hunting rules. Hunting at all times implied a permanent product rather than extermination game. The purpose of hunting has always been a prudent use of hunting wealth. Often, however, did not have enough knowledge to correct their exploitation or socio-economic conditions have led to undesirable consequences (for example, predation animals in pursuit of profit), and the number of species hunting fell (Moran, 2006). Exploitation of game animals should be conducted on the principle of extended reproduction. Achievements ecology argues that the rational use of resources not only hunting is not contrary to the protection of wildlife, but also contributes to it. Each animal has a population of so-called ecological reserve that is possible increase its productivity by increasing the number of offspring and improving its survival. At various environmental groups, this is done in different ways: changing the ratio of sexes, the first time of breeding, the number of juveniles in the litter, the number of litters a year, etc. Biologically based retirement of specimens of the population contributes to the mobilization of its ecological reserve, and usually makes population healthier. Consequently, fishing, hunting contributed to increased fertility, the survival of young, that is constitute a form of active protection of animals (Harris,1997). For all mass most fully studied species found that the growth of their populations, reaching a certain value, quickly terminated, as are effective eco-physiological mechanisms aimed at preventing overpopulation. The removal of the same animals by hunting (fishing) promotes reproductive capacities of population. In most modern hunting grounds, which have undergone significant changes under the influence of human activities, conservation importance of hunting for mass animal species is particularly high (Moran, 2006). So, much attention should be paid to the environmental protection which is very complex and multifaceted problem, for its decision it is not enough to have environmental measures. Invaluable assistance in this regard may have external investment and exports advanced (at least on advanced) technology: the creation of new jobs will increase welfare residents, and therefore - and the welfare state, and its ability to pay for environmental programs. Local products, thanks to cheap labor forces and resources, would be attractive to most people import that significantly reduce demand for exports of raw materials to meet the foreign trade deficit. And finally, the newest technology is cleaner. But at the same time, and technologies and equipment should be adapted to the specific conditions of a country (Hawthorne, 1995) . The human impact on animals is expressed as in direct persecution and violation of population structure, and in change of their habitats. Recently, the general conditions of habitat changes added a powerful factor, as pollution of the environment, particularly pesticides. Very often a direct persecution (hunting) is accompanied with changes in the landscape that is these factors acted together. It should be noted that the importance of direct persecution in reducing the number of animals in the past century has sharply declined. Thus, if the XVII century. prosecution has caused a direct loss of species in 86% of cases and indirect - in 14%, in the XX century. This ratio has changed dramatically and made up respectively 28 and 72% (Moran, 2006). Changing the habitat of animals is the most frequent phenomenon that has taken enormous proportions. Deforestation, ploughing up of steppes, the draining of the marshes, the construction of reservoirs and canals, building roads, etc. fundamentally changed the face of entire continents. Naturally, for some animals, these changes have been unfavorable, and either extinct species, or their numbers declined dramatically, they often survived only on protected territories (Clarke, 1972). Introduction (acclimatization) of alien species has been in several regions, especially for the islands with their often primitive life, the decisive factor, determine the extinction of native animals. Such situation is in New Zealand, Madagascar, the Galapagos Islands and many others. Often on the mainland and imported animals, especially predators, have a detrimental impact on the local fauna (Harris,1997). The diversity of animals is extremely important especially for the main process - cycling biotic substances and energy. One type is not capable in any organic substance biogeocenoses split plants until the end products. Each type uses only part of plants and some of them organic substances. The chains and network of nutrition are made in such a way, consistently benefiting substances and energy from photosynthesis plants. References Clarke James Frederick, Focus on fauna: A close look at some of the more interesting habits and characteristics of South Africas wild animals, H. Keartland (1972) Gordon-Cumming R , A hunters life among lions, elephants, and other wild animals of South Africa, Derby & Jackson (1957) Hawthorne Tracey, Wild Animals of Southern Africa (Indaba Mini Curio), Struik Publishers (1995) Harris Marvin , Culture, People, Nature: An Introduction to General Anthropology (7th Edition), Allyn & Bacon; 7 edition (1997) Moran Emilio F., People and Nature: An Introduction to Human Ecological Relations (Primers in Anthropology), Wiley-Blackwell (2006) Steele David , Wild Animals: Pride of South Africa, Centaur Publishers (1985) Read More