The Story: Mountain Lion Attacks Boy at Big Bend National Park in Texas
the Gist: “…the young boy was walking near the park’s lodge with three other people Sunday evening when he was attacked by a “young lion in very poor condition.” The boy’s name wasn’t released. Elkowitz says the animal that attacked the boy will be killed if found.”
I might be way off here, but how backward is this? A national park has been designated in the wilderness in an effort to preserve nature in that spot. We do this because we humans find some value in maintaining the natural order of certain areas of our continent, unadulterated by industry, pavement, cars and other artifacts of our existence. The point is to preserve the beauty and purity of those ecosystems.
THEN, a 6-year-old human boy is walking through this nature preserve, with I’m sure numerous warning signs about the presence of mountain lions in the area, inadequately protected by adults, and encounters an animal which does what it is NATURALLY supposed to do, that is, find the weakest, easiest target to pursue as prey. The boy is attacked. He survives with minor injuries. The boy was “treated for puncture wounds and scratches”
SO what do the park authorities do? They seek out the animal in order to kill it.
Wait, really? We are talking about predatory cats in their natural habitat. Hello mountain lion, congratulations..All this is yours! You are free to roam. Just make sure to stay close enough for the cameras, but not TOO close. There are children and we expect you to “behave”. But that shouldn’t be a problem since, as we’re sure you’re well aware, we saved this 800,000 acres for you. Deal? Great. Cause If you so much as frighten a 6-year-old, we will treat you with the same mentality with which we hunt down serial killers, cause let’s face it, these people paid for a campsite, capiche?
Let’s face the obvious: If humans cared at all about preserving nature (as defined by that which is not human) we wouldn’t hold nature responsible for the effect that its innate tendencies have on humans. We would not expect animals to conduct themselves within the “thou shall not kill” framework. But that is not the point of course. The point of these parks is to generate tourism and ultimately revenue for the state that is lucky enough to have inhabited a place with as much natural beauty as the Rio Grande.
This animal is not mentally or emotionally diseased, it’s a goddamn COUGAR!! Pretty but dangerous.
If you bought a dozen roses advertised as “no-prick thorns” for Valentines Day , took them home, and drew blood because you grabbed them by the stems, would you A) return to the florist and demand that he destroy the flowers, B) Demand reimbursement from the bullshit peddling florist, or C) beat yourself for an hour with a plumber’s wrench for allowing yourself to believe you had bought roses that wouldn’t cut you? The answer is B and C in that order.
If anyone should be hunted down and killed here, it’s the Ranger, for creating a false sense of security.
totallyunfocused 