More Lunacy From the Scientific Establishment

“Scientists” say the darndest things. BBC reports:

If a group of US researchers have their way, lions, cheetahs, elephants and camels could soon roam parts of North America, Nature magazine reports.

The plan, which is called Pleistocene re-wilding, is intended to be a proactive approach to conservation.

The initiative would help endangered African animals while creating jobs, the Cornell University scientists say.

Evidence also suggests, they claim, that "megafauna" can help maintain ecosystems and boost biodiversity.

Here’s a sampling of what the “scientists” want to do:

Pronghorn antelope no longer are subject to predation so they want to introduce cheetahs to much of the west. They also want to introduce feral horses, wild asses, Bactrian camels, Asian and African elephants, and lions.

That’s right – CHEETAHS AND LIONS!!!!

And what about humans?

"Obviously, gaining public acceptance is going to be a huge issue, especially when you talk about reintroducing predators," said lead author Josh Donlan, of Cornell University. "There are going to have to be some major attitude shifts. That includes realising predation is a natural role, and that people are going to have to take precautions." [emphasis mine]

Damn’ right we will…

The “scientists” admit,

"If we only have 10 minutes to present this idea, people think we're nuts," said Harry Greene, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University…

Well…, yeah!

But they’re confident that, given enough time to explain their ideas, people will eventually agree.

Yeah, right!

After all, they assure us,

"All of this would be science driven."

Yeah, that’s what worries me!

Read the whole thing here.

This is a good example of why scientific authority must constantly be challenged.

UPDATE:

Slate magazine has an article supporting "rewilding" North America, written by a grad student at Cornell [probably one of Greene's students]. It concludes:

Sure, the costs and risks of bringing back the megafauna are significant—they include angry ranchers, scared passersby, and unanticipated effects on other plants and animals. But without rewilding, we settle forever for an American wilderness that is diminished compared with just 100 centuries ago. And in the event of global climate change that affects Africa in particular, or economic and political strife there, we risk the extinction of the world's remaining bolson tortoises, camels, elephants, cheetahs, and lions. Safari trip to Texas, anyone?

Read it here.

I, for one, would be glad to settle for a "diminished" wilderness in which lions and cheetahs are not stalking large mammal prey [like me].

See, for instance, this story out of Africa:

The Australian reports:

PARIS: Almost 1000 Tanzanians have been killed or maimed by lions in the past 15 years.

The encroachment of humans in the predators' environment has resulted in the dramatic increase, according to a study published in the latest edition of Nature magazine.

In total, 563 Tanzanians have died and 308 have been injured in lion attacks since 1990.

Read it here.

And these idiots from the banks of Cayuga's waters want to introduce lions as well as big predatory cats that run 60 mph into the US. Right! We've got enough problems with black bears and coyotes already.