Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

China's herders plea for help as wolf packs return

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread
This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU
 
Coventina Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-25-09 09:32 AM
Original message
China's herders plea for help as wolf packs return
Source: AFP

SIZIWANGQI, China (AFP) — Scanning the vast northern China steppe surrounding him, Delger leans on a wooden staff that is his herd's only protection against a lethal enemy that is out there, somewhere.

(snip)

Delger, 44, has lost six of his 40 sheep in the past two years to stealthy attacks by the wolf packs that roam northern China's Inner Mongolia region.

The wolves were hunted to near extinction in China as Communist leader Mao Zedong encouraged the eradication of an animal viewed as a threat to his utopian efforts to increase agricultural and livestock production.

But mounting attacks by the wolves -- now protected -- have sparked calls by herders and some local governments for resumed hunting of the predator.




Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQmQSaQ_dD3WppFMofl_qFQI-Jug



I have to say - I'm firmly on the wolves' side in this battle, although I think the herders should be compensated for their losses.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
kleec Donating Member (117 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-25-09 10:45 AM
Response to Original message
1. By the way
Where the heck is Sarah Palin when you need her? She's a crack shot from a plane when it comes to wolves. Send her to China and let them keep her there.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
hedgehog Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-25-09 10:52 AM
Response to Original message
2. The Chinese herders should be given dogs or llamas to protect their flocks!
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ohio2007 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-25-09 11:04 AM
Response to Original message
3. The wolves were hunted to near extinction as Mao Zedong encouraged the eradication
Edited on Mon May-25-09 11:08 AM by ohio2007
The wolves were hunted to near extinction in China as Communist leader Mao Zedong encouraged the eradication

Hey,
why don't they catch and release them into prehistoric north Korea where they would be welcomed in eradicating the surplus population of Kim worshippers ready to die of starvaton?
It would be in the interests of humane rights.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
bread_and_roses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-25-09 11:42 AM
Response to Original message
4. "What remains unclear is the reason for the wolves' boldness."

Government reports and state-controlled media have said all the indicators show wolf populations are on the upswing thanks to environment-protection measures.

But wolf expert Gao Zhongxin said the opposite is likely true.

Wolves are attacking livestock because environmental degradation, expanding desertification, and human encroachment have reduced their natural prey, said Gao, who has studied the issue for China's Northeast Forestry Institute.

"The number of wolves has probably stabilised but desertification and degeneration of the grassland is increasingly serious and a new threat to the wolves," he told AFP.




Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view 
this author's profile Click to add 
this author to your buddy list Click to add 
this author to your Ignore list Wed May 01st 2024, 08:15 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Editorials & Other Articles Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators


Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC