Let’s remember, these were the same people calling for Knut to be euthanized in 2007. Also, it seems that there is a much easier way to prevent him from mating with the other polar bear: put them in different enclosures.
When I visited Knut in Berlin in the summer of 2007, he was living alone in an enclosure that was larger than the enclosure that all of the other polar bears lived in. I was also fortunate enough to meet the human who raised Knut (who has passed away recently), though we could not communicate because I don’t speak German.
My solution is to allow them to do it. Give a PETA volunteer a castration tool and put him/her in the cage with Knut. No anesthesia, of course, since you don’t want to violate his rights.
This is quite typical of so-called “animal rights activists.” they claim to be animal lovers, but in practice, they favor exterminating animals. When I lived in Alaska, an animal rights group vilified a group of local guys who went onto a frozen lake to save a moose who had broken through the ice. they said that the rescuers should be charged with harassing wildlife, and that it would be preferable for the moose to die an agonizing death. PETA also favors abolishing keeping dogs and cats as pets, which would ultimately lead to extinction.
Houston Lawyer: Wouldn’t a vasectomy do the trick? Why not neuter the cousin? I see sexism at work here.
I guess the theory is that the female should breed (since the AGW folks, and I expect PETA agrees, think that Polar bears are headed to extinction), the female has limited uterine breeding cycles, and they should be reserved for different sperm.
This IMHO is a PETA press release. If they wanted to actually save the bear gene pool, they would suggest a different mate for the female and propose that Knut’s sperm be frozen or sent to XX city.
I vote for the mikeeye solution. Let some PETA volunteer tell Knut that his nutz got to be kut.
This is typical PETA. I doubt even they think the bear should be castrated. They just say and do outrageous stuff so that people pay attention to them (and it does seem to work).
I’m in favor of castrating. No, not Knut but PETA members. Clearly they should not be allowed to breed to prevent them from polluting the gene pool. One generation of PETA members is enough!
BTW, they are not going to castrate Knut, because they plan on eventually leasing him to another zoo for the purpose of having him sire children.
Last I heard, the Los Angeles Zoo was going to be his destination, but those plans might be on hold for good given the recession and the fact that Knut is still a major tourist attraction.
Do they even have the science right? From what I’ve heard animals have much greater genetic diversity than humans. For instance the example I remember is that one chimpanzee troop is said to have more genetic variation than mankind in general. So would polar bear cousins breeding even remotely be a problem?
Aren’t these folks the “animal rights” nuts [no pun intended] who initially wanted to kill Knut?
Maybe Richard Nieporent has the right idea. (Maybe Knut could perform the surgery. God gave him the tools, no instruments necessary. [I'll reserve judgment on anesthesia for the PETA putz.])
Does PETA have standing before the judge in the Knut Ball Cutting Court? Why? And who gave it to them? Was an amicus brief every requested? If not, why don’t they just keep quiet? Oops, I think I know why.
ruuffles says:
Afterwards, you can just call him “K.”
March 4, 2010, 10:29 amTamerlane says:
Please don’t kut Knut’s nuts
March 4, 2010, 10:46 amAnonsters says:
A little warning on the polar bear porn at the link woulda been nice. Sheesh.
Priceless:
“Let’s keep our paws off Knut’s balls – Analysis & Opinion (3 Mar 10)”
And in Soviet Russia, polar bears castrate YOU!
March 4, 2010, 10:51 amNaG says:
Didn’t they mean “Newt” (Gingrich)? I remember “Neuter Newt” bumperstickers back in the day.
March 4, 2010, 10:52 amShelbyC says:
greeeaaat. I wonder what kind of google hits they’re going to be getting now.
March 4, 2010, 11:06 amHadur says:
Let’s remember, these were the same people calling for Knut to be euthanized in 2007. Also, it seems that there is a much easier way to prevent him from mating with the other polar bear: put them in different enclosures.
When I visited Knut in Berlin in the summer of 2007, he was living alone in an enclosure that was larger than the enclosure that all of the other polar bears lived in. I was also fortunate enough to meet the human who raised Knut (who has passed away recently), though we could not communicate because I don’t speak German.
March 4, 2010, 11:18 ammikeyes says:
My solution is to allow them to do it. Give a PETA volunteer a castration tool and put him/her in the cage with Knut. No anesthesia, of course, since you don’t want to violate his rights.
Problem solved.
March 4, 2010, 11:32 amSeamus says:
But marriage between first cousins is legal in Germany.
March 4, 2010, 12:19 pmHouston Lawyer says:
Wouldn’t a vasectomy do the trick? Why not neuter the cousin? I see sexism at work here.
March 4, 2010, 1:01 pmJohn Cunningham says:
This is quite typical of so-called “animal rights activists.” they claim to be animal lovers, but in practice, they favor exterminating animals. When I lived in Alaska, an animal rights group vilified a group of local guys who went onto a frozen lake to save a moose who had broken through the ice. they said that the rescuers should be charged with harassing wildlife, and that it would be preferable for the moose to die an agonizing death. PETA also favors abolishing keeping dogs and cats as pets, which would ultimately lead to extinction.
March 4, 2010, 1:09 pmThe Drill SGT says:
I guess the theory is that the female should breed (since the AGW folks, and I expect PETA agrees, think that Polar bears are headed to extinction), the female has limited uterine breeding cycles, and they should be reserved for different sperm.
This IMHO is a PETA press release. If they wanted to actually save the bear gene pool, they would suggest a different mate for the female and propose that Knut’s sperm be frozen or sent to XX city.
I vote for the mikeeye solution. Let some PETA volunteer tell Knut that his nutz got to be kut.
March 4, 2010, 1:15 pmRoscoe says:
This is typical PETA. I doubt even they think the bear should be castrated. They just say and do outrageous stuff so that people pay attention to them (and it does seem to work).
March 4, 2010, 1:50 pmRichard Nieporent says:
I’m in favor of castrating. No, not Knut but PETA members. Clearly they should not be allowed to breed to prevent them from polluting the gene pool. One generation of PETA members is enough!
March 4, 2010, 2:30 pmFub says:
I doubt extinction. Known populations of feral dogs include Dingos, Pariah Dogs, Carolina Dogs and New Guinea Singing Dogs.
But that minor point doesn’t make PETA’s demand any less silly.
March 4, 2010, 2:32 pmSarcastro says:
[I'm coming the believe PETA is some sort of elaborate performance art. No way do they think they are accomplishing their goals.
Though, to be fair, I'm not sure how insane German PETA is.]
March 4, 2010, 2:57 pmMatthew says:
Whoa, fourteen comments on an article about PETA and no one has used ‘terrorists’ yet?
March 4, 2010, 3:10 pmCalderon says:
I demand that Obama and Holder release the names of any attorneys who have ever represented PETA. Expose the PETA Unknown Number!
March 4, 2010, 3:19 pmHadur says:
BTW, they are not going to castrate Knut, because they plan on eventually leasing him to another zoo for the purpose of having him sire children.
Last I heard, the Los Angeles Zoo was going to be his destination, but those plans might be on hold for good given the recession and the fact that Knut is still a major tourist attraction.
March 4, 2010, 3:28 pmLib says:
Abstinence-only education should be considered first.
March 4, 2010, 4:21 pmAmerican Psikhushka says:
Do they even have the science right? From what I’ve heard animals have much greater genetic diversity than humans. For instance the example I remember is that one chimpanzee troop is said to have more genetic variation than mankind in general. So would polar bear cousins breeding even remotely be a problem?
March 4, 2010, 4:44 pmlicrimlawyer says:
Aren’t these folks the “animal rights” nuts [no pun intended] who initially wanted to kill Knut?
Maybe Richard Nieporent has the right idea. (Maybe Knut could perform the surgery. God gave him the tools, no instruments necessary. [I'll reserve judgment on anesthesia for the PETA putz.])
March 4, 2010, 6:39 pmKalle Kock says:
Does PETA have standing before the judge in the Knut Ball Cutting Court? Why? And who gave it to them? Was an amicus brief every requested? If not, why don’t they just keep quiet? Oops, I think I know why.
March 5, 2010, 5:29 pmLinnie Mchalffey says:
Arthritis in your pooch can be a major issue that many people never even think of in older dogs.
March 25, 2010, 6:57 pm