AK Vets--Elephant Surgery

[PSU_Princess]

I wasn't sure where to put this...but I guess it is WDW news. I had no idea that there was a need for elephant vasectomies?!?!:veryconfu

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-10-11-elephant-vasectomies_x.htm

I guess it is good to know that the AK vets are at the fore front of this new procedure. Did the 5 foot surgical tool make any of the guys cringe? :lol:

 

[Brwneyedgirl72]

wow....odd - but interesting.....

 

[CoffeeJedi]

 

[5mins2disney]

I didn't think elephants had an over-population issue?

The article mentions it may be a problem actually in some areas...very interesting.

So can we go "backstage" at AK and see it in action? hehe

 

[metscool]

How do you find these things?

 

[PSU_Princess]

I didn't think elephants had an over-population issue?

I didn't know that either. I always thought that was one of the breeding programs that was talked about. I never realized that there was a problem in the wild but they were eager to breed in captivity.

How do you find these things?

It was on the front page of the Usa Today website. I check that site every day and when I saw the headline I just laughed.

 

[CBOMB]

They cull herds of elephants in Africa because of over population. This is because of the developement in land that once supported many more elephants than can be handled today. I think birth control is a far more humane treatment of the over population of wild animals.

 

[Etenpenny]

two inches of skin a foot of muscle and 4 inches of fat, good lord

 

[Meeko]

Yikes!

I would not like to witness this... although I think that having them try to stand up an elephant that's asleep would be an interesting site. Still the whole thing doesn't sound 100% humane.

 

[rileyspaw]

My eyes began to water as I read the message! OUCH!!

 

[Master Yoda]

They cull herds of elephants in Africa because of over population. This is because of the developement in land that once supported many more elephants than can be handled today. I think birth control is a far more humane treatment of the over population of wild animals.

If you have ever seen how they "cull" herds of elephants you would realize how correct you are. What I have seen done is a bunch of guys driving into a heard of elephants mowing the adults down with fully automatic AK-47's and capturing and selling the calves that survive. Not a pretty scene.

 

[CBOMB]

Yes I have seen it. Almost anything is more humane other than wholesale slaughter. I believe they said the only alternative was starvation, but still gunning down hundreds of animals is not a pleasant thing to witness.