Man’s inhumanity to man constantly bewilders most of us but you don’t need to be an animal rights fanatic to believe the extent of cruelty to defenceless animals comes a close second in measuring the progress of human civilisation.
The mistreatment of animals is all around us but particularly in second and third world countries. Much of it also involves endangered species which is particularly depressing.
On the upside, education and protection initiatives are also everywhere. Having just returned from a trip to Thailand, if you find yourself there I would strongly recommend a visit to the Wildlife Friends Foundations Thailand (www.wfft.org). Set up by Edwin Wiek in 2001, it campaigns against all forms of animal abuse including illegal pet trades rife in Asia. It rescues and rehabilitates captive wild animals, provides veterinary assistance, widespread education initiatives and looks to repopulate animals in forest areas where they are already extinct or endangered. They currently look after some 600 animals from elephants to bears, gibbons to even a rogue crocodile!
But here is why it has to exist. Elephants are beaten into submission for tourist ride purposes with scars all over their bodies and spines bent under the weight of carrying tourists who are too heavy for them. Bears are drained of their bile with paws being cut off to make bear paw soup. Gibbons, Macaques and other monkeys are drugged to make them suitable for ‘cute’ tourist photos before they are killed or abandoned as they get too large and aggressive for easy captivity. The list of mistreatments and the reasons why are endless and that is before the erosion of their natural habitats is addressed.
We all have a responsibility to protect the environment and the animals that live alongside us. Human beings are incredibly powerful and therefore potentially destructive to even the most majestic beasts. Dealing with animal cruelty is about legislation, tackling corruption, cross-border policing, education and providing safe places for animals to recover from the actions of ignorant humans. This is an issue refreshingly not about Brexit or party politics. Everyone one of us can do our bit even if it is not on the scale of Edwin Wiek and we should do so.
Inside Right Politics 