Re: Maybe not so good...... Some thoughts

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Posted by Walt Deptula on July 01, 2001 at 03:38:21:

In Reply to: Maybe not so good...... Some thoughts posted by Pedersen, S�e on July 01, 2001 at 01:26:18:

: Hi
: I have been thinking about this issue for some years.
: There is an aspect that we might consider before helping neonates:
: Naure didn`t want anything but the strongest to survive, but we can (and do) help weaker/unsuited animals to survive and breed them later on. If this problem is genetic, we could get problems with later generations. Oh I know we wants them all and for some it is also a matter of future money making, but is it in the end a good idea???
: On the other hand it is very easy to slit an egg. I have tried to remove a piece of the top egg shel after about 2 weeks and place plastic in stead ( from the plastic used in the kitchen to wrap around fod) Then I could follow the embryo and it`s growth. It was quite fascinating and the juvenile hatched like all the others.
: Best wishes
: S�e

Hi Soe,

I agree with you that Darwin's theories apply in nature but this is captivity where we (keepers)
play a unnatural role in the entire process.
We cannot equate captivity to nature because we guide the entire reproduction procedure and therefore have an obligation to all neonates including the weak. We must consider the fact that the weak might not be so at all, rather that our husbandry techniques (hundreds of unknown factors) may have contributed to the animal that fails to emerge without help.

Walt Deptula

Follow Ups:

Good points, all....and here's a couple more.... Terry Cox 07/01/01 (0)
Illustrations Walt Deptula 07/01/01 (1)
- Re: Illustrations Terry Parks 07/01/01 (0)

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: : : Hi : : I have been thinking about this issue for some years. : : There is an aspect that we might consider before helping neonates: : : Naure didn`t want anything but the strongest to survive, but we can (and do) help weaker/unsuited animals to survive and breed them later on. If this problem is genetic, we could get problems with later generations. Oh I know we wants them all and for some it is also a matter of future money making, but is it in the end a good idea??? : : On the other hand it is very easy to slit an egg. I have tried to remove a piece of the top egg shel after about 2 weeks and place plastic in stead ( from the plastic used in the kitchen to wrap around fod) Then I could follow the embryo and it`s growth. It was quite fascinating and the juvenile hatched like all the others. : : Best wishes : : S�e : Hi Soe, : I agree with you that Darwin's theories apply in nature but this is captivity where we (keepers) : play a unnatural role in the entire process. : We cannot equate captivity to nature because we guide the entire reproduction procedure and therefore have an obligation to all neonates including the weak. We must consider the fact that the weak might not be so at all, rather that our husbandry techniques (hundreds of unknown factors) may have contributed to the animal that fails to emerge without help. : Walt Deptula

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