Predators

[dave moore]

Throughout the world everything has a predator that applies to mammals ,birds ,insects,reptiles,no matter what ,weather and disease also come into the equation to control their populations .For example one we all know is myxomatosis in Rabbits but many others are controlled in this way ,but when it comes to humans and they are multiplying at a frightening pace and medical science is finding ways to combat disease where is it all going to lead to .More and more it the earths surface is going to be gobbled up to provide areas to house and to grow crops to sustain humans that in my opinion will lead to disasterous confrontation within the world.The biggest loser in all this will be wildlife,you can have all the conservation at the present time but their habitat will disappear and as we all observe that is happening now ,so until the human population is controlled having no predator this is what will take place.I have brought this to attention not as voice of gloom and doom but honestly believe this is a true reflection of the future,fortunately I will not be around to experience it .

[Chris Allman]

Dave, I think that our predators are basically disease, wars and Natural Disasters. The Black Death in 14th Century estimated at between 75 to 200 million deaths world wide - WW1 - estimates of both military and civilian deaths at 37 million - then the flu pandemic which followed in 1918 claimed between 20 and 50 million. WW2 some 20 years later claimed 70 to 85 million in military, civilian and disease and famine related deaths. It pans out, something always arises to deal the leveling factor. Its a worrying thought but if the events of history repeat themselves then some kind of leveling must be due soon - nuclear war - disease who knows but it must be on the cards otherwise as you predict disasters in other ways will prevail, we are between the devil and the deep blue sea as to which comes first, over population or world wide induced or natural disaster.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Dave.
One of the biggest predators is man, there was a statement from the UN the other day saying that over 2,000 species have disappeared , but I can't recall over what period, what they did say is that the highest number have been in Aus, and yet we only have a population of 25 million, and about 10 million of those are since the war. This beggars the question is it evolution or climate change, maybe a bit of both.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Chris, those figures are little when you consider the current population of this planet is close to 8 billion and rising.

But man in his infinite wisdom clears the land to plant his crops, this brings in animals looking for feed.
So man then culls the animals, sounds much nicer than killing, for the simple reason he has yet to find a away to live side by side with them.

But through out evolution there have been countless species disappear, many replaced by new ones.
Many creatures evolve much faster than man and adapt to conditions faster.

But that is no excuse for doing what we do to this planet, but mans greed will in the end destroy him.

[Louis the fly]

Ever since man first walked on the earth we have been killing each other. There has never been a time in our history where somewhere in the world there is not a conflict or war.
War is a billion dollar industry with countries and private companies selling the weapons of war. The biggest threat to mankind is man.

[Harry Nicholson]

Hi Dave.
One of the biggest predators is man, there was a statement from the UN the other day saying that over 2,000 species have disappeared , but I can't recall over what period, what they did say is that the highest number have been in Aus, and yet we only have a population of 25 million, and about 10 million of those are since the war. This beggars the question is it evolution or climate change, maybe a bit of both.
Des

Des, I understand that most loss of species in Australia is due to introduced placental mammals. Specialised marsupials are gobbled up by introduced foxes and cats. A few species survive in isolated wild places or on islands beyond the reach of introductions. The same goes for NZ.

[John F Collier]

Dave, I think that our predators are basically disease, wars and Natural Disasters. The Black Death in 14th Century estimated at between 75 to 200 million deaths world wide - WW1 - estimates of both military and civilian deaths at 37 million - then the flu pandemic which followed in 1918 claimed between 20 and 50 million. WW2 some 20 years later claimed 70 to 85 million in military, civilian and disease and famine related deaths. It pans out, something always arises to deal the leveling factor. Its a worrying thought but if the events of history repeat themselves then some kind of leveling must be due soon - nuclear war - disease who knows but it must be on the cards otherwise as you predict disasters in other ways will prevail, we are between the devil and the deep blue sea as to which comes first, over population or world wide induced or natural disaster.

Right on the nail Chris.

[dave moore]

Throughout species have been introduced ie caned toads in Australia,water pythons in the Everglades in the USA ,African Bees also into America there many more throughout the world they have become a menace to their indigenous wildlife.all were bone with good intentions,but with ignorance .One of the most recent one is the American Crayfish that some became a posh food somehow someone released some into a river and they are now devasting river life .Some of the conservationists are in my opinion bloody crazy ,recently they have come up with an idea to introduce European Lynx into the Kielder forest not far from where I live ,have they got anything between their lugs ,they are supposed to know about nature ,so they release Lynx into Nothumberland without realising that over a period of time their numbers will increase and each pair will seek out a new territory leading to the expansion of the species over large areas.They just cannot of thought about this .The main land use in the area is sheep farming ,would they like to be on their shoes.In the Uk we now have had Beevers introduced into the South West ,how lovely !!when they expand in numbers and start to damage trees they will be culled.it may take a few years but I'll put money on it will come about,sure as eggs are eggs the only way to stop them damaging cash crops of trees will be by the man with the gun .

[Chris Allman]

We have also seen the devastation that Rats cause throughout the world. They spread disease both to wild life and humans and they devastate seabird colony's like the Puffin and other ground nesting birds and animals. Ironic really that the very things that we loved and still do, ' ships ' were wholly responsible for carrying and introducing rats to many an unsuspecting country / island with the subsequent results.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Mother nature held the upper hand for much of the time.
Mankind have wrecked much but, certain the lady will deal
with it in her own way and in her own time, nothing has the
fury of a female scorned.

What is unknown is if humanity will still have a place in the
Grand Order of things. We really are own worst enemy.

Keith.