Text and Wildlife Photography ©Jim Robertson. All Rights Reserved
Some viewpoints need to go extinct, and the hate-speak espoused by Capt. Ron Malast in his opinion piece, “Let Steller sea lions go extinct,” is at the top of the list. So, the Steller sea lion population is starting to re-grow a little after the commercial seal trade, ruthless bounties and constant shooting as “competition” drove them, and just about every other pinniped species, to the brink of extinction.
The eastern pacific population of Steller sea lions may be up to 70,000 individuals now, but the human population of 7.2 billion grows by 350,000 per day. Let that sink in for a minute… 350,000 PER DAY!
350,000 is also the total number of all other great apes alive today—every chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla and orangutan—combined. Why is that significant? Because scientifically speaking, that’s all we humans really are—just another species of ape, somewhere between chimps and gorillas. Homo sapiens share 98% of our DNA with Pan troglodytes, the chimpanzees.
But while seals and sea lions were evolving into self-sufficient sea mammals, adapting to pelagic life by perfecting the art of holding their breath for up to a half an hour and diving to depths of 600’ or more, human-types were busy developing a profoundly narcissistic sense of entitlement that took root early in Man’s prehistory. This feeling of privilege flourished as our species spread out and usurped every other species’ habitats and resources. From the mightiest bison of the plains to the flattest fish at the bottom of the ocean, we claimed the top of every food chain we could sink our teeth into.
The anthropogenic mass extinction following close on the heels of human’s surging population explosion already saw the end of the Steller sea cow and the Caribbean seal, both hunted to extinction in centuries past. Glibly calling for the extinction of wolves or Steller sea lions to snuff out the competition summons back an outdated attitude that should have long since been dead and buried.
Exposing the Big Game 
Some day, our using up and abusing of the natural world will cause humans to go extinct. What goes around, comes around. Sad, but true.
Unfortunately, everything else will be gone before us. What an a*****e this creep is.
This just proves that animal species are far superior to us. Only humans are stupid enough to cause our own demise.
Jim, the image is gorgeous and you framed the concept…the reality….so well. Thanks.
Thank you on both counts Gail.
It is sad to think that we humans are superior to all other creations and that nothing else matter’s. We are so fortunate to still have beauty that surrounds us but if we do not take a different approach soon we will all be extinct. Who the hell do we think we are.
Reblogged this on GarryRogers Nature Conservation and commented:
Lack of concern for wildlife is outdated because so many animals disappeared in the past few decades and the extinction rate is exploding.
Very funny this animal.. 😀