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Nov. 28th, 2005 03:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ebonlockCan somebody please tell me what the hell is wrong with people today? No, seriously, WTF would cause someone to do something like this?
U.S. soldiers discovered two endangered cheetah cubs being held captive and abused in a restaurant in this dusty, remote Ethiopian village and have launched a campaign for the animals' rescue.
The 3-month-old cubs were being forced to fight each other for the amusement of patrons at a Gode restaurant; one cheetah was blind, possibly from poachers who kicked the animal in the face.
The soldiers, part of the U.S. counterterrorism task force for the Horn of Africa, discovered the cubs last month. They provided medical treatment to the blinded cub, fed both animals and tried to persuade restaurant owner Mohamed Hudle to hand them over to wildlife officials.
The soldiers also contacted U.S.-based cheetah experts as well as Ethiopian authorities.
Befekadu Refera, an official of the national Environmental Protection Agency in the capital, Addis Ababa, confirmed that the U.S. military had contacted his agency about the cubs and had offered to fly the pair to Addis Ababa, 684 miles away, for care. The U.S. military refused to comment.
The owner, however, was refusing to hand over the cubs unless paid $1,000 for each — 10 times the average income in this impoverished nation of 77 million people.
"I don't see why I should hand them over," Hudle told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "When I was younger I looked after goats and camels, so I know what animals need."
His sons, 4 and 2, pulled the cubs' tails and dragged them around by ropes tied tightly to their necks. Other children followed, poking and teasing the frightened animals.
Mohamed, 43, said he bought the cubs from poachers, who had kicked the female cub in the face, blinding the animal.
The cheetah is endangered because of loss of habitat, poaching and other factors, according to the international Cheetah Conservation Fund. Keeping wild animals is illegal without a special license, but Ethiopia's wildlife laws are rarely enforced. Mohamed also has a hawk with a broken wing and three scrawny baby ostriches.
Deputy Wildlife Minister Ahmed Nisir has sent officials to try to secure the cheetahs' release. A government vet was expected to visit Saturday.
"Unless these cubs are properly looked after and cared for they will soon die," Befekadu said.
He said if the cubs are brought to the capital, they would be cared for on the large grounds of the National Palace, home to several Abyssinian lions rescued by former Emperor Haile Selassie.
Warning, the pictures accompanying the story are downright heartbreaking.
U.S. soldiers discovered two endangered cheetah cubs being held captive and abused in a restaurant in this dusty, remote Ethiopian village and have launched a campaign for the animals' rescue.
The 3-month-old cubs were being forced to fight each other for the amusement of patrons at a Gode restaurant; one cheetah was blind, possibly from poachers who kicked the animal in the face.
The soldiers, part of the U.S. counterterrorism task force for the Horn of Africa, discovered the cubs last month. They provided medical treatment to the blinded cub, fed both animals and tried to persuade restaurant owner Mohamed Hudle to hand them over to wildlife officials.
The soldiers also contacted U.S.-based cheetah experts as well as Ethiopian authorities.
Befekadu Refera, an official of the national Environmental Protection Agency in the capital, Addis Ababa, confirmed that the U.S. military had contacted his agency about the cubs and had offered to fly the pair to Addis Ababa, 684 miles away, for care. The U.S. military refused to comment.
The owner, however, was refusing to hand over the cubs unless paid $1,000 for each — 10 times the average income in this impoverished nation of 77 million people.
"I don't see why I should hand them over," Hudle told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "When I was younger I looked after goats and camels, so I know what animals need."
His sons, 4 and 2, pulled the cubs' tails and dragged them around by ropes tied tightly to their necks. Other children followed, poking and teasing the frightened animals.
Mohamed, 43, said he bought the cubs from poachers, who had kicked the female cub in the face, blinding the animal.
The cheetah is endangered because of loss of habitat, poaching and other factors, according to the international Cheetah Conservation Fund. Keeping wild animals is illegal without a special license, but Ethiopia's wildlife laws are rarely enforced. Mohamed also has a hawk with a broken wing and three scrawny baby ostriches.
Deputy Wildlife Minister Ahmed Nisir has sent officials to try to secure the cheetahs' release. A government vet was expected to visit Saturday.
"Unless these cubs are properly looked after and cared for they will soon die," Befekadu said.
He said if the cubs are brought to the capital, they would be cared for on the large grounds of the National Palace, home to several Abyssinian lions rescued by former Emperor Haile Selassie.
Warning, the pictures accompanying the story are downright heartbreaking.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-28 11:36 pm (UTC)I'm torn between wanting to kick these people in the face, or just breaking down and crying. WTF???
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 12:16 am (UTC)I've been thinking about this some more. I can't get those cute little cubs faces out of my head, I guess.
I'm sort of thinking... that this is inspiring. It makes me want to love more freely. Strange? Maybe. But I guess a part of me really deeply believes in the power of love, that if these people had more love in their lives they would never think it okay to abuse another living thing.
So rather than punch someone, or cry, I think I'll just spread as much love as I can. :)
Much much love,
R.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 12:27 am (UTC)Just one of the many reasons you're so much more evolved a person than I...I desperately still want to punch these assholes. But then I can't quite wrap my brain around anyone who takes pleasure in abusing animals. Why is this fun?
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 12:43 am (UTC)I really don't think it's a far cry from rape, the other topic du jour, therefore more about feeling powerful than anything. Which of course, indicates a deep insecurity. Which normally indicates a feeling of worthlessness arising from a lack of love.
Besides, do consider that punching these assholes would involve a very long, very expensive flight to Ethiopia and at the end of the day, probably a lot less satisfaction than either of us is imagining.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 01:17 am (UTC)I have two thoughts:
1. Rage plus a sense of entitlement that goes largely unfulfilled.
2. Ethiopia used to export slaves.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 04:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 04:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 03:48 pm (UTC)No, it's not too far from rape and other violence. A different flavor, but a similar source.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-29 04:26 pm (UTC)