Thursday, December 6, 2007

Saving Macaws

Macaws are one species of the birds’ kingdom. They are beautiful, have tender behavior, and are easy to get close to. But their intelligence is the first key that attracted me so much. “Macaws can be taught to speak English words or phrases, or any language for that matter,” Don Brightsmith said (2006, par. 10). They are all about at age 2-5 of children’s intelligence. They can imitate different sounds and perform some simple actions. In this research, I am going to just pick two kinds from the 17 species of macaws and talk about their profiles and their living environment.

“Macaws, middle or large shape birds, dwell in many areas and most species inhabit tropical, lowlands or nearby rivers” Dr. Rudolph (n.d., par. 1) said. According to National Geographic website (n.d., Macaws profile), the largest macaws will grow up to 34 inches and the smallest is only about 10, and a mature macaw will weigh less than 4 pounds. All macaws are covered with very bright feathers in different colors. For example, Great Green Macaws have a light green colored feathers on their bodies and sea blue color on their wings, and Blue-Gold Macaws sport a sky blue color and gold (yellow) on their stomach, and a white face. They are bred by humans as domestic animals in these decades, so we are used to seeing them at some specific places such as zoos, pets stores, some festivals and so on. Somehow, it is so conflicted that the scientists’ research reports that they are shrinking in numbers and numbers of species of macaws so fast. And then, they put them on the observation list because these colorful, cute and smart birds are endangered, and some of them have been approved as extinct species and some are less than 35 pairs (San Juan-La Selva Biological corridor, n.d. par. 5). The cause of three situations is that their home is disappearing at an unbelievable speed because of human destruction. Furthermore, there are several things that strike them and make them close to the edge of extinction. This puzzle is waiting for us to discover.

In an earlier era, our governments did not have a comprehensive law to protect all kinds of animals, which accounted for the illegal pet trading thriving. Especially, the wild macaws shrunk very quickly. But now I believe many governments usually only have the laws, which is similar to beating illegal pet trading but not really related to it. These laws are mostly under the National Medicine Center (NMC) or National Preventing Infection Department (NPID). Their main purpose was preventing illegal pet trading from causing uncontrollable infection. Especially, they all focus on virus spreading. Some other governments set it under the tax revenue. This would be more boldly and directly telling illegal pet traders to “pay tax or be illegal”. However, these laws were made in terms of humans, not in terms of animals or conservation. My ideal illegal pet trading laws should be directly beneath environmental conservation or animals’ protection departments and theirs laws, and then NMD or NPID should support them. It would be similar to Tax Revenue and National Security Departments, both related with Customs. The new laws would not only send these illegal traders into jail but also sentence them to serve social work for animals. If it was possible, government could hire some well-behaved traders as animal police to suppress the illegal pet trade, because they know their criminal activities manners; and an animals' educator after they get their freedom from jail. This should be done as was described by Dr. Charlie’s, claimed in Real Macaws, Nature (n.d., par. 2). Following this aspect, we should improve the situations of the three players, those of macaws, governments and illegal pet traders.

To satisfy our inner pet marketing needs, I would like to suggest a plan for breeding domestic macaws. In Taiwan, we have a saying, “the smaller on the quantity the higher the price”. On the other hand, if we could breed a certain quantity for our pet marketing and the price would be far less than the marketing price of illegal pet trading, and then no one will buy macaws from them. Besides, the breeding places must be in opened or semi-opened areas and the macaw’s semi-human-bred. The semi-human–bred involves men helping macaws to have next generations, but letting macaws raise their chicks. The main reason is macaws grow their babies, which can be becoming accustomed to wildlife and increasing their quantities in order to avoid extinction. Actually, in this plan, not only do we breed macaws as pets but we also breed them for the wild and match pet market demands.

That macaws are losing their habitats is for real. In my view, humans’ population has been in exponential growth since the industrial revolution. I assume that our resources will probably grow in the same way or more. Some resources can not be produced by us, so we need to get them from nature, such as trees. As a result of this, the deforestation is the first problem which directly threatens macaws. Of course, all governments have forest laws, but I have not seen any of them that have laws requiring compulsory growing of trees. Referring to our current situation, we should require the furniture, logging and other related wood companies to grow at least 10 trees for two years before they cut one tree. This opinion is based on economic loan and saving concept. It would be like when you get a loan from banks or any financial organizations, and you need to pay “interest” annually; but if you place money in them, what will happen? The answer will be positive. You could withdraw interest from them and you might gradually become richer and richer. Saving for the future; I called it in my mind.

I believe that many environmental specialists are becoming theorists. They always tell people the problems, but usually offer “Mission Impossible” resolutions. They go on talk shows, press conferences, news programs and newspapers to highly pitch speeches, but they lack practical executive experience. They usually say: ”environment has been threatened, and we should save it; we should cut fewer trees…, and find substitutes”. And then? How? What we need is a plan and seriously execute it.

We need really long term and executable resolutions. Altering these illegal pet traders as animals’ helpers can make animals, governments and traders all get benefits. Breeding wild macaws by our technology in opened or semi–opened areas for supplying pet marketing needs and for increasing the numbers of macaws helps them escape extinction. Saving for the future is depositing today for tomorrow’s use. These are executable projects, which are waiting for our governments to arrange and order. I expect that government can accelerate on the legislating and executing of new environment, animal trading and other laws, because we do not have enough time.

Reference

Brightsmith, D. (2006, November 06). Researcher Studying Declining Numbers Of Macaws. Retrieved November 6th 2007 from Lexis-Nexis

National Geographic. (n.d.). Macaws. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/macaws.html

Nature. (1997-2007). The Real Macaws, Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/realmacaw/endangered.html

Ney, C. (1999). Endangered Species: Blue and Gold Macaws. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://neyture.info/teachered/endanger/reports/birds/macaw/macaw.html

Parrot - Link (1998). Parrot Research Studies - Great-Green Macaws (Ara ambigua). Parrot – Research & Information. Retrieved November 6th 2007 from http://www.parrot-link.co.uk/macaws.htm

Rudolph, E. K. (n.d.). The Endangered Great Green Macaw Ara ambigua. Retrieved October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.drellenrudolph.com/costarica/macaws.html

San Juan-La Selva Biological corridor. (2001). The Great Green Macaw: en route to extinction. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.lapaverde.or.cr/lapa/index_eng_lapa.htm

Thaxton, B. (n.d.). Macaws on the Endangered Species List. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.exoticbird.com/endangered_macaws.htm

Wikipedia (October 19th, 2007). Macaws: Blue and Gold Macaws. wikipedia.org Retrieved October 23rd, 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaw

Monday, December 3, 2007

We need new methods to save macaws

We need new methods to save macaws

In an earlier era, our governments did not have a comprehensive law to protect all kind of animals, which accounted for the illegal pet trading thriving. Especially, the wild macaws shrunk very quickly. But now I believe many governments usually only have the laws, which is similar to beating illegal pet trading but not really related to it. These laws are mostly under the National Medicine Center (NMD) or National Preventing Infection Department (NPID). Its main purpose was preventing illegal pet trading from causing uncontrollable infection. Especially, they all focus on virus spreading. Some other governments set it under the tax revenue. This would be more boldly and directly telling illegal pet traders to “pay tax or be illegal”. However, these laws were made in terms of humans, not in terms of animals or conservation. My ideal illegal pet trading laws should be directly beneath environmental conservation or animals’ protection departments and theirs laws, and then NMD or NPID support it. It would be similar to Tax Revenue and National Security Departments, both related with Customs. The new laws would not only send these illegal traders into jail but also sentence them to serve social work for animals. If it was possible, government could hire some well-behaved traders as animal police to suppress the illegal pet trade, because they know their criminal activities manners; and an animals' educator after they get their freedom from jail. The education part is the same as Dr. Charlie’s, claimed in Nature (Real Macaws, par. 2). Following this aspect, we should improve three wins’ situation, these of macaws, governments and illegal pet traders.

To satisfy our inner pet marketing needs, I would like to suggest a plan for breeding domestic macaws. In Taiwan, we have a saying, “the smaller on the quantity the higher the price”. On the other hand, if we could breed a certain quantity for our pet marketing and the price would be far less than the marketing price of illegal pet trading, and then no one will buy macaws from them. Besides, the breeding places must be in opened or semi-opened areas and semi-human-bred. The semi-human–bred is men helping macaws to have next generations, but letting macaws raise their chicks. The main reason is macaws grow their babies, which can be being accustomed to wildlife and increasing their quantities in order to avoid extinction. Actually, in this plan, not only do we breed macaws as pets but we also breed them for the wild and match pet market demands.

That macaws are losing their habitats is for real. In my view, humans’ population has been in exponential growth since the industrial revolution. I assume that our resources will probably grow in the same way or more. Some resources can not be produced by us, so we need to get them from nature, such as trees. As a result of this, the deforestation is the first problem which directly threatens macaws. Of course, all governments have forest laws, but I have not seen any of them that have laws requiring compulsory growing of trees. Referring to our current situation, we should require the furniture, logging and other related wood companies to grow at least 10 trees for two years before they cut one tree. This opinion is based on economic loan and saving concept. It would be like when you get a loan from banks or any financial organizations, and you need to pay “interest” annually; but if you place money in them, what will happen? The answer will be positive. You could withdraw interest from them and you might gradually become richer and richer. Saving for the future; I called it in my mind.

I believe that about many environmental specialists are becoming theorists. They always tell people the problems, but usually offer “Mission Impossible” resolutions. They go on talk shows, press conferences, news programs and newspapers to highly pitch speeches, but they lack practical executive experience. They usually say:”environment has been threatened, and we should save it; we should cut fewer trees…, and find substitutes”. And then? How? What we need is a plan and seriously execute it.

We need really long term and executable resolutions. Altering these illegal pet traders as animals’ helpers can make animals, governments and traders all get benefits. Breeding wild macaws by our technology in opened or semi–opened areas for supplying pet marketing needs and for increasing the numbers of macaws helps them escape extinction. Saving for the future is depositing today for tomorrow’s use. These are executable projects, which are waiting for our governments to arrange and order. I expect that government can accelerate on the legislating and executing of new environment, animal trading and other laws because we do not have enough time.

Reference

Brightsmith, D. (2006, November 06). Researcher Studying Declining Numbers Of Macaws. Retrieved November 6th 2007 from Lexis-Nexis

National Geographic. (n.d.). Macaws. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/macaws.html

Nature. (1997-2007). The Real Macaws, Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/realmacaws/ecotourism.html

Ney, C. (1999). Endangered Species: Blue and Gold Macaws. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://neyture.info/teachered/endanger/reports/birds/macaw/macaw.html

Parrot - Link (1998). Parrot Research Studies - Great-Green Macaws (Ara ambigua). Parrot – Research & Information. Retrieved November 6th 2007 from http://www.parrot-link.co.uk/macaws.htm

Rudolph, E. K. (n.d.). The Endangered Great Green Macaw Ara ambigua. Retrieved October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.drellenrudolph.com/costarica/macaws.html

San Juan-La Selva Biological corridor. (2001). The Great Green Macaw: en route to extinction. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.lapaverde.or.cr/lapa/index_eng_lapa.htm

Thaxton, B. (n.d.). Macaws on the Endangered Species List. Retrieved on October 22nd, 2007, from http://www.exoticbird.com/endangered_macaws.htm

Wikipedia (October 19th, 2007). Macaws: Blue and Gold Macaws. wikipedia.org Retrieved October 23rd, 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaw