Get A Couple Of Darwin Awards Ready Please

[Baldric]

Just heard about this on the radio,

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/08/children-swimming-with-seals-in-the-cornish-sea-could-lose-an-ar/

Swimming with Dolphins it ain't!!

[andy-hughes]

This is a result of the anthropomporhisism of wild animals.

People assume that because seals have big soulful eyes and long eyelashes and smooth fur, that they are correspondongly cuddly.

As Basil Fawlty memorably said - cuddle that and you'll never play the piano again!

[Baldric]

Yeah, but I mean, they just look so cuddly don't they?

Wouldn't get me anywhere near one, thank you very much!

[andy-hughes]

Anyone who has dealt with seals will tell you, they are not cuddly!

What they are is chippy, prone to bite, disinclined towards human company, and they smell horrendous!

[Baldric]

Yep, that ^^^ sums 'em up nicely!

[wolf63]

I used to think that bunny rabbits were cute but useless. Then one of my vets said that they were dangerous (she doesn't like them) and will attack when threatened (and when they are grumpy) and can do a bit of damage to a human with its back legs. Seemingly the girls are much worse than boy rabbits - all down to 'hormones'.

Baby chimps are the cutest of creatures - the adults are nearly as vicious as humans.

Seals have huge eyes that make them look docile and cuddleable (a new word??)

[ummmm]

I had rabbits. They are evil and destructive and pretty pointless really.

[Baldric]

Make a nice Pie.

[ummmm]

Yuk...tried rabbit once, never again.

My son still has a scar on his chest from where the rabbit bit him.

[wolf63]

I was trying to work out how to day that.

People in the 'east' eat cats and dogs - I have no right to tell them that this is wrong. I just don't like the cruelty involved prior to the death of the animal. It seems that beating them to death tenderises the meat - probably does, but it doesn't show any human being willing to do that in a good light.

[andy-hughes]

wolf63 - //Seals have huge eyes that make them look docile and cuddleable (a new word??) //

They do, which brings me back to the anthromophipication of animals that humans indulge in.

Look at 'I'm A Celebrity' - people are allowed to abuse and eat alive insects because they are not attractive, and they don't make unpleasant noises as they die, so they are seen as fair game.

Could you imagine the outcry if the same treatment was visited on 'cuddly' seal pups?

Just because a creature is not sprayed with evolution's aftershave is not a good reason to subject it to cruel treatment for entertainment - the main reason why I don't watch the show.

[wolf63]

ummmm - and what big teeth you have bunny rabbit.

Hamsters are prone to biting too

[wolf63]

AH - "They do, which brings me back to the anthromophipication of animals that humans indulge in. "

A very simplistic view of a very complex relationship. My cats, to you and the rest of the world, are just cats. To me they are people with complex personalities who just happen to be cats.

I sometimes call them my babies and to myself as mum - but not very often as I know that I am here to obey their every command and break up their fights. The cute girly cat is the vicious one

[Peter Pedant]

// Hamsters are prone to biting too //
has anyone kept a snake ? - gentlemen need not answer ....

last seal attack - 2003 in antarctic waters. snorkellist dragged under till she drowned.

I thought the harbour master in St Ives was being a bit girlie to be honest

[andy-hughes]

wolf63 - //AH - "They do, which brings me back to the anthromophipication of animals that humans indulge in. "

A very simplistic view of a very complex relationship. My cats, to you and the rest of the world, are just cats. To me they are people with complex personalities who just happen to be cats. //

I think I didn't make my point clear.

This is nothing to do with the personality of an animal, or the interaction you can have with it.

My point is the fact that people look at a seal with it's huge eyes with long eyelashes, and it's sleek fur, and they go 'Aaaahhh ...' and convey upon the animal a cute and cuddly 'persona' inspired by it's cute an cuddly appearance. But the reality is entirely different.

That is the point I am making - cute looks do not always make cute behaviour!

[ummmm]

Even safe animals can be horrible. Llamas gobbing in your face and which are the ones that turn around and squirt their wee at you?

These are considered 'petting' animals.

[Baldric]

///Grey seals may be a danger to swimmers after scientists discovered they were responsible for the widespread slaughter and mutilation of North Sea porpoises.///

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/earth/wildlife/11253207/Grey-seals-kill-porpoises-and-could-attack-humans-scientists-warn.html

[wolf63]

Bears are cute. :-)

[Baldric]

You really wouldn't want a Bear Hug from one would you?

http://dybiz.com/sites_randomblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/lazy_polar_bears.jpg