Moderators, feel free to move this topic. It seemed to me to fit best here.

Tonight`s 60 Minutes had a segment on the relationship of lions and humans. The first protagonist seemed literally to live with lions born in captivity, never to be released. He described himself as a "member of the pride." The lions, of both genders, acted for all the world like dogs. Another person interviewed observed that every person who pets a lion cub contributes directly to the canned lion hunting industry.

I make no effort fully to summarize...I assume the full feature can be seen on the 60 Minutes website. Very honestly, I found this feature far more objective and thoughtfully produced than I would expect from CAN News.

Thoughts from others who saw it?

Good hunting.

When I start watching "60 Communists" I'm turning in my man sack.

quote:

Originally posted by Bud Meadows:
When I start watching "60 Communists" I'm turning in my man sack.

Funny, and true!

I tuned in for a minute or two at the end. My wife had watched the entire segment and wanted to know why those lions hadn't killed him. I could only say, "They will."

Earlier tonight, one of the Sunday talking-heads programs highlighted a press release from the World Wildlife Fund about alleged substantial threats to wildlife around the globe from human activities, including hunting.

Pat Buchanan was the lone voice on the panel reminding viewers the statistics were unsubstantiated. The other panelists, including one who proudly announced he is a vegan, accepted the WWF data as Gospel.

Bill Quimby

I watched the segment.Indeed it was objective.the discussion of canned hunts for lion depicted the shooter as more a collector than a hunter.Nothing bad said about the process other than to point out the socialized beautifully maned lion shot in an enclosure often started out as a cub petted and photographed by nonhunting tourists.I've taken a nice lion in the Save so have no gripe with lion hunting.I am neutral on canned hunts....but not for me.Those who hunt in enclosures could well afford a free range hunt.More free range quota thus exists by virtue of this practice.A hunt,however,is an incredible story,the telling of which excites all with the adventure,the danger,the effort,the sleep deprivation.Not sure a truthfully related tale of taking a captive lion would be as well received. Jim

I thought the show was fine. I do not know why the videos of lions being shot were necessary, but overall it was interesting. it only disparaged hunting adult lions, which had been raised with humans, in an enclosure. if the enclosure was small enough, and the lion tame enough, it deserves criticism.

I did think they should have discussed the number of lions leaving the petting facility, and compared that to the number of lions hunted in SA, and all of Africa. I suspect it is a very small fraction.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
The other panelists, including one who proudly announced he is a vegan, accepted the WWF data as Gospel.

Bill Quimby

I'm convinced this is why 99% of self-proclaimed "vegans" are vegans - so they can announce it. Vegan = "I am holier than thou."

I havn't watched 60 minutes in 15-20 years.

quote:

I havn't watched 60 minutes in 15-20 years.

Probably that long or longer for me as well.
The biased liberal BS turns my stomach.

Some gorgeous lions. That black maned guy was a beaut. I have two friends who hunted lions in SA. Both suspected their lion was drugged. In both cases a lion was found "sleeping" about 1/2 mile from camp. I was on a plains game hunt and was offered a lion hunt add on. A catalog was produced with lions pictured and their price tag. I passed. Really a shame.

I don't own a TV.

There are much more productive or enjoyable ways to spend my free time than watching the idiot box.

I got rid of the TV and bought a gym membership.

For those of you old enough to remember 60 minutes was the start of anti hunting TV propaganda with the airing of "The Guns of Autumn" with Dan Rather.

60 Minutes has aired some pretty biased pieces over the years, but they've also done some damn good work that's benefited hunters and conservation through our sport. Their piece on how operations in Texas have saved endangered species only through recognition of the economic value of these animals to hunters was reflected by federal regulations and policies which followed. This doesn't mean the producers shouldn't be held to answer when they espouse BS, but not every segment is a propaganda piece and we shouldn't bury our collective heads in the sand by refusing to watch, evaluate, and respond to what we see.