Close calls that make me shudder...

[barnacler]

I came across this...

History’s Biggest Close Calls: The Near-Misses That Could Have Changed the World - History Collection

Throughout history, humanity has narrowly escaped events that could have dramatically altered the course of civilization. From the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis to the near-destruction of the Byzantine Empire, these pivotal moments underscore the fragility of our...

historycollection.com

However, none of these to me compares to......

 

[barnacler]

The near extinction of the buffalo.

Now, don't get me wrong, these other events were certainly extraordinary events, but.....

....the idea that we nearly wiped off the face of the earth such a magnificent animal purely for their skins, and (in some cases) to starve out indigenous people is a frightening thought.

Now, please, don't make this political or racial. That is not my point.

I recently posted about how much of our lifestyle we (HUMANITY) are willing to give up to save human lives. But senseless extinction of other species is frightening.

Extinction is natural, it happens all the time through a geological time-frame lens. If the orange-banded 7-toed Croatian salamander ( I am making this up BTW) goes down because of increased predation by the Big-nosed Eurasian egret, tough luck. You weren't good enough.

But extinction by an unnecessary vendetta by mankind is another thing altogether. I am talking skins, traditional medicine, etc.

Now, I know it is unfair, but I care a lot more about the larger mammals, fish, and birds, than I do about insects etc.

But holy crap, can't we save Gorillas, Orangutans, Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Pangolins, Turtles, and my favorite (meaning the one I am most concerned about ) .. the North Atlantic Right whale. It's right in OUR (CANADA!) backyard!

WE nearly lost blue and sperm whales.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

The Leafs’ trading Wendel Clark for Mats Sundin.

 

[xix]

The Leafs’ trading Wendel Clark for Mats Sundin.

I thought you meant loosing "The Leafs".

 

[Robert Mugabe]

The near extinction of the buffalo.

Now, don't get me wrong, these other events were certainly extraordinary events, but.....

....the idea that we nearly wiped off the face of the earth such a magnificent animal purely for their skins, and (in some cases) to starve out indigenous people is a frightening thought.

Now, please, don't make this political or racial. That is not my point.

I recently posted about how much of our lifestyle we (HUMANITY) are willing to give up to save human lives. But senseless extinction of other species is frightening.

Extinction is natural, it happens all the time through a geological time-frame lens. If the orange-banded 7-toed Croatian salamander ( I am making this up BTW) goes down because of increased predation by the Big-nosed Eurasian egret, tough luck. You weren't good enough.

But extinction by an unnecessary vendetta by mankind is another thing altogether. I am talking skins, traditional medicine, etc.

Now, I know it is unfair, but I care a lot more about the larger mammals, fish, and birds, than I do about insects etc.

But holy crap, can't we save Gorillas, Orangutans, Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Pangolins, Turtles, and my favorite (meaning the one I am most concerned about ) .. the North Atlantic Right whale. It's right in OUR (CANADA!) backyard!

WE nearly lost blue and sperm whales.

Watched a long documentary on it last year. Heartbreaking. They used to have organized tours for people to shoot them from trains. I remember one part where the white buffalo hunters were forbidden to cross over onto Indian land where buffalo were being protected from hunting. But when the white men killed all they had they went after the protected buffalo. They thought "they are there. why not?"