“Here’s a species that of its own accord has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It’s not a strong species.” BBC wildlife expert Chris Packham said.
Chris Packham is a well-known English naturalist, nature photographer, television presenter and author. Obviously, he is a conservationist.
He argued:”It’s big and cute and a symbol of the World Wide Fund for Nature and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation. I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity.” He also added that oney spent on the panda would be better spent on other animals.
It’s said that it not the first time he commented like this. In 2008, he said “I’d eat the last panda if I could have the money we’ve spent on panda conservation back on the table for me to do more sensible things with”.
In my opinion, “pour millions of pounds into panda conservation” is not the point. The thing is, does the protection of pandas deserve “millions of pounds”? And whether we do that in a proper way?
Considering from the ecology aspect, many pandas cannot live themselves or cannot live without human beings’ help. So it becomes endangered and there are only about 20 patches of forest in a densely populated region of China. But in cultural sight, the value of its survival needs more to consider. That is, Giant panda is considered as a national treasure of China. It’s now kind of symptom of China, and also works as a communication bridge between countries (e.g., China has sent many giant pandas to America as a matter of friendship). Above all, people (especially from China) should do more to continue grant panda’s lifetime.
Globally think about this, it seems that it comes from a good desire, but may not come to a proper result. Will Travers, chief executive of the Born Free Foundation, insist that people needed to “do what they can to keep wildlife in the wild”. On this issue, the protection of the giant pandas is essential, but the way people do may be not a best way. Raising the rare animals in a limited area is no difference from putting them into cages, which do little to their evolution. It’s rather than what Packham said, “Let them go, with a degree of dignity”.
So the way we treat with the “big and cute” animal is not a simple question. More discussion and scientific research are needed on it.
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