Massive great white

[icepac]

Irwin swam over the ray and it reacted as it does when a shark swims over it to eat it.

Sharks pin rays to the bottom as they bite them and the rays have developed a defense by instantly shooting barb up when a shadow passes over.

I've seen it many times sailing in shallow water in a hobie cat.

The sail passes over and the ray jabs upward.

Steve just happened to be the shadow that day.

Now THIS is a great white.

[FLOOB]

Orca know how to eat rays withou getting stung. Wow ink just went full PETA! Irwin just proveked dangerous animals to make good tv and make money. Not really any different then those alligator park hillbillies who stick their heads in alligator mouths for tourists.

[Rich46yo]

See Rule #4

[Skyyr]

Those who attack hunters are typically uneducated and overwhelmingly emotional.

The facts:

http://conservationmagazine.org/2014/01/can-trophy-hunting-reconciled-conservation/
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/du-and-hunting/hunters-do-more-for-wildlife
http://dailyreckoning.com/right-to-hunt-vs-animal-rights/
http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HuntingIsConservation/25ReasonsWhyHuntingIsConservation.aspx

This underscores the importance of being educated and informed before forming opinions, especially emotionally-based ones.

[guncrasher]

Those who attack hunters are typically uneducated and overwhelmingly emotional.

The facts:

http://conservationmagazine.org/2014/01/can-trophy-hunting-reconciled-conservation/
http://www.ducks.org/hunting/du-and-hunting/hunters-do-more-for-wildlife
http://dailyreckoning.com/right-to-hunt-vs-animal-rights/
http://www.rmef.org/Conservation/HuntingIsConservation/25ReasonsWhyHuntingIsConservation.aspx

This underscores the importance of being educated and informed before forming opinions, especially emotionally-based ones.

skyyr to be fair, there's lots of idiots among hunters.  a hunting licence doesnt make you somebody that wants to preserve our wild friends.

If you dont feel anything when you kill an "animal" then you arent a hunter,  I believe that, you may not agree with it but that's how I feel.  I have killed many animals since I was a kid.  I always felt a little sting, but at the same time I was grateful that we could eat.


semp

[Skyyr]

skyyr to be fair, there's lots of idiots among hunters.  a hunting licence doesnt make you somebody that wants to preserve our wild friends.

If you dont feel anything when you kill an "animal" then you arent a hunter,  I believe that, you may not agree with it but that's how I feel.  I have killed many animals since I was a kid.  I always felt a little sting, but at the same time I was grateful that we could eat.


semp

Regardless of ethical reasons, those who hunt legally contribute more to the conservation of wildlife than any other group or organization. The irony is that groups like PETA and other pro-animal rights groups - as a whole - do relatively nothing for wildlife preservation, as the majority of their income is spent on internal salaries and advertising; however, their consistent attack on hunters would remove the single biggest source of funding for wildlife, if successful.

Then again, considering the anti-hunting argument is almost always emotional blathering, it's not surprising.

[Scherf]

Irwin came across as a buffoon, and initially I thought not very much of him.

It has to be said though, that the local attitude towards native critters has changed quite rapidly in recent times, and he was a big part of that. It used to be the macho thing to go out and batter the environment into submission - that's far less prevalent now. Irwin was the first one really to portray crocs, and by extension other wildlife, as anything other than mindless killing machines that pose a mortal danger to good people everywhere.

I can't say any of us were surprised when he was killed, there was a certain amount of shock that it was a ray though. I believe he's genuinely missed, however his death still carries with it a strong sense of not playing with fire.

[guncrasher]

Regardless of ethical reasons, those who hunt legally contribute more to the conservation of wildlife than any other group or organization. The irony is that groups like PETA and other pro-animal rights groups - as a whole - do relatively nothing for wildlife preservation, as the majority of their income is spent on internal salaries and advertising; however, their consistent attack on hunters would remove the single biggest source of funding for wildlife, if successful.

Then again, considering the anti-hunting argument is almost always emotional blathering, it's not surprising.

perhaps that is true, but then again, illegal hunting is a big problem isnt it?  lots of so called "hunters" refuse to pay dues and kill because they have "a right to do so".


semp

[Skyyr]

perhaps that is true, but then again, illegal hunting is a big problem isnt it?  lots of so called "hunters" refuse to pay dues and kill because they have "a right to do so".

So your argument, essentially, is that illegal activities harm others and the environment? Sort of obvious, don't you think? That's why we brand those individuals that commit such acts as criminals and felons.

The issue isn't really about hunting, it's about those that break the law.

[guncrasher]

So your argument, essentially, is that illegal activities harm others and the environment? Sort of obvious, don't you think? That's why we brand those individuals that commit such acts as criminals and felons.

The issue isn't really about hunting, it's about those that break the law.

exactly illegal activities harm the environment.    and that's why we brand those who commit those acts as criminals and felons.

semp

[mthrockmor]

Read an article that estimated this shark to be over 20 feet and 50+ years old, female likely pregnant.

boo

[DREDIOCK]

I honestly dont understand the Hubris of some who think they are accomplishing some great mission of ecology by messing with natures beasts and then calling it science. http://www.popfotos.com/these-photos-of-people-who-are-way-too-close-to-sharks-will-drop-your-jaws/?utm_source=ob-ef-2&utm_medium=PopFotos.com-Desktop-US-Sharks-1&utm_content=default&utm_campaign=These%20Images%20of%20Sharks%20Getting%20Way%20Too%20Close%20To%20People%20Are%20Haunting

These are dangerous animals http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/06/15/north-carolina-shark-attack-leaves-teen-girl-severely-hurt/ and while many encounters are by accident there are also many by Bozo's who go looking for trouble, or fame, or most likely money. And later would claim they know so dang much about what they are about they had no fear they could have ended up dinner, or costing their insurance mucho $$$ to put them back together.

Be it some dummy who jumps on a stingray after a lifetime of wrestling croc's, calling his circus act "science". Or some nit-wit who decides coo-coo'ing on all fours next to grizzly Bears is "loving and saving" them, "until of course he and another gets 'et and the world loses two precious Bears due to his arrogance". Or some bimbo who knows so much about Lions she doesnt have to follow the rules like the rest of us dummies and ends up getting 'et by a Lion. Or at least enough of her to make the Darwin club. Or this diver who decides he wants to be the latest knucklehead who gets out of the cage and swims with a man eater to get his 15 mins.

They call it "science" but in the end its all vanity. Its why I'll never go to Sea World to watch a orca, meant to roam hundreds of miles of ocean a day in a set family group, tortured by a bunch of greedy humans by being sentenced to life in a bath tub. Its "handlers" crowing about all the great "science" they are doing like little robots for $$ share holders who only care about the stock prices of the dump. And if a handler get 'kilt by a tortured Orca there is a line a mile long to replace him/her. After all what screwball raised on Disney cartoons could resist a star'ing role in such a circus act all in the name of science? Jeez we might even learn orca's will jump out of the water if you grease them with a herring each time.

Just as bad are these "swim with the Dolphins" scams where for $150 US you can go swim with a wild animal in a bath tub, the tormented thing probably wanting nothing to do with you but has to give you a photo kiss to eat. All so the Human Ape can then go show all her friends what a swell Liberal animal Lover she is and how much she supports wild life. Even risking her self by jumping on its back, "meanwhile a guy named Juan is counting his hundred dollar bills and laughing at the stupid gringo's who gave them to him".

And they demonize Hunters like me. Sportsmen who play by the rules, quietly spending the $$ to support the land and the animals, and then leaving them alone to be wild and free.

But its the arrogance that gets me. The Hubris, the greed, the hypocrisy. Nature is a force that cant be controlled, only destroyed. And I think these circus acts are part of whats destroying it.

On the other hand. Those few that are in "bathtubs" letting people see them up close probably do for for the conservation of the various species by putting a face on these creatures then millions of dollars in advertising ever could ever hope to. Same thing with zoos.

Do you care about the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, The Red River giant softshell turtle?

Odds are you have probably never heard of them let alone saw them.  At best maybe you have seen pictures of them which isnt quite the same as seeing them in person. Yet both are on the verge of extinction. Yet had you seen one in a zoo. You just might say "Wow. those are pretty cool.There are only 4 Red River softshell turtle in the wild? Wow we should do more to preserve them"

Still. Maybe not. They arent exactly the sexy species Orcas are. And we as humans tend to place preference in importance of animal species much in the same way we place vulue on other humans. How sexy they are

[Rich46yo]

Do you really think SeaWorld executives really care about people seeing these animals for conservation? Its a huge corporation that spans the world with many investors http://blackfishmovie.com/ Investors they have to answer to. The Orca is Not! endangered there is no scientific reason to keep them in a bath tub until they go crazy. Its documented they are highly intelligent creatures, and highly social ones. To keep them confined in such places with other individuals they are not familiar with is tantamount to torture. And its all for greed ; To keep selling those $25 stuffed Orca dolls.

SW makes an average of $63 per person rolling thru those gates. How much do you think they'd make without those whales? The Orca that went ape and killed those people in the movie Black fish for years spent its evenings in a pen that didnt allow any movement. Thats about 16 hours of its day, is it any wonder it went bat crap and started whacking the humans tormenting it? Even still its penned up cause its worth a fortune as breeder. And what "science" was ever learned from the poor thing?

What science was ever learned from Irwin jumping on the back of a sting ray or a croc? He knew both were dangerous and certainly wouldnt recommend others doing it. But he just couldnt help himself with those cameras rolling could he? What science did he learn by dangling his one month old baby near a croc? We already know a croc will eat a baby. Did you know after he got kilt by a stingray the authorities started finding lots of Rays with their tails cut off, dead on the beaches of Australia? Nothing like some pay back in the name of conservation.

Well the man was popular, so is "Kim Kardashian", I felt no glee when he died. But he made his cash by jumping on all kinds of critters and messing with them, then turning it into a reality TV show hiding behind "science". None of the good things he did after changes that. Like this dinglebrain with the 26' white skark. Staying in the cage wont make him famous "thats been done" but getting out of it just might get him his own TV show. Im sure he would have loved leaping on it, imagine how that might pay?

And the science? What great science.

On the other hand. Those few that are in "bathtubs" letting people see them up close probably do for for the conservation of the various species by putting a face on these creatures then millions of dollars in advertising ever could ever hope to. Same thing with zoos.

Do you care about the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad, The Red River giant softshell turtle?

Odds are you have probably never heard of them let alone saw them.  At best maybe you have seen pictures of them which isnt quite the same as seeing them in person. Yet both are on the verge of extinction. Yet had you seen one in a zoo. You just might say "Wow. those are pretty cool.There are only 4 Red River softshell turtle in the wild? Wow we should do more to preserve them"

Still. Maybe not. They arent exactly the sexy species Orcas are. And we as humans tend to place preference in importance of animal species much in the same way we place vulue on other humans. How sexy they are

[DREDIOCK]

Do you really think SeaWorld executives really care about people seeing these animals for conservation? Its a huge corporation that spans the world with many investors http://blackfishmovie.com/ Investors they have to answer to. The Orca is Not! endangered there is no scientific reason to keep them in a bath tub until they go crazy. Its documented they are highly intelligent creatures, and highly social ones. To keep them confined in such places with other individuals they are not familiar with is tantamount to torture. And its all for greed ; To keep selling those $25 stuffed Orca dolls.

SW makes an average of $63 per person rolling thru those gates. How much do you think they'd make without those whales? The Orca that went ape and killed those people in the movie Black fish for years spent its evenings in a pen that didnt allow any movement. Thats about 16 hours of its day, is it any wonder it went bat crap and started whacking the humans tormenting it? Even still its penned up cause its worth a fortune as breeder. And what "science" was ever learned from the poor thing?

What science was ever learned from Irwin jumping on the back of a sting ray or a croc? He knew both were dangerous and certainly wouldnt recommend others doing it. But he just couldnt help himself with those cameras rolling could he? What science did he learn by dangling his one month old baby near a croc? We already know a croc will eat a baby. Did you know after he got kilt by a stingray the authorities started finding lots of Rays with their tails cut off, dead on the beaches of Australia? Nothing like some pay back in the name of conservation.

Well the man was popular, so is "Kim Kardashian", I felt no glee when he died. But he made his cash by jumping on all kinds of critters and messing with them, then turning it into a reality TV show hiding behind "science". None of the good things he did after changes that. Like this dinglebrain with the 26' white skark. Staying in the cage wont make him famous "thats been done" but getting out of it just might get him his own TV show. Im sure he would have loved leaping on it, imagine how that might pay?

And the science? What great science.

The execs dont have to care. Its a side benefit for the species. By default awareness is raised. Like I said. Those in captivity doing those shows have done more to raise awareness then any Animal rights campaign could ever hope to.

Irwin was a moron. I said so from the start I also said it was only a matter of time before his luck ran out. I was kinda hoping for it when he had rattle snakes crawling under his groin. That would have been poetic justice.

In the end Irwin rolled the dice one too many times and lost.

[Rich46yo]

Once again, and for the last time, Orca's are not endangered. So what "awareness" is needed, certainly what awareness is needed that justifys torturing a self-aware highly Intelligent and social animal? All for the purposes of entertainment and cash. Does SW pay its share holders or groups that help Orca's "which dont even need help cause they arent endangered and cant be legally killed anyways"?

You dont seem to get it. This is a corporation that systematically tried to cover up the damage it was doing to both the animals and the handlers. All in the name of profit.