Enmos
Valued Senior Member
I'm not determined to only see the bad, but most of what I see regarding humans interacting with nature IS bad, whether intended or not.
The sheer number of humans in the world alone is damaging to the natural environment. On top of that we are polluting just about all ecosystems in the world, with sad consequences. Not to mentioned purposely eradicating of entire species because 'they bother us' or are 'evil'.
Nature would be better off if humans weren't around.
That said, you can't deny a persons struggle for life, therefor any direct attack by any creature may be defended. But even then it still should be treated with respect.
It's difficult to have respect for pathogens such as malignant viruses and bacteria because we can really identify with them; we can't even see them.
But by the majority of bacteria are benign to humans, even beneficial. Only a small group is infectious.
It's important to learn about nature and why organisms behave the way they do, it means gaining respect.
About the Tasman Devils, the disease is caused by humans. It is thought environmental toxins are causing it. Another theory is that the cancer cells are not descendant from the devils own cells, meaning they somehow got transferred. Dingo's could be involved, which are INVASIVE species introduced from mainland Asia by seafarers some 3,500 to 4,000 years ago.
In any case, it is thought the facial tumors are able take hold in the Tasman Devil population because of low population density.
"All of the larger carnivorous marsupials became extinct in mainland Australia shortly after humans arrived. Only the smallest and most adaptable survived.
The first Tasmanian settlers ate Tasmanian Devil, which they described as tasting like veal. As it was believed devils would hunt and kill livestock, a bounty scheme to remove the devil from rural properties was introduced as early as 1830. Over the next 100 years, trapping and poisoning brought them to the brink of extinction. After the death of the last Thylacine in 1936, the threat to the devils was recognized. The Tasmanian Devil was protected by law in 1941, and the population slowly recovered."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmanian_Devil
