The Lion Index

[blue_aardvark]

The world is overpopulated, not because there are more than seven billion people on it, but because there are more than seven billion people on it and only 20,000 wild lions (as well as insufficient numbers of other wild creatures

Comments

[m_is_4_awesome]

Good luck with that discussion. The "be fruitful" sorts rarely strike me as reasonable or interested in a discussion rooted in logic or simple realities.

I can think of 2 people offhand right now that I wouldn't mind feeding to a lion...ah, now I thought of 2 more...and 2 more...

I'd like to keep a lion in the trunk of my car and let him out to do some population-weeding at inspired moments. Could make for some very interesting road rage interactions. It's probably make the evening news.

[blue_aardvark]

Exactly, Mel! It really should be thought of in terms of public health. Sure, a few people would be lost to prides of free-roaming suburban lions, but overall the health of the population would rise dramatically. People would be forced to keep in shape, to avoid becoming lion sandwiches.

[newmistakes]

I sometimes think that the only way to really beat the be-fruitful-and-multipliers is to have more children than them, and teach them the wisdom of your lion index of course.

[blue_aardvark]

Lions have it so much better organized. If a man is a polygamist, for example, other younger males should be able to challenge him for control of his harem/pride.

[newmistakes]

But the losing lion has to leave the pride and male lions on their own usually don't live long.. doesn't sound like such a good system unless you're a really mean mother of a daddy lion!

[blue_aardvark]

I am. ;)

[dina_mei]

What a beautiful idea! I'll try it, too, doubtful as I am about its impact on those who wouldn't listen.

I know a place where they got your idea though: the Tenerife Jungle Park, with its narrow paths for people and huge enclosures for animals.

[blue_aardvark]

That zoo looks nice, as good as a zoo can be. But it would be even better if humans were in the enclosures, and lions (and other wildlife) walked by to gawk at the 'bizarre wildlife.' ;)

"The safari park was the first of its kind anywhere in the world and was considered to be a massive breakthrough in the way in which captive animals were kept, with the animals roaming freely and the visitors in cages (cars)": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longleat_Safari_Park