Pelion Branch Library - Spine Crackers Book Club discussion

How do you feel about animals being brought from the wild to be put on exhibit? Do you think the Montgomery should have addressed this more?

I have mixed feelings about captive wild animals. While I appreciate the conservation and education aspect of having wild animals in a captured environment, I feel sorry for the animals. However, without breeding programs & protections, many animals would be extinct, and may still go extinct despite protective measures.

We have so much to learn about ourselves, wildlife, and our planet. I would like to do it without destroying what we are learning about.

The last sentence of my previous comment was missing a word and it got submitted by accident before I finished.

I would like to learn without harming the animals & planet.

I don’t think Montgomery addresses the issue at all. When she talked about taking animals out of the wild, it felt to me like she was talking about picking flowers. Some survived the trek to their new location, & some didn’t. People go in search of these specific animals, but only a few survive the move.

Then the exhibitors train the animals so they’ll behave a certain way for the audience. I love seeing the animals in a circus, but I hate that these magnificent animals have been reduced to entertainment for the people. We expect them to do our bidding when we want and how we want, treat them miserably, and then complain when they attack us or won’t perform? Shame on us.

I was struck by her comment about how an octopus wouldn’t be put on display until it reached a level of training. It never occurred to me that fish in the aquarium were trained.

Two events resonate with me, one was her willingness and desire to get an octopus as a pet. I immediately started shaking my head as if to argue with her. She doesn't but not because of any ethical choice, she decides not to because of cost, equipment and time that an octopus would require. Then later she asks a trapper how he feels about what he does. He doesn't have any problem with it, he feels that they are "ambassadors" for us to study and enjoy. It is clear the author agrees with him. I am not sure I do.