espanolbot2:

Rare Earth: The Texas Vampires

Not literal vampires, this is about the commercialisation of folk’s genetics in regards to medical research. As in, if genetic researchers find a potential cure in your DNA, do the researchers get the cash from the discovery and any resulting patents, or do you get it, ‘cause they would effectively be selling a part of you?

The example they used of celebrities in the future potentially selling their genetic profile to people to give their kids attitributes seems a touch unlikely…

Mostly because I personally see creepy weirdos in the future just using the DNA of famous people without the “donor’s“ permission. Like, do you REALLY think that there wouldn’t be someone who’d just straight up clone someone like Marilyn Monroe in order to monetise the resulting kid further down the line?

Straight up cloning someone to create a human “sequel“ kind of just seems like the logical extension of some of the terrifying showbiz parents I’ve seen knocking about.

lyrslair:

why-animals-do-the-thing:

little-miss-mash:

ordinaryredtail:

candiikismet:

cats-and-company:

Queen.

I always have to reboot this.

For anyone wondering, this is amazing enrichment for the animal and a great way to involve guests! The lions aren’t forced to play with the rope if they don’t want to, and these guys (and anyone else who tries this out) have an awesome close up and hands on experience, all without having to come in direct contact with the cat!

@why-animals-do-the-thing

This definitely counts as #actually cute. This video is from the San Antonio Zoo, and the lioness’ name is Axelle. As @ordinaryredtail said above, the tug of war interaction is entirely voluntary on her part.

My guess is that the zoo staff did use some positive reinforcement training to teach her how to pick up and pull on the rope at first, because that’s not necessary something a lion would just do on their own. While it’s also probable that she’s rewarded with something tasty did choosing to engage with the members of the public like this, Axelle wouldn’t be engaging if it was a negative experience for her (there aren’t enough snacks in the world to coerce a lion into doing something they find actively distressing). If she didn’t want to participate, she could just walk away.

Some sanctuary and animal rights groups have taken issue with this interaction because they consider it unethical to ask a lion to engage in any “unnatural behavior” “for the benefit of the public,” calling it exploitation. It is worth keeping in mind, however, that learning and engaging in novel behaviors is hugely enriching for animals in human care, and that lions have no concept of exploitation. As long as the lion is not bothered by the presence or noise of the crowd, is not injured or harmed, and is engaging on an entirely voluntary basis, this sort of thing is entirely ethical. It is far safer than any type of interaction where a member of the public is coming into direct context with a big cat, but still allows people to directly experience the sheer strength of a lion up close.

I will also note that this would seem to be a good way to show people firsthand how dangerous it would be to try and keep one of these animals for yourself, which is important in a day and age when wildlife illiteracy is causing a lot of deaths (bear and bison selfies, people wandering off their safari bus to get closer to big cats in the wild, etc. happening because all people see is the “cute” and not the dangerous – there needs to be a balance). It instills a sense of awe and wonder while still keeping it very obvious that this animal would be perfectly capable of killing you were you not to give it the space it deserves.