The Beggar

The weather was sickening. 
Hong Kong, not known for good weather as much as being the spurring metropolis it is, is not so fun once we're outside the indoors. Hot is an understatement, the air so humid, sweat refuses to evaporate. 

In just such weather, I was lugging myself through the streets, picturing the blissful air-conditioning of the subway station I was heading towards. My aunt led the way. 

The station was in sight. But out of the corner of my eyes, I caught the sight of a man, sitting on the side of the road. It was a common sight in Hong Kong. Just as common as men in fancy (and unnecessary) cars, in ironed suits carrying brand name suitcases. As common as women dressed in tight dresses, shining 4 inch high heels and LV bags. 

The man was like any homeless man. How exactly he looked, escapes my mind, but I remembered pulling out my pockets, clawing through my bag to find a bit of money. Quickening my pace ahead of my aunt, I dropped the coins with the man, who seemed grateful. I then proudly hopped back to my aunt: "look auntie! I did a good deed!" 

My aunt didn't look too impressed though. Gently pulling me in until her mouth was by my ear, said she, "Ah, Silly Girl! Didn't you know? That might have been a main-lander dressed up as a beggar! You probably got your money tricked off of you!" 


I blinked. 


And so I probably did get my money, the measly 1 dollar HKD of it, tricked off of me. But something didn't seem right about not giving the money. Something seemed off about walking past a poor man and not giving anything simply because I speculated he might be cheating it off of me. 


When I told my family this, they half-teased, half-yea-this-is-Vivian-for-you, said, "Oh, so you'd rather get robbed than to not have given?"


THE LOGIC OF THE SITUATION


And yes, that's exactly what I wanted to do. So what if that was a cheater? I figured the logic of the situation (for the sake of being logical) goes as follows:  


If he was a cheating scandal and I gave him a dollar, he probably has a stash of cash somewhere else. So what difference will my dollar make to him?


If that indeed was a man in need, a dollar will bring him that much closer to having food for the night, so that he might have something to eat. So what difference will my dollar make to him?


Me on the other hand, have a dollar to spare. I wasn't betting my fortune on this man's liability. It was a spare change dollar in my pocket. 


So I completely understand that if I give my money to the VERY wrong people, than I could be encouraging something VERY bad. Like...

• Drug Abuse
• Some children on the side of the streets are in fact, kidnapped to beg for money. That's, needless to say, bad and should probably be reported right away.
• They may be able to work, but refuses to

All of these points discourage giving, sometimes, to those who are very much in need. 

A lovely solution (I think anyway), if awkward, is to not give in money, but to give in necessity. 

A loaf of bread will mean little to pretenders, while meaning a lifeline for those truly in need. 


And between an old person who doesn't look as if they could support themselves vs. a young man who still looks fit and strong, an old man may be more in need.  


Win-win situation? 
If I am to support my "rather get robbed than to not have given" ideologies, I figured I might as well try to do it cleverly. That, I still need work on.  

   

"We Humans Are Above Nature!" A Chilling Case.

So in my last post, "Are we Above Nature?" I dove straight into trying to prove that Humans are not above nature, and that on the contrary, nature governs us. 

The Main Point
Relating back to my previous post, what I find most frightening is not to think that Nature is indomitable to us, but that some of us (although I'm sure not most) would fathom that this weren't true.

Spix's Macaw: 85 left (2010), all in captivity

Because when one underestimates our dependence on nature and overestimates nature's ability to conserve and replenish its resources, the same result can occur: 

We could destroy it without knowing.

Let's get a couple examples.


Spix's Macaw: (critically endangered) As of 2010, there are 85 left. All of them are held in captivity in four separate facilities. 76 of them are involved in breeding programs, carefully monitored in an effort to recover the species. Thought to be extinct in the wild. Decline in numbers attributed to capture, destruction of habitat, introduction of the Africanized Bee (killer bees) that kill nesting individuals and compete for habitat. Depends completely on Caraibeira (Tabebuia aurea) tree for nesting.

Buffalo: (bison bison) also known as the American Bison (current conservation status: near threatened). Once numbering in tens of millions, they were lessened to less than 300 little more than a century ago with Western settlement. Fortunately, conservational efforts worked to restore the population. They now number in the tens of thousands, although nowhere near the population it once was, it is unlikely it will ever face extinction ever again. 

American Bison (Bison bison)

 
  Pinta Island Tortoise: (Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni) One subspecies of Galapagos tortoises (current conservation status: extinct in wild) It is represented by a single individual, known as Lonesome George (possibly by a second individual at Prague Zoo, called "Tony"). 
Decline of the species has been linked to the introduction of feral goats, to the Islands, where the tortoises reside. They were abandoned by whalers, pirates etc. in order to ensure meat supply when they returned. 

Lonesome George, could probably care less that he's very possibly the last of his kind...except for the lack of ladies.

Recently, the feral goat population has been exterminated, the health of the ecosystem is returning to a healthy state. Too late, it seems, for the Pinta Island Tortoises. 

SO IN CONCLUSION
The species above were reduced by many factors, but human intervention was a major one. A poor understanding of the ecosystem they set their shoes on, a subsequent overestimation of the providing power of nature, causes the devastation of species, reversal of ecosystems, destruction of biodiversity and ultimately, the destruction of the very Nature we love and depend on. 

A failure to understand the intricacy of every environment, the belief that humans are above nature, would lead to not only extinction of beloved species, but our own species. 

"We Humans Are Above Nature, we decide what lives and what dies!" 

The Pirates hundreds of years ago chose to introduce goats to Galapagos, it exterminated more than one tortoise species found nowhere else. Brazil wanted expansion of land, that means clear cutting. It reduced the Spix's Macaw to 85 individuals. Western settlers decided they wanted buffalo. It reduced the species to less than 300. That's millions of buffalo dead. 

Yup, we definitely have the firepower to determine what dies. I suspect we could exterminate almost every species on the planet if we tried. But in doing so, we certainly don't decide what lives. Which is nothing short of reckless, dangerous, and, frankly, a pity. 

And I suspect, if we tried hard enough, we might manage to exterminate ourselves too.  

 

Are We Above Nature?

So the other day, I came across a debate on-line regarding "live-feeding". Live feeding, usually applied to snakes and carnivorous pets, is when one feeds live prey to their pet. This could be a rabbit, a mouse, a rat, chickens, hamsters, guinea pigs...even...Goats?!?

This conversation I came across involves live snake feeding. 
Animal lovers alike flung insults across the net. Those who did not support it cried animal cruelty. Those who did argued that their pets did not eat dead prey (that's debatable, since I've seen my friend's snake eat dead prey. But, eh, what do I know?) and, let's face it, they aren't about to turn vegan either. One comment, however, struck me SMACK in the face and left a mark on it...  

Here's how it goes: 
"We humans are above nature! We determine who lives and who dies!"
This comment chilled me to the bones. To say the least.


We're above nature? Really?

To me, to say that implies a few things...

• We are in total control of Nature
• Nature can't hurt us
• Nature needs us
• We don't need nature

We are in Total Control of Nature
Do I need to say anything to prove that wrong? Hopefully not. If we were in control of nature, we wouldn't need to abide by its laws. Laws such as, Winter comes after fall, that comes after summer, that comes after spring and the cycle begins again. 
Or that when you build a dam over a river, your fish stock will be affected and you may have less fish to eat. 
When you over fish, then you can't have more fish in the next year. 
If you plant a seed in winter, it probably won't grow.
If you cut down a forest, it will take longer than you live to grow back, if it does at all.
And most of all. The central dogma of nature:
FOR EVERY ACTION, THERE IS A REACTION. 

You take one fish and eat it, there will be less fish next year, but still more than enough. You take a tonne of fish, then the reaction is larger and there may be not enough fish to spawn successfully next year. Other species that feed on that fish species may starve because of the lack of fish. Eagles that eat the fish that eat that fish that you fished will also be affected because their food is dying. 

You can only live by the laws of nature, or suffer the consequences, such as death. That doesn't sound like control to me. 

 
Nature Can't Hurt Us
Oh really? 

Nope! Can't hurt us at all! ^w^

I'm skeptical...



















Nature Needs Us; We Don't Need Nature
Some smart cookie will look at this and say, "But this is a paradox unto itself!"

And, because I want to be a smart cookie too, I would agree with them. Why would I?


Can we argue we are a part of Nature?


We evolved from Nature, we depend on what Nature gives us. The food, the clothes we wear, every last bit of material in your room, the computer screen you are reading off from, the books you read, the pen you write with... everything came from Nature. The minerals from its grounds fuel our lives (*cough* oil); the food it produces fuels our bodies...


There is no doubt about it. We NEED nature!
On the other hand, how much does Nature need us? 
I'm not even talking about the amount of damage we had supposedly done to it. Global warming, destruction of rainforests and pollution of waterways... 


The Earth has seen (and survived) more than we could ever damage (before we kill ourselves). It's that the Earth, 6 million years ago, had never seen the footprint of man. And (according to studies), the Earth is at least 4 billion years old. Of course, life didn't pop up for another half a billion year. But during these times, the Earth saw 5 major mass extinctions (the most recent of which is the famed death of the dinosaurs). Not to mention ice ages, changes in the composition of the atmosphere, splitting of the continents ... humans? How much of a threat are we?

Nature certainly does not depend on humans, nor does it almost any single species. 

So are we above nature? Can we control it in anyway? Can we dominate it? 
Like my biology professor LOVED to put it... You tell me!  

Hello Followers!

Hello new followers! I haven't had the time to say hi to you guys =D. 

Hello Sara Michelle! I think I know you from someplace =). 

And Hello Violet Feral. I'm not sure I know you well, but thanks for joining! 

And I may as well say Hi to Brandon while I'm at it xD. Hi Brandon, how goes Life, as it happens? (<-- lame pun)

Anyway, thanks guys for joining~! My audience may be small, but I feel like I have one. Gives me the motivation to blog~ =) 
You're all my heroes ^^. 

The Prettiest Hand Heart I could Google Up

African Grey Parrots (A Note)

For the full blog post on African Greys typical needs, and the responsibilities etc, please read post below. 

African Grey Parrot (in natural environment)

Here I wanted to make note of something that I failed to mention in my previous post.  






African Greys are wild animals.


Wait what? 


How do we define domestic animals? Dictionary.com: an animal, as the horse or cat, that has been tamed and kept by humans as a work animal, food source, or pet, especially a member of those species that have, through selective breeding, become notably different from their wild ancestors.

The first domestic animal that might come to mind is the dog. Dogs, first descended from wolves, have lived in close companionship with humans for thousands of years. There appearance is notably removed from their wild counterparts. Human selective breeding has differentiated them greatly, from the chihuahua (my least favorite dog...=w=) to great danes. 

Dog and Wolf (note the differences!)

  So I was watching a documentary on studies done on wolves and dogs to differentiate them based on intelligence, obedience, cooperation, fierceness etc. Through a series of tests that I think I'll leave to a later post...


Conclusion? Thousands of lines of domestication has bred good-tempered dogs more likely to listen to a human, an in-born respect for the two legged primate. Wolves, not so much. I think I should also mention wolves aren't as fierce as one might think. They don't kill unless they're hungry. And they are probably as wary as you are of them. So as long as you don't look too much like lunch, you're probably fine.

That's why wolf-dog hybrids are a cause for concern. The poor animal is left with an identity crisis. But the details of that are for a later post. 


In the meantime, back to African Grey Parrots. 
Unlike dogs, or cats, or even horses and cows, African Greys have not seen thousands, or even hundreds of years of companionship with humans. 
This is what they look like in the wild. 



Notice how much difference there is between the one kept as pets and the ones in the wild. That's right: not that much. 


African Greys have been kept as pets by many over the thousands of years, but extensive breeding programs hasn't exactly happened. The result of that? When you bring home a Grey, you're essentially bringing home a wild animal. Although they can adapt well to a home environment given the time, too many owners have expected it of their Greys. 

Prospective owners, all too easily, bring home a Grey, excitedly planning all the words it will say, all the tricks it will learn, how cool it would be to have it ride around on their shoulder and have others gawk at them. I mean, how much work can this little bundle of grey and red take (see below post)?


While this isn't always the case of course, if one were to bring home a Grey with only those in mind, they're in for a rude awakening! 
They might find that their grey...

• Chews EVERYTHING
• Poops all over the place
• DOESN'T TALK 
• Needs LOADS of attention

And pretty soon, the bird is booted out to a sanctuary nearby. 
This isn't exactly doing the poor thing justice. A few things this failed owner failed to realize:

• Babies don't just come with their vocabulary at hand; neither do Greys, both have to pick it up from lots of interaction; on the other hand how much parrot do we speak?
• Greys chew, this is their natural behaviour
• They poop all over the place, because they need to be toilet trained
• If you notice the video above, greys don't ever get bored or too little attention with the whole flock. A Grey in home will need loads of attention! 

 

Pair of African Greys being fed

 Which is why it becomes all the more rewarding when your Grey actually wants to be with you, eat with you, sit with you, be cuddled by you... that feeling that a wild animal accepts you as a friend is like no other. It's all worth it at the end. 


A final note, and a very important note. Make sure that when you get your parrot, it is captive bred. 


What does captive bred mean? It means the parents of your to-be pet Grey was captive to begin with and not captured. 


Due to the recent rise in Grey popularity and therefore, the demand for Greys, wild capturing for the pet trade is also on the rise. The natural distribution of this species belongs in central west Africa. Due to destruction of its wild habitat and capturing, the wild population is getting smaller. 

Distribution of African Greys (and it's getting smaller)

 

 

 

Wild populations can't sustain the capturing of parrots for the trade. 


The conservation status of African Greys currently sits at near-threatened and the species is listed under appendix II. 

Appendix II is for the protection of species that, although not necessarily yet threatened with extinction, can be unless trade is prohibited or strictly regulated. Whether that will help the species has yet to be seen, however. 

A crate of Greys destined for USA. Some may die in the process.

It is crucial to note that as you may know, dear reader, African Greys are very long lived. That being said, because the pet trade most affect nestlings, wild population may see a sharp decline when the aging adults begin to die. 


Therefore, the conservation status near-threatened may  not be all that accurate. Let's hope we continue to see this in the future:

The way an African Grey should be seen.

Wanna Help? Here are links to some conservation groups and petitions aimed to protect this amazing species! 


http://www.parrots.org/ - The world parrot trust. 
http://www.parrots.org/index.php/ourwork/home/african_grey_parrot - fund specifically aimed toward the conservation of Greys
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/wild-caught-congo-african-grey-parrots/ - petition aimed at stopping this trade. At least read the little information thing that comes with it.

African Grey Parrots (What to Expect)

Congo African Grey Parrot

To my left, my new obsession as of late: the African Grey Parrot. 


Where else to rant about my obsession than here in this lovely blog?

The African Grey Parrot has, in recent years, grown in popularity as a pet. To aviculturalists, they are the perfect combination of "beauty and intelligence". Beautiful, because of the grey/white plumage, the perfect black beak, the playful looking eyes and the signature scarlet tail feathers. Intelligence, because of their amazing mimicking abilities, being able to talk perfectly, mimicking all sounds it hears, including microwaves and ovens, dogs and cats... everything it likes. But they don't just mimic...

According to studies conducted by a Ms. Irene Pepperberg with Alex, an African Grey who passed away in 2007 at age 31 (and still young!), these birds have the intellect to grasp abstract ideas, such as zero, know enough vocabulary to communicate effectively with humans, know colors, numbers, and concepts such as bigger, smaller, more or less. Household pet Greys have also been known to understand logical cause-and-effect. For example, when the phone rings, humans will jump up and immediately bulldoze toward it. When Greys see this, they learn and...RING RING RING! The human then jumps up to answer the phone that they soon learn, never rang. Instead, their Grey is staring expectedly at them while they ring their voice away. Effective way to grab human's attention, check. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yGOgs_UlEc
One thing I have to say about this video: Alex is not the smartest African Grey ever. In fact, it was highly likely he was a very ordinary Grey. Dr. Pepperberg had driven to a random pet store and had the pet owner randomly pick one for her. Such an extensive vocabulary is not from intelligence but loads and loads of attention.

"I just pooped on your floor =D"

Aww... look at that innocent stare. One can't help but love these birds to death. Pretty, playful, great talkers, and highly intelligent...are you thinking of shooting out to your nearest pet store to buy one right away? STOP!!! I'm not done! 


You haven't heard the other side of the story. 

There are several things to watch out for before adopting one of these amazing birds. For one thing, they aren't listed under for advanced bird pet owners only for nothing. 


Please observe the beak... notice the sharp curve of the upper beak capable of reducing your fingers to a painfully bloody mess. Greys WILL bite you if they don't trust you. And it WILL hurt if they do. That beak screams Keep away from (raucous) Children.


Age: African Greys, when taken very well care of, will live to a ripe old age. That is...oh, 60 years? That being said, they are a VERY long term responsibility. Do not adopt a Grey unless you are absolutely sure you can provide for it. Your children will probably inherit your companion.

Poop Patrol: Poop is pretty messy work. I know this first-hand... 


Voice: Lots of fun when they are mimicking you and talking to you and asking "Want some water" when they want it from you. Not at 3 am. 


Attention-freaks: African Greys want your attention. All the time. They don't understand that you have a life to attend to and that your boss wants that proposal done the next morning. For all they care, your life is all about them. So go pick up that toy and lets start playing! And please, clean up that mess I made on your couple hundred dollar rug, please and thank you. 
Note: when not given enough attention, Greys have been known to develop psychological problems, screaming and plucking their own feathers (a sure sign of stress in a bird). 


Toys: Because Greys are so intelligent, they require an extensive amount of stuff to keep them occupied and entertained. This could be a number of things, but puzzles and chew toys tend to keep them occupied for a long time. To make sure your priceless porcelain artifacts do not become the next toy of their desire, please provide toys that they can otherwise destroy. And speaking of destroy...
 
Chewing: Greys LOVE to chew. Like young dogs need to have chew toys, Greys must also have chew toys. They love to chew and will destroy anything in their chewable path. So...it's essential to have something for them to chew always. A number of toys for birds have colorful wood blocks that they can chew to their hearts desire as well chewable treats for them to satisfy their chewing and hunger. 


Kids?: Owners of African Greys have often made the comparison between having an African Grey to having a two year old. For all the years that they live. So unless you want more kids, or unless you have intentions of having one, an African Grey might be a tad too much. 


All the above really begs the question then...Why would you EVER want an African Grey?
Short answer is, you tell me. Long answer is: Why do we love children? 

Alex, then 28

Before you ask me, wha...? Let's think about this for a minute. Kids are a real handful. They're noisy, they poop, they're messy, they obviously need tonnes of attention. In short, they can drive you nuts. Although I have never had children and it's questionable I can ever handle having any, my mother often told me how she misses my sister and me being young. Everywhere, we see parents, blood and adopted, who coo and love and just can't get enough of their kids. Sure, every now and again, they will drive you crazy for the sake of that toy they can't get. And they aren't likely to understand that mommy and daddy can't afford it. But, for whatever reason, through whatever paradox and whatever miracle it took, we still love kids. 


Parrots are obviously different. They're birds, for one thing. But they're also loving, sweet, entertaining and, let's face it, so gawd damn CUTE. And parrots, like children, can be disciplined. They can be toilet-trained (yea I know, I was surprised too), they learn exceedingly well, they can be taught what to chew and what not to chew, they can be discouraged to scream and be loud in general. You can cuddle them (and they love it), you can pet them, you can play with them. 

First of all, of course, you have to gain their trust. 


But once you get past that and once you make certain that all resources are sufficient to properly care for this bird, like children, you may find yourself thinking to yourself at the end: It was all worth it.