EddieB Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 I'm very saddened by this story, which I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned here before. Five of the six wolves at Colchester Zoo (essentially a mother and five grown cubs) escaped from their enclosure (to lose one wolf may be regarded as a misfortune, etc.), one also managing to get through the zoo perimeter. Sadly a decision was taken to shoot the wolves on sight and three were shot dead. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-25091939 I'm sorry to say (from the position of being cardholders) that the zoo does sometimes appear to be a little careless (to complete that Oscar Wilde quote), since this isn't the first time that their wolves have escaped (last time without tragic consequences). Clearly Essex can't have partly habituated wolves roaming free - the lions might object - but it does seem that the shoot to kill policy was adopted without trying other methods and with little understanding of wolf behaviour. Now, how do you tell two youngsters that have grown up seeing this wolf family? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
34theletterbetweenB&D Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 That the den was getting a little crowded, and that Mummy and Daddy wolf felt it was time for some of the youngsters to go and make their own independent way in life. This may also be useful to you in years to come with your own growing family, especially if the shooting information can be thoroughly suppressed. You may have a bad conscience over this; but it is never too late to amend. My MiL confessed to my wife on her 50th birthday that her much loved Guinea pig 'Tangle' was not in fact buried in the garden of the family home. MiL being a bilge mistress had boiled the deceased rodent to make a skeleton specimen. (Wartime generation, waste nothing and all that; although FiL's embroidery that the Cavy o' Leekie soup had been good is discounted.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieB Posted November 28, 2013 Author Share Posted November 28, 2013 I don't think daddy wolf was present, which might explain the whole sorry episode. Single mother, raising a large family on a sink estate in Colchester, kids getting out of hand... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 That the den was getting a little crowded, and that Mummy and Daddy wolf felt it was time for some of the youngsters to go and make their own independent way in life. This may also be useful to you in years to come with your own growing family, especially if the shooting information can be thoroughly suppressed. The shooting information they will doubtless discover in their working life, as it's basically getting made redundant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two_sugars Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 I don't think daddy wolf was present, which might explain the whole sorry episode. Single mother, raising a large family on a sink estate in Colchester, kids getting out of hand... Essex Girl ! ! ! ! ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted November 29, 2013 Share Posted November 29, 2013 I can think of other denizens in Essex that I know need shooting far more. Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I can think of other denizens in Essex that I know need shooting far more. Sarfend Seafront? The Kursaal? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londontram Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I'm glad you all think shooting dead Nobel animals is a good reason to make jokes and have a good laugh! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 A similar story line on the Archers at present where Ed has shot Will's dog and had to tell his son (who is Will's son)....... Oh forget it. for similar pathos try Jeremy Kyle! Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Y Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I'm glad you all think shooting dead Nobel animals is a good reason to make jokes and have a good laugh! I don't think anyone is laughing at the unfortunate incident, 34C was being light-hearted about an explanation for Eddie's kids and as OP he's also engaged as such. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londontram Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I'm sorry Andy but I must still disagree though on re-reading 34C post can see his angle and have retracted my negative response to that post and apolagise to him but it seems to have lead to the threads standard of decency slipping in following posts especially the amount of people who seem to find the indecent funny judging by the multiple funny icons Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium jjb1970 Posted November 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2013 Humour is a way many people deal with tragedy. Rightly or wrongly it can act as a much more effective way of coping with stress than the alternatives in my experience. I work in engineering risk management and if you walked into our office you might be horrified at some of the comments that fly around but if people are doing fatal incident reports and considering why people have had arms ripped off, been burnt to death etc on a regular basis then it is a way of erecting a barrier. I've found the same response in doctors and nurses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Tony_S Posted November 30, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 30, 2013 When my son was younger we used to go to the zoo at Colchester. I didn't mind going as the animals always looked healthy and there seemed to be a lot of information about their habitats and conservation. I was saddened to read about the wolves demise. As to informing children, I think when my son was little I would have probably not raised the issue but if he asked I would have told him the truth. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mow Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Must a police shooting cover up angle. Would be more worrying it headline read end of The Staffordshire Wolves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium petethemole Posted November 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2013 In my opinion the shooting option is used far too soon in cases of escaped animals. There have been recent cases of shooting cows and steers because they might become a danger to the public. As these days there's usually an ARV on call, has it become more cost effective in terms of police time to shoot and be done with it, rather than put manpower into trying to catch/round up said animals? I know which I'd rather they did, and yes, I am a taxpayer. My lad loves wolves but fortunately hates news programmes, so didn't see it. Pete Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bike2steam Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 A bit of a knee-jerk reaction, no doubt Shaun Ellis would have done it differently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I'm glad you all think shooting dead Nobel animals .... I am unaware of any animals having been awarded the Nobel Prize. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Londontram Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I am unaware of any animals having been awarded the Nobel Prize. Says it all really......I rest my case! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I vote that we nominate all of Londontram's posts as "funny" from now on, regardless of whether they're funny or not..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 ...we are top-predator. At least in the more civilised parts of the world ....and even more so in the more uncivilised parts. That's why there are wars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Colin Posted November 30, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 30, 2013 We took the grandkids to see the wolves at Colchester Zoo only a few weeks ago, they all looked so placid strolling about in their enclosure - to Granddaughter no.1 they were just like big puppy-dogs! Although I appreciate that chances can't be taken, I still think it's a great shame that the decision was made to shoot them and I wonder if an alternative strategy might have worked (but at greater cost, perhaps?) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catkins Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 It is unfortunate that these wolves were shot. I am sure that there was a better alternative but it would have cost TIME. However, the three wolves that did get fatally shot, might have been severely distressed and shooting them might have been the best option for them. There is a bigger question here - Is the management team at Colchester Zoo really up to the job? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Are you going to shoot them as well ? Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Are you going to shoot them as well ? Well, the badger cullers have just finished their particular assignment, so could be at a bit of a loose end...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catkins Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 There is a bigger question here - Is the management team at Colchester Zoo really up to the job? Are you going to shoot them as well ? Dennis If you mean the management at Colchester Zoo, then I would consider it a viable option - after all it seems to be a viable option for the animals in their care. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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