So, if people were in danger, why didn't El Paso police control the crowd? Reportedly there were dozens of people on the scene. See the KTSM video again. A longer video published by KVIA reveals little effort to disburse the crowd. The lion appears hungry, tired . . . and scared but not aggressive.
As officials waited for the first tranquilizer to take effect, crowds gathered hanging off the car wash chain gates trying to get pictures and video of the mountain lion stressing it out further and creating the very public safety hazard that the killing of the lion would later be blamed on. Remember - the videos show little or no effort to disburse the crowd or cordon off the area. It was a carnival atmosphere and the police (and I guess the TABC) did nothing. Nothing. Nothing.
A police officer and a TABC officer shooting their guns not far from a school seems to be a far greater public safety risk than a drugged mountain lion who would have been asleep in just another minute before being gunned down. I still want to know what the heck the TABC agent was doing there - did he have jurisdiction?)
Once again, it was just a few seconds after a second "stick" of tranquilizer hit the cat when a police officer and the TABC agent opened fire. All videos show an animal trying to avoid people and not an animal being aggressive. The words of the State Veterinarian ring true: "Ugh you idiot! No need for this!"
We can only hope that the City of El Paso, its police department, and others will turn to wildlife experts now and develop better ways to deal with similar situations in the future.
Both the police department and the TABC need to be investigated. How are officers trained? Is there a protocol for encountering mountain lions or other wild animals or do we just shoot to kill when wildlife experts are in the process of tranquilizing the animals? What jurisdiction did the TABC have? Why didn't police cordon off the area? So many questions.
At the end of the KVIA video, an officer is being admonished: "Don't talk to a reporter. Get back here." The cover-up had already begun.
Humans have declared the Earth as their very own and other species as invasive, whereas it's really the other way around. Until humans understand the Earth is comprised of an "interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part"* and act accordingly, then there will be more incidents similar to this one.
ReplyDelete*excerpted from Unitarian Universalist Association Priciples
Such a shame. But not surprising in a city and region (Abq included) that values the land and natural habitat so little.
ReplyDeleteKilling a thirsty mountain lion with few drinking options left = solving a developments drainage issues with mortared rock and chain link.
Some deep issues this bring up!
I don't understand people's rationale in the matter. I have to say I am feeling sadder by the minute... I mean, in my own life, I have such a high respect for Nature and all creatures and automatically assume others do too... BUT that hope diminishes as soon as I begin to read what others have to say about this event. It's heart-breaking!!! Please, if you need me to help you pass long any information, that will help others see the light, please contact me. I am an avid hiker, working on a Ecology/Evo. Biology degree and have a great regard for the Franklin Mountain's wildlife and would love to help you on your quest to open peoples eyes to this neglected wonder.
ReplyDeleteThis was horrible and sad and demonstrates what happens when we encroach into nature. Nature encroaches back.
ReplyDelete