MAN HAS NO RIGHT TO HOLD SO MUCH POWER OVER ANIMALS

Viewing purely from the point of view of the theory of evolution, we see that man is a successful species. Even though he is in the habit of exterminating huge numbers of his own kind, man has survived and done very well for himself, in comparison to other animals. One reason he is so successful is that he has managed to bring a lot of nature under his control. This includes the elements, plants and animals. One thing is certain: In his position as a successful species, man has been wanton in his destruction of the other animals. As a result of this many magnificent animals are no more.

First of all man began by domesticating animals for work on his farm and for food. He robbed the milk meant for the young of animals to feed himself. He killed animals at a young and tender age to feast on it. He trained horses and castrated bulls into oxen to do his hard works. If all this is not enough, he hunted animals for sports. "Sports" is indeed a bad word to use to kill animals and birds for the sake of killing. It brings out the worst in man.

Speaking solely as just another inhabitant of earth, by what right does man indulge in this wanton destruction of the other inhabitants? It is recorded that the early settlers in parts of Africa hunted the natives, like the harmless bushman, for sports! This was done because of the refusal of the hunters to see the natives as people. How far is this different from hunting the animals for sports? Even hunting for food does not seem reasonable when we see that there is an abundance of food in the form of vegetables present all over the world. In fact it has been found again and again that vegetarianism is indeed a healthier alternative in food.

Perhaps, since it seems to be a law of survival that animals too eat each other, man may be excused from animals for food. But there must be some control in this so that what is killed is not more than what is required for food. Man  has become responsible for the safety of all the species of animals in the world. Each of them is beautiful and part of the delicate balance of nature. The power of man over animals must be controlled by people who love the world and all its inhabitants.