Elephant Slaughter Highest in more than two decades.

chadwick · March 2012

tybird wrote:

chadwick wrote:

tybird wrote:

Evolving not to grow tusks due to poachers??? Really....do not believe that is how evolution works....however, the gene pool could be reduced to only those specimens that did not grow tusks due to mutation or those grew smaller tusks due to mutation.

animals do things differently than they used to because of humans. (does that sound right?)

female moose have learned to give birth near or directly on a highway because bears are on them. a bear generally will not come within so may hundreds of feet or yards to a highway. the moose have figured this out and now they have more succesful births. now more moose are lasting through this birthing cycle/passage and running off into the wilds with their mothers and bears not far behind them.

That's a change in behavior.....nothing can will its body to change its genetic disposition...some animals can change their reproductive cycles in response to environmental pressures....female rabbits can re-absorb its young prior to birth and coyotes can increase their reproductive potential under certain changes....but a living creature can not change its genetic structure by its own will. Elephants with the larger tusks are more likely to be removed from the species gene pool, thus making it possible for elephants with smaller tusks to appear more successful in passing along the genotype for smaller tusks. The same could apply to rhinoceros with smaller horns being potentially more successful in breeding than their brethren with larger horns, who are removed from the pool due to their more lucrative horns.

thank you for this. makes sense to me

rollings · March 2012

tybird wrote:

chadwick wrote:

tybird wrote:

Evolving not to grow tusks due to poachers??? Really....do not believe that is how evolution works....however, the gene pool could be reduced to only those specimens that did not grow tusks due to mutation or those grew smaller tusks due to mutation.

animals do things differently than they used to because of humans. (does that sound right?)

female moose have learned to give birth near or directly on a highway because bears are on them. a bear generally will not come within so may hundreds of feet or yards to a highway. the moose have figured this out and now they have more succesful births. now more moose are lasting through this birthing cycle/passage and running off into the wilds with their mothers and bears not far behind them.

That's a change in behavior.....nothing can will its body to change its genetic disposition...some animals can change their reproductive cycles in response to environmental pressures....female rabbits can re-absorb its young prior to birth and coyotes can increase their reproductive potential under certain changes....but a living creature can not change its genetic structure by its own will. Elephants with the larger tusks are more likely to be removed from the species gene pool, thus making it possible for elephants with smaller tusks to appear more successful in passing along the genotype for smaller tusks. The same could apply to rhinoceros with smaller horns being potentially more successful in breeding than their brethren with larger horns, who are removed from the pool due to their more lucrative horns.

but isn't this process called natural selection....and which is the key element to evolution?

bennett13 · March 2012

josevolution wrote:

With some many drones why can't we just be blowing these creeps out of the jungle , i say use the drones to seek these poachers and destroy them ....No i know just wishful thinking on my part :x

I find comments like these hilarious...aren't most of you folks opposed to waging war against terrorists or the death penalty for killing a HUMAN?
Then you support death / bombing for killing an ELEPHANT?

Man...you people!

chadwick · March 2012

bennett13 wrote:

josevolution wrote:

With some many drones why can't we just be blowing these creeps out of the jungle , i say use the drones to seek these poachers and destroy them ....No i know just wishful thinking on my part :x

I find comments like these hilarious...aren't most of you folks opposed to waging war against terrorists or the death penalty for killing a HUMAN?
Then you support death / bombing for killing an ELEPHANT?

Man...you people!

yes elephant murderers should be bombed to death just like child molesters should be bombed until dead, dead, dead.

tybird · March 2012

Rollings wrote:

but isn't this process called natural selection....and which is the key element to evolution?

Yes, but "nature" or agents of "nature" are making the selection....the animals do not make the selection or the genetic change as a choice....the selection is forced upon them....the potential to mate with elephants with longer tusks, a sign of health and perceived better genes, is limited, so breeding will occur with elephants with shorter tusks....which may just actually be younger elephants....as their tusk continue to grow as they age. But if it is elephants with a genotype for shorter/smaller tusks that do successfully breed, then it is that genotype that will mostly likely be passed forward.

Elephant Slaughter Highest in more than two decades.

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