ZOMBA, Malawi – The killing of the beloved lion Cecil in Zimbabwe fouled ecological preservation efforts and casts doubt about whether man’s stewardship over nature continues to deteriorate.
A man, apparently an American using a bow and arrow, shot this 13-year-old lion – which lived on a protected wildlife reserve – without any reason or threat of harm.
Cecil’s death triggers many questions and brings to mind extreme anthropocentrism – a belief that the universe centers on humans. This view poses a threat to ecology.
If killing an innocent wild animal was part of this man’s pleasure, then the “hunt” was simply selfish.
According to philosopher John Stuart Mill’s principle of utilitarianism, the maximum pleasure should be to the greatest number of individuals.
In the context of Cecil, all the people who used to enjoy visits to see the famous lion are deprived of this pleasure. One person, the so-called “hunter,” sacrificed the enjoyable experience of all of the visitors for his own pleasure.
The slaughter of Cecil the lion should remind people to observe actions towards animals. Animal rights shouldn’t be neglected. Uncontrolled harmful human actions can cause scarcity
in other species.
in other species.
According to The National Geographic Society, the Earth has lost half of its wildlife in the past 40 years.
We as humans must take on a bigger role to protect the wild animals while we still have them.
David Joseph Kapito is a Junior Reporter for Youth Journalism International.
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