This story is such a shame!

http://www.independent.ie/world-news...r-1903231.html

Ok even though it seems that the alligator was in his land...what kind of land can yu have that is infected with 40 alligators...cant help but feel sorry for the animal...(I meant the alligator)

Just wondering.... The kid knows how to use guns from the age of 4... Imagine what will happen when he is a teenager.... Dont want to be there

Why is the story such a shame?

Oooh what a magnificent animal. Let's kill it!

After all that, he found out it tasted just like chicken?

Sad that first thought of a five year old was to end the life of an innocent creature seemingly because it was "humongous".

Tragic and pathetic.

The alligator’s head will be mounted and it will also be turned into book shelve holders.

What is this supposed to mean, the head will be turned into book shelve holders ? ...

I don't know, I think the journalist who wrote this was in total shock when he wrote this article ...

The boy went on a hunting trip (very common in the U.S.), and killed an animal. If he had shot a deer it wouldn't have made even the local rag and no-one would have even blinked.

He does however sound like he's going to turn out to be a typical texan redneck, which is the biggest tragedy of the whole story.

I agree - pathetic rednecks.

FYI an alligator that large is probably 40-50 years old, and after a successful fight for survival will now sadly be a book end. Ironically enough for someone who may not even know what a book is.

And, there was nothing heroic about this act - most alligators hardly move even when closely approached and have no interest in people. The boy was in as much danger and had as much of a sporting challenge as if he had shot a mailbox.

There are areas of Florida and Texas (possibly "all along" the southern coastal states in the US) where alligators can be nuisances.

Yes, in some areas it is "our" fault that we moved into their habitat but that isn't always the case. Alligators can / do roam for mating purposes or hunting if the water in their normal territory is getting low.

A lot of times when that happens folks pet dogs and cats go missing.


So, in areas where they can get to be a problem, hunting is allowed. If they get to be a BIG problem, hunting with guns is allowed but more typically you'll find areas where it is restricted to bows and / or knives. People get permits to hunt them and are only allowed a certain number, just like hunting deer and some types of fowl.

The father had permits to kill two... while I do not happen to think I'd ever be able to kill an animal myself, there are plenty of folks who hunt for food.

Also, while I happen to think turning their parts into trophies is gruesome, once it is dead (hopefully the hunting trip would produce meat rather than being simply for sport), it isn't like it matters to the animal itself anymore.


Finally... while it is a bit of a "shame" that such a magnificent animal that managed to live for a long time was killed... I am sure (provided the hunt was in the interest of food) the family will have a nice supply of alligator for fall and winter dining.

While many (most even) folks in the US do head to their local grocery to buy processed meats, there are plenty of areas "out in the country" where most of the meat eaten is gotten from hunting. I don't think there is anything "shameful" about hunting for food.

Exactly.

Sometimes animals are being killed to control or regulate its population. The same is done here in Switzerland too.

That a father who does hunting takes his son with him seems to be a rather normal tradition in some countries too.

I hope you'll say the same thing when an alli eats your dogs

I think you are missing the point. There is nothing shameful in hunting for food; nor is it particularly despicable to kill an animal when you have a license for that, and it is not at all a bad thing to kill something that is considered a nuisance to human life.

What is galling is, making heroes out of wimps; that is what this episode is about. You think it is some accomplishment to take a gun and shoot an unsuspecting animal (irrespective of whether it is a pest or endangered animal)?

The 5 year old is not to blame; it is the society, his parents and his school and the media that are to blame for instilling stupid ideas of bravery and accomplishment in young minds.

I know I didn't spell it out clearly but here it is again:

Generally, alligator hunting is restricted to BOW AND / OR KNIFE HUNTING unless they are particularly numerous. The reason for gun hunting to be allowed is because then more folks will be inclined to go hunt them, thus more surely reducing a problem with "over population" of alligators.

Is it "heroic"? I dunno... one could argue that using a gun to ensure death in whatever circumstance is something less than heroic.

Meanwhile, unless you are from an area where hunting is the cultural norm, I am sure you will "never" understand why it is thrilling, exciting and brave for a 5yo to get a kill, no matter how it was accomplished. I don't understand it myself but I am accepting enough of their culture to respect that there is nothing "shameful" about it.

Very well put!