S3|E6| Conserving the Asiatic Lion with Dr. Meena Venkataraman

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Podcast~ Creating a Future for India's Lions

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It’s come to my attention that a sub known as r/megafaunarewilding has been compromised and reduced to a toxic cesspool of outlandish ideas and SU-loyalists. The following are some of the leading reasons as to why. 

**1. Outlandish and unrealistic rewilding proposals:** More than half the posts you may come across are [insert animal here] should be reintroduced to [insert country here] because that animal was there during the Pleistocene. Not only does this fail to acknowledge the lack of habitat for said species and the effects they may have on the local population, but often the paleoclimatological context is ignored, as the species present in a country during the Pleistocene may have lived in a very different habitat than what is present today, and while some of them may have possibly been driven into decline by Pleistocene anthropogenic pressures, that does not guarantee that they would’ve survived into historical times in said place. 

2. **Infestation of utilization advocates:** While previously absent or low in numbers, r/megafaunarewilding has become a nesting ground for consumptive utilization advocates, who seem to, without question, idolize trophy hunting and legal trade in such products as ivory and rhino horn. Whenever I attempt to give a fair rebuttal, I am met with an erruption of downvotes and people ridiculing me for what some may call ‘PETA’-esque ideas, despite the fact that I am literally not anti-hunting. Opposing the trophy hunting of particular species such as large carnivores and overall unethical hunting practices does not equate to being ‘anti-hunting’. Often they use the term ‘compassionate conservation’ to refer to people whom oppose the lethal removal of invasive species, of which I do not. However, what these trophy hunting apologists fail to understand is that compassionate conservation can also mean non-consumptive approaches to preserving imperiled species, or ethical approaches to managing native species that do not necessarily need to be controlled. It doe not necessarily opposing the lethal control of feral cats (which do astounding harm to native ecosystems). With a rising number of nature enthusiasts being non-hunters, it’s not fair that these people don’t get a say in decision making. In all honesty, it’s high time that wildlife management evolved into the 21st century, and no, that does not equate to being anti-hunting. Some also claim that farming wildlife such as rhinos for their horns is the way to go, despite the fact it fuels illegal trade in Southeast Asia.. 

 3. **Overall toxic environment:** It seems at least once a week there is a screaming match about something petty going on, such as the Pleistocene Extinction debates mentioned in the first issue; which while a subject of controversy, seems to be the center of some very toxic Reddit, and frankly I don’t think I can have that conversation anymore unless it was open and fair even if there ‘are disagreements. 

These among other reasons are why I highly recommend that if you are still on this sub or are interested in joining, you choose an alternative, less toxic one. 

<div class="md"><p>It’s come to my attention that a sub known as <a href="/r/megafaunarewilding">r/megafaunarewilding</a> has been compromised and reduced to a toxic cesspool of outlandish ideas and SU-loyalists. The following are some of the leading reasons as to why. </p>

<p><strong>1. Outlandish and unrealistic rewilding proposals:</strong> More than half the posts you may come across are [insert animal here] should be reintroduced to [insert country here] because that animal was there during the Pleistocene. Not only does this fail to acknowledge the lack of habitat for said species and the effects they may have on the local population, but often the paleoclimatological context is ignored, as the species present in a country during the Pleistocene may have lived in a very different habitat than what is present today, and while some of them may have possibly been driven into decline by Pleistocene anthropogenic pressures, that does not guarantee that they would’ve survived into historical times in said place. </p>

<ol>
<li><p><strong>Infestation of utilization advocates:</strong> While previously absent or low in numbers, <a href="/r/megafaunarewilding">r/megafaunarewilding</a> has become a nesting ground for consumptive utilization advocates, who seem to, without question, idolize trophy hunting and legal trade in such products as ivory and rhino horn. Whenever I attempt to give a fair rebuttal, I am met with an erruption of downvotes and people ridiculing me for what some may call ‘PETA’-esque ideas, despite the fact that I am literally not anti-hunting. Opposing the trophy hunting of particular species such as large carnivores and overall unethical hunting practices does not equate to being ‘anti-hunting’. Often they use the term ‘compassionate conservation’ to refer to people whom oppose the lethal removal of invasive species, of which I do not. However, what these trophy hunting apologists fail to understand is that compassionate conservation can also mean non-consumptive approaches to preserving imperiled species, or ethical approaches to managing native species that do not necessarily need to be controlled. It doe not necessarily opposing the lethal control of feral cats (which do astounding harm to native ecosystems). With a rising number of nature enthusiasts being non-hunters, it’s not fair that these people don’t get a say in decision making. In all honesty, it’s high time that wildlife management evolved into the 21st century, and no, that does not equate to being anti-hunting. Some also claim that farming wildlife such as rhinos for their horns is the way to go, despite the fact it fuels illegal trade in Southeast Asia.. </p>

<ol>
<li><strong>Overall toxic environment:</strong> It seems at least once a week there is a screaming match about something petty going on, such as the Pleistocene Extinction debates mentioned in the first issue; which while a subject of controversy, seems to be the center of some very toxic Reddit, and frankly I don’t think I can have that conversation anymore unless it was open and fair even if there ‘are disagreements. </li>
</ol></li>
</ol>

<p>These among other reasons are why I highly recommend that if you are still on this sub or are interested in joining, you choose an alternative, less toxic one. </p>
</div>

The De-Evolution of r/MegafaunaRewilding

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Why does Africa still have so much megafauna 

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does anyone know what pre-historic animals these are?

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I wanted to know if early humans tamed (or domesticate, idk) megafauna, not mammoths or smh but cave bears or cave hyenas (if you even count hyenas as megafauna :/) I got this question from an art piece I saw online of an early hominid with a bear

<div class="md"><p>I wanted to know if early humans tamed (or domesticate, idk) megafauna, not mammoths or smh but cave bears or cave hyenas (if you even count hyenas as megafauna :/) I got this question from an art piece I saw online of an early hominid with a bear</p>
</div>

Did early humans tamed megafauna like bears or tigers?

The humpback in Elliott Bay put on a show.

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T. Rex vs Giganto is a FAIL

Reacting to Titanoboa vs Megalodon Fail

Why Megalodon Was Even More Formidable Than You Think

Why Megalodon Is Even More Formidable Than You Think

How is the Indian Elephant being conserved?

Listen to this episode from The Think Wildlife Podcast on Spotify. Also known as the "Ghosts of the Mountains", the Snow Leopard is probably one of the most elusive cat in the world. They, however, are the apex predators of the high Himalayas, alongside the genetically unique Himalayan Wolf and the critically endangered Himalayan Brown Bear.

Interview 7: Saving the Elusive Snow Leopard with Koustubh Sharma

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[https://youtu.be/ToZlkPyDYFE](https://youtu.be/ToZlkPyDYFE)

<div class="md"><p><a href="https://youtu.be/ToZlkPyDYFE">https://youtu.be/ToZlkPyDYFE</a></p>
</div>

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I keep hearing different answers: smilodon populator,bornean tiger, american lion, sambir lion,mosbach lion etc..... The weight of the american lion can't be correct. It's skull was the same size as a kodiak bear and nearly 4x bigger than a bengal tigers skull yet they're suppose to weigh around the same weight?. I think the 08 is way more accurate in the fact they said males weighed between 400-523kg.

<div class="md"><p>I keep hearing different answers: smilodon populator,bornean tiger, american lion, sambir lion,mosbach lion etc..... The weight of the american lion can&#39;t be correct. It&#39;s skull was the same size as a kodiak bear and nearly 4x bigger than a bengal tigers skull yet they&#39;re suppose to weigh around the same weight?. I think the 08 is way more accurate in the fact they said males weighed between 400-523kg.</p>
</div>

What was the biggest big cat of the pleistocene epoch?

The Politics and History of the Translocation of Asiatic Lions

**Dinosaurs, mastodons, giant insects...**

Related Subreddits:
________________

* [Dinosaurs](http://reddit.com/r/dinosaurs)

* [Dinosaur](http://reddit.com/r/dinosaur)

* [Paleontology](http://reddit.com/r/paleontology)

* [Paleonews](http://reddit.com/r/paleonews)

* [Pterosaurs](https://www.reddit.com/r/Pterosaurs)

* [FossilID](http://reddit.com/r/fossilid)

* [LivingFossils](http://reddit.com/r/livingfossils)

* [FossilPorn - SFW](http://reddit.com/r/fossilporn)

* [ImaginaryDinosaurs](http://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarydinosaurs)

<div class="md"><p><strong>Dinosaurs, mastodons, giant insects...</strong></p>

<p>Related Subreddits:</p>

<hr/>

<ul>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/dinosaurs">Dinosaurs</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/dinosaur">Dinosaur</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/paleontology">Paleontology</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/paleonews">Paleonews</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Pterosaurs">Pterosaurs</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/fossilid">FossilID</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/livingfossils">LivingFossils</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://reddit.com/r/fossilporn">FossilPorn - SFW</a></p></li>
<li><p><a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarydinosaurs">ImaginaryDinosaurs</a></p></li>
</ul>
</div>

<div class="md"><p>Any type of megafauna you want. Giants of old or modern.</p>
</div>

2,223 Subscribers

Podcast~ Creating a Future for India's Lions

Why does Africa still have so much megafauna

Did early humans tamed megafauna like bears or tigers?

Uintatheres - The Dawn Kings of the Eocene

T. Rex vs Giganto is a FAIL

Reacting to Titanoboa vs Megalodon Fail

Why Megalodon Is Even More Formidable Than You Think

Interview 7: Saving the Elusive Snow Leopard with Koustubh Sharma

Interview 13: Saving the Majestic Lion with Peter Lindsey

TIL the largest collection of sabertooth tiger bones in the world was discovered in downtown LA

Interview 13: Saving the Majestic Lion with Peter Lindsey

Irritator and their Wacky Jaws - Spinosaur Mouths

Murrayglossus - The Giant Echidna

What was the biggest big cat of the pleistocene epoch?