Tv nature presenter sparks fury.

Autumnwatch host Chris Packham has very controvertially said that Panda's should be left to die out instead of being protected as they are now.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2649018/Let-giant-pandas-die-says-Chris-Packham.html

Methinks he wont be working much longer.

I once saw an interview with Virginia McKenna (actress and founder along with her husband Bill Travers of the Born Free charity) say that an animal ought to be let go extinct, rather than be 'caged' 'restricted' and therefore its species saved. She came from a pure idealistic position but her comments have always stayed with me and I'm unsure.

HOWEVER, this guys remarks seem ill thought through and crass. Humans have desimated the Panda and we should do everything we possibly can to protect the animal in its natural environment. What the hell is he talking about :
"Here is a species that of its own accord has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac"

I'd rather read what he said in context than have it regurgitated by the Sun.

Vilipend wrote:I'd rather read what he said in context than have it regurgitated by the Sun.

Sorry Vils.

No I'm sorry Micky,
that was impolite of me.

OP,
this shocks me totally, it goes against the whole ethos of a wildlife presenter.
scientists are bending over backwards to 'bring back' extinct species!



i don't wish to make light of the predicament of his predecessor bill oddie who has been languishing in a psychiatric hospital, but clearly CP definitely 'needs his head read' too!!

He also included Tigers, in animals he thought should "die out" with dignity!!!.

Wonder if he meant that Pandas are incredibly difficult to breed? But thats in captivity. They have managed to survive this long, before man came along, and decided to capture and breed. (Mostly unsuccesfully)

What Chris was saying is as the animals natural habitat is being destroyed it would be kinder to let them die out as when they are bred and released there is not enough natural grounds for them,I trully believe he is trying to shame governments who allow an animal to be worth more dead than alive ! A Pandas liver is worth thousands a hand is the same and believe me or not its sexual organs are worth far more !