So well written, and so, so sad.
I did some research for a paper in college and found out that mankind has been the largest extinction event the world has ever known. Just since mankind's appearance on earth, more species have gone extinct than in all the other largest extinction events (ice ages, meteor strikes) put together
Agreed, @corpsvalues!
I once envisioned a virus-emulating display that tracked the spread of Homo Sapiens from Africa across the Earth's surface as a black area, while showing other species presence in color. As we spread and the black area invaded other habitats, the interface area would become increasingly black as the encountered species was replaced. No one could deny that we were the cause and - from the Earth's viewpoint - we are filling the function of a non-sustainable virus running unchecked throughout the biosphere. The once-habitable part of the planet is already some shade of black.
The big difference is that we KNOW we are doing that, and a virus does not.
Not that I'm pessimistic about our ultimate effect on this lovely blue marble.....
This is by far my most interesting read to date on this site . Amazing piece. These are the kind of posts that should be getting the real upvotes . I can’t get over how plentiful the buffalo were. A herd of 100 miles ?? Jesus Christ!! The wolves dying with the poisoned bait is very interesting . All that killing. Just shows you what we will do for money.
Wow! Thanks for that, @blanchy! I'm going to print that and keep it as my reward for doing the research.
When driving across the middle of the US, crossing the Great Plains and even today while seeing nothing but grass (or corn, or wheat) to the horizon and imagine what it was like back in 1800 before fences and people for a thousand miles by five hundred miles; that it was one large pasture of grass, with no mountains or impassable rivers to contain the bison. It must have been the most glorious sight possible to see so many animals within touching distance of each other browsing as they walked slowly along.
I will always believe that General Sheridan's estimate of one billion bison was closer to being accurate than the 100 million he reported because he thought no one no one would believe his first estimate. That is only one animal for every eight acres; far fewer than the land would support.