Tommy T's First Lure-Cincinnati Zoo

[fatalrob0t]

I'm so glad to see that little guy's doing so well! He's absolutely precious! But then, I love big cats as well as little cats. ^^

[yupp40]

@plumeria66 baby cheetahs do need to be trained how to hunt by their mothers. this isn't entertainment, this is providing the cheetah with the necessary skills to survive.

[clungkie]

@yupp40 These activities will not effect this cat's ability to hunt or survive in the wild, as it will never be released into the wild. Of course, I could be wrong, but I don't believe the CC Zoo plans to murder this cat.

[plumeria66]

this poor cheetah having to entertain people on something it instinctively does that people think they are training it to do....

[mriguy35]

Go Tommy T!!!!!! Get that lure!!!!

[spudnutsncoffee]

Jewels in your crowns for being such angels to the little creatures!

[123prettybitch]

what's with the lady having an orgasm in the beginning? Bestiality?

[spudnutsncoffee]

@123prettybitch Get a life.

[123prettybitch]

@spudnutsncoffee

I was Joking calm down?

[auron2214]

this is soo awsome.

[animegirl13pain]

wow. that made me cry! :3 you could really see how excited and proud he was! :) so awesome! raising a wild animal is a lot of hard work, but it must be very rewarding as well!

[spudnutsncoffee]

@animegirl13pain I felt the same way. My mom would have loved this lady. In fact, I bet you my mom would have wanted to work with them.

[ulrichinsummer]

very cute

[ZooVisitorMM]

Nature couldn't teeach a young cheetah any better!

I love the makeshift lure.

This looks like fun for everyone.

[clungkie]

@ZooVisitorMM How such a ridiculous statement about how nature couldn't teach a cheetah how to hunt better than a human has 5 thumbs up is beyond me. That cheetah will never be able to hunt or enter the wild, so how is it that an animal that has taught itself to survive in the wild can actually be compared to chasing a ball on string? Nature is the best teacher, where else did we as humans or any animal learn anything to start? Nature.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@clungkie If nature were the best teacher, we would not have needed to modify it to the extent that we have for our lives as humans. Nor would we have needed schools. Wild creatures learn to adapt to many different situations, just as humans do. They can learn in the wild, and they can learn in captivity. And there are many, many examples of wild creatures having much better lives with human care and guidance than they would have had living in the wild, dealing with nature's way.

[clungkie]

@ZooVisitorMM Who are you to say we as humans are even supposed to intervene? Have you heard of the term survival of the fittest? Did you know cheetahs are endangered not because of their lack of survival skills, but because humans hunt them for their hides etc? Cheetahs don't need schools, humans do. Humans adapt how they do, but cheetahs don't have the choice to take up a job or advance in technology. Please think before you make another remark, you, nor I have any place before nature.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@clungkie I know all about survival of the fittest, a scientific theory that has recently been slightly modified based on the latest research. Evolution is a fascinating process.  But nature's way is often harsh and cruel. And I believe humans can and should intervene to try to make the lives of animals nicer, better, and more comfortable in the same way we try to do that for ourselves. God gave us dominion over the animals. We should not sit back and let them suffer.

[clungkie]

Secondly, great for that cheetah if it's life is better than it would have been, but my point is there is no comparison to human's intervention and nature. A human can't teach an animal what it would learn in nature, nor will it ever act the same. Human's intervention is only needed because of humans. Who cleans up the animals who can't after oil spills? Humans. Who spills the oil, though? Humans. So for those many cases where their lives are better, great! But not when its our fault (:

[ZooVisitorMM]

@clungkie I beleive a human can teach an animal what it would learn in nature. But, even more important, a human can teach an animal what it could not learn in nature. It is fascinating to see wild animals discovering new things and being given the opportunity to live comfortable, healthy, mentally and physically stimulating lives.

[ZooVisitorMM]

@clungkie Oil spills and other man-made interference with nature are not really relevant to this particular discussion.  I want animals to be as protected as possible from all possible harm, whether it is the result of man's activities, or the result of nature's way.