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FrankBlunt
Mini Management
Joined: 07 Jul 2006
Posts: 125
Location: California, USA
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 Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:48 pm Post subject: Dead Clam and Crying Fowl |
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| Quote: | Prince Harry Questioned in Killing of Rare Birds
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Police questioned Prince Harry Tuesday after three people told them they saw a pair of rare birds blasted from the sky.
The hen harriers were reported to have been killed on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
There are now believed to be just 20 breeding pairs left on mainland England.
Killing the birds could lead to a fine of up to about $20,718 and six months’ jail.
The 23-year-old Prince, a bloodsports fan, was said to have been out shooting with a pal from the Van Cutsem family when the birds died last Wednesday evening.
It was claimed they were the only people known to have been out shooting that night.
A Clarence House spokesman said: “Because Prince Harry and a friend were both in the area at the time, the police have been in contact with them and asked them if they have any information that could help.
“Unfortunately, they had no knowledge of the alleged incident.”
A spokesman for wildlife group Natural England said: “One of our wardens and two members of public saw two harriers shot and killed.
“They saw the birds in the air, heard the shots and watched them fall. It wasn’t possible to see who was responsible. We are shocked that two of England’s rarest birds have been killed in this way. They are one of the most vulnerable species we have.”
An RSPB spokesman said: “We take any allegations of killing hen harriers very seriously. We regard persecution as a major threat.
“If the allegations are substantiated it would be a serious matter.”
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| Quote: | Scientists Find Oldest Living Animal, Then Kill It
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
British marine biologists have found what may be the oldest living animal — that is, until they killed it.
The team from Bangor University in Wales was dredging the waters north of Iceland as part of routine research when the unfortunate specimen, belonging to the clam species Arctica islandica, commonly known as the ocean quahog, was hauled up from waters 250 feet deep.
Only after researchers cut through its shell, which made it more of an ex-clam, and counted its growth rings did they realize how old it had been — between 405 and 410 years old.
Another clam of the same species had been verified at 220 years old, and a third may have lived 374 years. But this most recent clam was the oldest yet.
"Its death is an unfortunate aspect of this work, but we hope to derive lots of information from it," postdoctoral scientist Al Wanamaker told London's Guardian newspaper. "For our work, it's a bonus, but it wasn't good for this particular animal."
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Researchers cut into the clam, knowing that it would die, for the sake of learning how old it was. If it was their goal to eat it, that would be another matter, but their intentions were entirely vain.
I find both stories irritating, but in the case of the birds, they haven't searched everywhere. That's the defense strategy I would suggest for Prince Harry's attorneys. In their shoes, I'd yank out an atlas and a laser pointer, using as much time as the judge would allow:
"Did you look here?"
"Is it possible that they had flown here while you were searching there?"
"Let me remind you that you're under oath, Mr. Fowler. Can you... with any measure of certainty, prove that the hen harriers are rare or in any way endangered?"
"In your professional capacity as an ornithologist, may the court assume that you are bird-brained?"
Who are these people with nothing better to do than watch rare birds getting shot? Why didn't Harry take aim a bit lower and do the world a favor?
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