Should endangered animals be turned into farm animals (if they are able to be domesticated) to keep the species alive?

[robocop666]

There are a few wild animals that are safe to domesticate. Why not keep the species alive by turning it into a farm animal.

Okapi

[NaultD]

It took all of human history to domesticate all current domesticated animals. So basically we already weeded out all the animals we could to during that time.

We know this from a current ongoing science experiment on domestication of foxes that is over 100 years old now. Its already telling us foxes will never be proper pets even though it's closely related to wolfs that are now dogs that can be trained and house broken. A lot of genetics are involved and it's not a random coincidence any individual species was domesticated but those are only the ones that could be domesticated.

[MrOracle]

These animals are part of an entire ecosystem. Plus, we have the domesticated animals we do because they are the ones that made sense to dominate. Trying to accommodate a giraffe, for example, would cost a fortune.

It's a nice dream but it's just not practical. Many animals are extremely reliant on their ecosystem, which produces the food or environment that they are adapted for, and can't be replaced except at great expense.

[robocop666]

no giraffes are safe so why not eat them? and make them pets

[MrOracle]

Giraffes only eat specific kinds of tree leaves, and these trees only grow in certain places. We don't have those trees in the US, and we intentionally don't import non-native plants because we learned the hard way how damaging that is to the ecosystem. But besides that, the other costs involved make them unviable to be used as food. It sounds easy, but once you look at the fine details, everything about it is far more difficult and expensive.

For example, you can't keep a giraffe in nearly any existing barn or enclosure - they're too tall and they either won't fit or they can get out too easily. The costs to fence in an area to keep a giraffe in would be substantial - 5 times more than a cow fence perhaps. And making buildings giraffe-friendly? At least double the cost of existing buildings. Everything is like that - far more expensive.

[robocop666]

ok what about the Okapi? the other species of Giraffe?

[FreyaRed]

Farming makes only sense if you want use those animals as meat source. Nature reserves work perfectly as breeding regions, just build a wall and let those animal alone with enough space. But here comes corruption and park rangers which turn in the night to poachers because no matter what you pay them it will be never enough.

[OldBlue]

Let's hold off on your idea for four more years. I heard the head of the project in an Interview. He sounded pretty convincing. His method is much like what you saw in Jurassic Park.

[NamerOfStars]

Yes. You'll find a lot more spatial tolerance for farms than, say, zoos. I've often said that if you REALLY want to save the pandas, find a way to turn a profit from them.

[robocop666]

they are so desperate to make them breed that they showed them pandas having sex on videos. This really happened. some believe that they do it o in the wild and just don't like interference.

[NamerOfStars]

The have a cute coloration paint job that blinds people to the fact that it's still 300 lbs of BEAR. They've fallen back on bamboo because it's a comfort food, and are no more herbivorous than you or I.

Wild pandas simply need to be reminded of what they are. Grizzlies live next door to humanity and have adapted just fine; polar bears have started coming down from the melting ice and eating locals; even Asian black bears are picking up the slack. You're making your family look bad, pandas!

[FunkyMonkee]

No, not a farm, Zoo them until they've created enough of themselves to repopulate and then put them back into the area where they belong.

[robocop666]

the area is gone now. Far them to repopulate them and then when they are large in numbers release the. This way it pays for itself.

[FunkyMonkee]

But they become domesticated and lose the ability to fend for themselves.
What area is gone?

[robocop666]

giraffes only eat and are passive this will not go away with domestication. They are too big and have no need to fight lions.

[Anonymous]

Is that not the point sanctuaries?

[robocop666]

yeah thats good. Only so many places we can do that though. making giraffes profitable is a better idea.