Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 16:03:16 +0000 (GMT)
From: Andrew Flood <andrew.flood-AT-ucd.ie>
Subject: Hunting was  baby food; is: who knows?


>Scott Spaeth writes:
>
>>Jonathan Kratter wrote:
>> >
>> > No other species
>> >hunts for pleasure.
>>
>> Actually, the common house cat also hunts for pleasure, as they will quite
>> often not eat what they've killed.
>
>That, Scott, mon cher ami, is a common assumption, but one not supported by
>any evidence.

Yes although its also not just cats who indulge in killing for reasons
other then consumption.  There was quite a shock a few years back when
Orcas (Killer whales) were filmed injuring seals and then spending
quite long periods picking up the seal and tossing it far into the
air before catching it again.  I belive 'the line' at the moment is
that the purpose of this exercise is to give the younger members
of the pod a chance to practise catching seal.

Most hunting humans do today is still associated with getting food
(espeically if you include fishing) or protecting food from
predators.  The fact that its easy to pick the same nutritional
value of food up from a supermarket for far less energy would
seem to add to the suggestion that eating meat may not
be a nessecary but it is hard wired in evolutionary terms.  Ever
seen a cow with a fishing rod?

Andrew

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