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Some interesting, clinical facts about Canada geese as reported in Wikipidia:
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For example, the typical flying height during migrations is 3,000 feet. But geese have reportedly flown as high as 29,000 feet.
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Also reported is that just prior to and during migrations, geese release high levels of thyroid hormones and the stress hormone, corticosterone.
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There is little question that the challenges of lengthy migrations often covering thousands of miles in all kinds of conditions greatly tax the billions of birds and other animals that undergo them every year. Many of the animals don't make it.
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This might raise questions concerning the actual suffering of animals in nature and the wild.
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Do wild animals in fact, suffer more and greater than the billions of animals domesticated by humans and particularly in the case of "food" animals typically exploited and slaughtered?
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That is actually a very compelling and complicated question. Particularly as "domesticated animals" covers everything from cherished and spoiled companion pets to working animals (such as carriage horses or service dogs) to billions of animals confined and constricted on "factory farms" or puppy mills and millions of other beings subjected to painful experimentation in laboratories.
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Despite all the cruelties inflicted upon domesticated animals by humans, one man makes the case that animals in the wild actually suffer more than even the billions raised and slaughtered through intensive factory farming practices.
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In, "The Importance of Wild Animal Suffering," author, Brian Tomasik encourages animal activists "to promote concern about wild animal suffering to encourage research on the issue to ensure that our descendants use advanced technologies in ways that alleviate wild animal suffering than inadvertently multiplying it."
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Mr.Tomasik describes in lengthy and well documented detail, the myriad of ways wild animals suffer in nature and usually die gruesome deaths.
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While no one could dispute that life for most wild animals is challenging, difficult and almost always results in painful death, it seems impossible to actually make a judgment on whether wild animals experience greater suffering in nature than times of actual pleasure or that they suffer more than billions of domestic animals.
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In personal and limited observations of both, feral cats and some stray dogs on New York City streets as well as wildlife in Central Park, there is little question that daily life for "free" (unowned) animals is a struggle for food, safety and shelter from the elements. But I have also witnessed countless moments of relative ease, relaxation and seeming pleasure.
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Several years ago, I trapped, neutered and released three feral cats to the yards and alley's in back of my building.
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The cats have thrived in their environment, formed strong attachments to each other (and to me) and from all appearances, are very acclimated and "happy" with their lives -- nearly as much as the 5 cats living in my home. One needs to consider of course, the fact the cats are neutered, thereby eliminating the stresses of estrus, fighting for mating privileges or having to raise young. Neutering in fact, aids to lengthen their lives. (I also provide the three cats with food once a day which reduces the struggles to otherwise find sustenance.) But noting the way nature provides the cats with thick, dense coats for winter and observing the joyful body language of purrs and rubbing up against each other, I am forced to conclude that for the most part, these cats are happy despite the otherwise challenges of nature and the outdoors.
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True, one cannot perhaps compare the lives of animals living "wild" in an urban environment to those living wild in the jungles of South America or the plains of Africa. And in the case of neutered feral cats, humans (in this case) have otherwise "intervened" which is what, in many ways, Mr. Tomasik is advocating for and with which I generally agree to certain level.
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What about wildlife living in city parks?
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City parks are created, rather than natural environments as there are few natural predators and hunting is barred.
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Nevertheless, the wild ducks and geese one observes maintain a state of almost constant vigilance. As "prey" animals, they need to be aware of their environment all the time as anything from a hawk, to snapping turtle, to dog to cruel human can represent life ending threat.
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That said, the animals certainly find time for relative ease, relaxation and even what sometimes appears fun and games. Resident ducks and geese often and willingly socialize with people. On nice days, they can often be seen basking in the sun, preening and seemingly enjoying the rays. And then there are the social relationships with each other; particularly pair bondings. Though ducks (unlike geese) do not typically mate for life, their devotion and responsibility to each other while a pair, are strong, purposeful and fulfilling.
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Geese of course are perhaps the most bonded to their mates as such relationships are lifelong. Should one of the pair die, the surviving goose will typically grieve for many weeks or months. There is perhaps nothing more eerie than observing and hearing the plaintive sounds of a widowed goose calling or mourning for his/her lost mate.
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But, both during courtship and the raising of young, there are many times of seeming joy, pleasure and yes, even love and devotion among the ducks and geese -- or, what one might term, happiness.
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Notwithstanding the facts and documentations cited in Mr. Tomasik's well researched, but clinical piece, I believe it to be a bit one sided, focusing almost exclusively on the sufferings of animals in the wild and nearly not at all on the animals' pleasures, adaptations and particular roles in herd, flock, colony or pack. (i.e. social relationships.)
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I personally believe that (like humans) animals in the wild experience both pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow, times of relative ease and times of tremendous stress and/or adversity.
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The same is likely true for most domesticated animals with the probable exceptions of those purposely confined, deprived and exploited on factory farms, puppy mills and vivisection labs. Though generally fed and sheltered from wild animal predation, the latter animals have been so manipulated, restricted and abused, it is hard to imagine them experiencing much, if any pleasure or happiness beyond what a human prisoner might experience in jail or a concentration camp. Yet, as The Diary of Anne Frank pointed out, even in the worst circumstances, many humans (and animals) are resilient and able to find and experience moments of joy and/or fulfilling attachment.
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In short, it is really hard to say with clear certainty, which animals have it better or worse -- domesticated or wild animals.
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Wild animals generally have to face many more life threatening challenges than do most domesticated animals. For that reason, they don't usually live as long as their domesticated counterparts (again with notable exception of factory farmed animals, most of whom are slaughtered upon reaching maturity). On the other hand, wild animals generally have more freedom of movement and choice than do domesticated animals.
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"Six of one, half a dozen of the other" as the saying goes.
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I personally believe that as we learn more about animals and create and improve laws to help ensure their protection and welfare, that generally speaking, domesticated animals have it better than their wild counterparts. The lack of fear and anxiety over habitat, food sources, hunting pressures or protection from predators or hostile climate conditions certainly appears to make their lives far easier than most animals in the wild. Add to those things, the general legal requirements for basic veterinary care of domestic animals and unlike wild animals, a treatable illness or injury is not likely to be fatal for them.
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For these reasons and more, I included the enlightening piece from Brian Tomisik today as it raises interesting and fascinating question, as well as it reminds us, that life for animals in the wild is not a Disney wonderland as some might want to believe. I personally agree that in terms of "animal activism," more emphasis needs to directed towards protection and aid to animals in the wild. -- Especially in light of so many species on the brink of extinction due to habitat destruction, climate changes and over-hunting.
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Certainly, watching how "spent" and exhausted most migratory geese are when arriving at the Jackie Onassis Reservoir these days after flying well over a thousand miles, I would never claim life for animals in the wild is any kind of cake walk.
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But, nor does it appear some unending test of endurance of suffering.
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Nature gives and nature takes.
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That is true for both, wild and domesticated animals (though in the latter case, it is more humans that are "giving and taking.")
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But, in the end, domesticated animals might just have it a wee bit better as Tomisik claims.
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What can after all be better, than nuzzling up to some human and having muzzle or tummy rubbed?
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Horses, dogs and cats apparently answered that question for themselves eons ago. -- PCA
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