Althouse: "The boiling of millions of penguins on a remote Antarctic island triggered one of the first international wildlife campaigns."

February 23, 2012

"The boiling of millions of penguins on a remote Antarctic island triggered one of the first international wildlife campaigns."

"A century on, DNA analysis proves it has been a success. Now, Macquarie Island's king penguins must face rampaging rabbits."

Boiled penguins. Rampaging rabbits. I'm deep into the science news this morning.

19 comments:

Bob Ellison said...: Penguins, being aquatic, should probably be grilled, not boiled. I'm just guessing here. They have a lot of fat, though, so maybe a slow roast would be best.; 2/23/12, 10:03 AM
Wally Kalbacken said...: It's just some bloody rabbits. A problem, that's not.; 2/23/12, 10:05 AM
Robert said...: Wampaging Wabbits?

Holy Jimmy Carter, Batman!; 2/23/12, 10:06 AM
MadisonMan said...: rabbits are vermin.; 2/23/12, 10:09 AM
Wince said...: So, last year, Tasmanian scientists began eradicating rabbits. The carnage continues.

Unfortunately, scientists are not even Close to a solution.; 2/23/12, 10:10 AM
traditionalguy said...: Penguins have the upper hand these days. They look like cute little people and star in their own movies.

Once Bugs Bunny was seen at cartoons every Saturday and rabbits had defenders. But those days have hopped down the road along with that racist Brer Rabbit.; 2/23/12, 10:17 AM
edutcher said...: Bernard Law Montgomery could have used them in Normandy.

He always said he'd pounce on Rommel like a savage rabbit.; 2/23/12, 10:22 AM
Toby said...: Boiled penguins immediately bring to mind a really fantastic Top Chef challenge.; 2/23/12, 10:36 AM
gerry said...: Wampant Wabbit!; 2/23/12, 10:38 AM
Jaske said...: Release cats
Then coyotes
Then dingos, let dingos eat their babies.
There once a lady that swallowed a fly....; 2/23/12, 10:38 AM
William said...: The penguins were boiled to extract the oil from their bodies. Proof of what I have long suspected: hydrofracking and offshore drilling are not the worst possible ways of extracting oil. Still, it must be admitted that penguins are a renewable and sustainable natural resource. Perhaps a balanced program of boiled penguins, solar energy, and wind power are the answer to America's needs. Let's keep an open mind on boiled penguins.; 2/23/12, 10:39 AM
Tibore said...: Ask King Arthur about rampaging rabbits some time. Remember Tim the Enchanter!

"I *warned* you, but did you listen to me? Oh, no, you *knew*, didn't you? Oh, it's just a harmless little *bunny*, isn't it?"

;); 2/23/12, 10:57 AM
Alex said...: Dammit! I thought the penguins were be boiled from Venus-like temperatures due to man made global warming! I'm so fucking disappointed.; 2/23/12, 11:02 AM
chickelit said...: A 100 years ago, mostly only intellectuals and especially night owls needed so much lamp oil. So I blame them, mostly.; 2/23/12, 11:09 AM
StarBanker said...: It's amazing that they didn't introduce greyhounds next.; 2/23/12, 11:38 AM
Rusty said...: Toby said...
Boiled penguins immediately bring to mind a really fantastic Top Chef challenge.

Taste like Krill!!!; 2/23/12, 11:44 AM
Methadras said...: I wish the same effect could be had on the Japanese and their overfishing and be banned from whaling.; 2/23/12, 12:06 PM
CJinPA said...: "Boiled-to-death penguins are back from the brink" -- Headline at the link

First image in my mind was a mob of rampaging, Freddy Kruger-ized penguins seeking revenge. Needless to say, I was somewhat disappointed in how the story played out.; 2/23/12, 12:17 PM
Peter said...: The good thing about antarctica is, there's no Original Sin.

That is, there's no peoples who are native to it. Therefore there's no "we were here first" arguments, no aboriginal claims to priority for resources, etc.

And if penguins were lobsters, few would object. Does the squirm factor get invoked when the animal is a vertibrate? When it's cute and furry?

Advocating for the rights of single-cell organisms seems beyond absurd, but where, then, is the line to be drawn? And on what logical basis?; 2/23/12, 1:16 PM