Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good idea, like a park of something? The most difficult part would be naming it. You could go for something like Cretaceus Park, but it doesn't sound too good.
Billy's Cloneasaurus Park
Nailed it!
What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
31–40 of 103 posts
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#32> Defined as large-bodied terrestrial mammals with a mean adult body mass of 2,200 pounds or more, today’s remaining megaherbivores comprise the likes of elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and hippopotamuses. Was there difference in hunter-gatherers in europe/asia/americas compared to africa? Why hadn't the ancient elephants, giraffes, etc been hunted to extinction? > I think work over the past few decades has rather…
Not all megafauna are herd animals on the scale of American buffalo. Others were limited to smaller areas or less numerous to begin with, and the ones that survive are probably those that started off most numerous. African elephants are hanging on by a thread, relative to their original number they're down something like 98%.
Africa is also _huge_ - around four times the size of the entire continental USA - and suffered perhaps less during the Ice Ages than Northern America or Eurasia, where megafauna would have been squeezed by both the ice - and associated climate changes further south - and a hungry and increasingly innovative human population.
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Was there difference in hunter-gatherers in europe/asia/americas compared to africa? Why hadn't the ancient elephants, giraffes, etc been hunted to extinction? Consider that African megafauna have co-existed with early hominids and eventually humans for millions of years. They may have simply adapted to human predation successfully enough to survive, as one factor. Whereas in North America and elsewhere you have th…
Right, we're a native species to Africa, so its whole ecosystem evolved with us. I think of this when I hear about "poachers" killing animals in African nature reserves. How often is that hunter gatherers who been there for thousands of years, and whose hunting is/was really part of the ecosystem?
Hunter gatherers who are killing Rhinos only to sell their grounded horns to some idiots in China/etc.?
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#34Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Good idea, like a park of something? The most difficult part would be naming it. You could go for something like Cretaceus Park, but it doesn't sound too good.
Oh, a park! Like, where people come and can look at the creatures for an entrance fee? Yeah, sure why not. Also like your naming idea, perhaps something a little catchier?
Imagine a new generation of kids that likes dinosaurs and can actually see them roaming.
Can't wait to see the look on their faces when I tell them that I was into dinosaurs when they were still underground
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
> Was there difference in hunter-gatherers in europe/asia/americas compared to africa? Why hadn't the ancient elephants, giraffes, etc been hunted to extinction? Consider that African megafauna have co-existed with early hominids and eventually humans for millions of years. They may have simply adapted to human predation successfully enough to survive, as one factor. Whereas in North America and elsewhere you have th…
Right, we're a native species to Africa, so its whole ecosystem evolved with us. I think of this when I hear about "poachers" killing animals in African nature reserves. How often is that hunter gatherers who been there for thousands of years, and whose hunting is/was really part of the ecosystem?
[deleted]
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#37One idea I had a while back is this: with all our modern technology in stem cell research, gene modification and cloning, shouldn't it be possible to recreate actual living clones from prehistoric dinosaur DNA? I mean, sure, these giant wild animals could potentially become dangerous, but how about we confine them to a remote island or so?!
I believe that you will only need one IT person and I would like the job!
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#38One idea I had a while back is this: with all our modern technology in stem cell research, gene modification and cloning, shouldn't it be possible to recreate actual living clones from prehistoric dinosaur DNA? I mean, sure, these giant wild animals could potentially become dangerous, but how about we confine them to a remote island or so?!
I believe that you will only need one IT person and I would like the job!
UiX is key, haz u 3D file interface for UNIX system?
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#39It died.
Re: What Happened to Ancient Megafauna?
#40> Defined as large-bodied terrestrial mammals with a mean adult body mass of 2,200 pounds or more, today’s remaining megaherbivores comprise the likes of elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and hippopotamuses. Was there difference in hunter-gatherers in europe/asia/americas compared to africa? Why hadn't the ancient elephants, giraffes, etc been hunted to extinction? > I think work over the past few decades has rather…
> I have a hard time believing that hunter gathers in tiny tribes traveling on foot with primitive weapons could have hunted and wiped out entire species of large animals from continents
One thing humans could was starting fires that would drive many animals into a designated killbox, among other ways of "cheating". Humans were uniquely capable (at this size scale, at least) to both hunt species in excess to their need and cause outsized damage to their habitat in the process.