Rangers protecting Philippine tamaraws go hungry as pandemic bites

[UngulateNerd92]

For the rangers protecting one of the most threatened species of cattle in the world, a day at the office can involve facing off against poachers or walking a tightrope between the military and armed rebels in a conflict zone.

But with the onset of COVID-19, the guardians of the critically endangered tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis), a species found only on the Philippine island of Mindoro, face a different kind of threat: hunger, as budget cuts caused by the pandemic bite into their already meager salaries.

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...ine-tamaraws-go-hungry-as-pandemic-bites/amp/

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Very sad to hear this, the tamaraw is already such a neglected species.

Unfortunately hungry or unemployed rangers are now the reality when it comes to conserving protected species and patrolling protected areas all over the world.

So much for the "Nature is healing" meme / narrative that was everywhere on social media at the height of the pandemic...

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Very sad to hear this, the tamaraw is already such a neglected species.

Unfortunately hungry or unemployed rangers are now the reality when it comes to conserving protected species and patrolling protected areas all over the world.

So much for the "Nature is healing" meme / narrative that was everywhere on social media at the height of the pandemic...

It is very unfortunate! Sadly, this "nature is healing" banter couldn't be further from the truth. I wish it were true though...

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

It is very unfortunate! Sadly, this "nature is healing" banter couldn't be further from the truth. I wish it were true though...

Sadly people seem to prefer simplistic "feel good" and totally fictitious narratives than the complicated and painful truth. Social media undeniably plays a huge part of the problem with this kind of viral misinformation.

On another note how many people outside of the Phillipines even know that the tamaraw exists ?

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Sadly people seem to prefer simplistic "feel good" and totally fictitious narratives than the complicated and painful truth. Social media undeniably plays a huge part of the problem with this kind of viral misinformation.

On another note how many people outside of the Phillipines even know that the tamaraw exists ?

Yeah, though understandable, it is unfortunate and might I add an irresponsible mindset. Not to get too personal, but I will be frank and say that I am a frequently pessimistic perpetual glass half empty person in addition to always waiting for the other shoe to drop or waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me or under us as a whole. These are not necessarily bad personality traits, as me and others like me see things more realistically, but it can be overwheleming when its constant... sometimes I do need to take a mental and emotional break from it all... I will also add that sometimes being too pessimistic has its downsides and irresponsible tendencies being that it depletes motivation and thus ability to come up with and find solutions.

Sadly, I would also guarantee you that many people even in the Philippines do not know what a Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Yeah, though understandable, it is unfortunate and might I add an irresponsible mindset. Not to get too personal, but I will be frank and say that I am a frequently pessimistic perpetual glass half empty person in addition to always waiting for the other shoe to drop or waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under me or under us as a whole. These are not necessarily bad personality traits, as me and others like me see things more realistically, but it can be overwheleming when its constant... sometimes I do need to take a mental and emotional break from it all... I will also add that sometimes being too pessimistic has its downsides and irresponsible tendencies being that it depletes motivation and thus ability to come up with and find solutions.

Sadly, I would also guarantee you that many people even in the Philippines do not know what a Tamaraw (Bubalus mindorensis) is.

I know what you mean as I have a lot of those traits myself.

I tend towards stubbornly thinking optimistically when thinking long term about the human species (becoming a wiser species or even the alternative of post societal collapse or posthuman world) though I am mostly pessimistic when it comes to the short term / immediate view of humanity's future.

I also agree with you that pessimism can naturally lead to a mindset and lifestyle of nihilism or apathy that breeds inaction and collectively the inability to come up with solutions to the most pressing problems.

The way I get around this trap in my own life is by willing myself to accept that the battle might well be lost but that it is nevertheless symbolically (because at the very least the planet and its species deserve our best efforts even if these ultimately fail) and existentially (in the sense of giving meaning to our own lives as individuals) important that those of us who are conscious "go out on our shields" / "go down fighting" rather than taking the easier path of mediocrity and nihilism.

Sadly you are probably right about the tamaraw.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

I know what you mean as I have a lot of those traits myself.

I tend towards stubbornly thinking optimistically when thinking long term about the human species (becoming a wiser species or even the alternative of post societal collapse or posthuman world) though I am mostly pessimistic when it comes to the short term / immediate view of humanity's future.

I also agree with you that pessimism can naturally lead to a mindset and lifestyle of nihilism or apathy that breeds inaction and collectively the inability to come up with solutions to the most pressing problems.

The way I get around this trap in my own life is by willing myself to accept that the battle might well be lost but that it is nevertheless symbolically (because at the very least the planet and its species deserve our best efforts even if these ultimately fail) and existentially (in the sense of giving meaning to our own lives as individuals) important that those of us who are conscious "go out on our shields" / "go down fighting" rather than taking the easier path of mediocrity and nihilism.

Sadly you are probably right about the tamaraw.

Well said @Onychorhynchus coronatus sometimes the negative news is so significant that it corners you into hopelessness and pessimism and a mindset that even trying to address the issue or issues in question are a waste of time and energy. That has unfortunately happened to me...

Not to digress too far off topic, but I want to share a relevant quote that I personally relate to wholeheartedly. I can't relate to any other quote more...

"One growing epidemic in society is depression, something I now deal with everyday. Thinking about my own depression , I notice people want to assume that to be depressed means there is something wrong with you psychologically or biologically.

Rarely does one say: "You are majorly depressed, but that is OK because you are a truly empathetic and sensitive person who must truthfully endure the harsh society we exist in."

While we know depression does trigger brain chemicals that often need to be "stopped" in order to allow for a pause so the mind can readjust, in most cases that cycle still starts from somewhere, like the death of a family member, break-up, state of employment and so on.

So I suppose my point is that one's depression in society can represent something happening socially, creating trends that can be understood on the population level in terms of public health. Ideally, this measure would be useful to help adjust our society for the better, of course. Yet, little seems to be happening... only more drugs.

Anyway, so those of you out there who take the time to pay attention to the world as it is, outside your inner circles, feeling it's dischord in a depressive way -- don't fret. Those that truly care, like you, are mostly miserable too. And those with big fat droolly smiles on their faces, dancing around our global warzone -- are probably more likely to be mentally ill I'm some way than you!"

- Peter Joseph, American independent filmmaker, activist, and founder of the Zeitgeist Movement.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

Well said @Onychorhynchus coronatus sometimes the negative news is so significant that it corners you into hopelessness and pessimism and a mindset that even trying to address the issue or issues in question are a waste of time and energy. That has unfortunately happened to me...

Not to digress too far off topic, but I want to share a relevant quote that I personally relate to wholeheartedly. I can't relate to any other quote more...

"One growing epidemic in society is depression, something I now deal with everyday. Thinking about my own depression , I notice people want to assume that to be depressed means there is something wrong with you psychologically or biologically.

Rarely does one say: "You are majorly depressed, but that is OK because you are a truly empathetic and sensitive person who must truthfully endure the harsh society we exist in."

While we know depression does trigger brain chemicals that often need to be "stopped" in order to allow for a pause so the mind can readjust, in most cases that cycle still starts from somewhere, like the death of a family member, break-up, state of employment and so on.

So I suppose my point is that one's depression in society can represent something happening socially, creating trends that can be understood on the population level in terms of public health. Ideally, this measure would be useful to help adjust our society for the better, of course. Yet, little seems to be happening... only more drugs.

Anyway, so those of you out there who take the time to pay attention to the world as it is, outside your inner circles, feeling it's dischord in a depressive way -- don't fret. Those that truly care, like you, are mostly miserable too. And those with big fat droolly smiles on their faces, dancing around our global warzone -- are probably more likely to be mentally ill I'm some way than you!"

- Peter Joseph, American independent filmmaker, activist, and founder of the Zeitgeist Movement.

I think it happens to all of us now and then and especially at the current moment in time considering the circumstances most of us find ourselves in.

That is an excellent quote and it reminds me of a couple of quotes by Ernest Hemmingway that sort of touch on this subject :

“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.”

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”

 

[UngulateNerd92]

I think it happens to all of us now and then and especially at the current moment in time considering the circumstances most of us find ourselves in.

That is an excellent quote and it reminds me of a couple of quotes by Ernest Hemmingway that sort of touch on this subject :

“Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.”

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, many are strong at the broken places.”

Those are great quotes as well. Thank you for sharing them with me. I would agree that our current circumstances exacerbate depressive tendencies.