Enviro Health

LEAVE THEM BE

I don't think it's ethical or humane to keep wild animals in cages, enclosures etc. Panjo may be loved but he has a lifetime ahead being cooped up in a cage of 100m x 50m (according to latest reports). Is that right or fair? I would rather the animal becomes extinct than have to 'live' in a confined space  after all, it's humans who, through their bloodthirsty ways, will have killed the animals to the point of extinction. We have to suffer the consequences.

Combat

If you can beat the tiger in hand to hand combat, then you can keep him... But if not, you'll become breakfast.... I think that's fair.

Humans ruined it!

In an ideal world, yes wild animals should be free but alas we humans have destroyed their rights too. Panjo seems happy and content and Mr Fernandes and his family appear to be doing a wonderful job in looking after their wild animals. If he assists in prolonging their extiction through his breeding programme, then I appeal to him to please continue...

LEAVE THEM BE

I agree fully with G Gardner. It's absolutely stupid for people to suddenly 'want one'.

VERY Ethical !

Think of the possibilities:
1) reality show " Panjo!"  with gold chained owners cursing ALL day!
2) Panjo Pajamas
3) Panjo celeb photo shoots with Kurt, Jurie and the other top-500 afrikaans singers
4) Panjo LOTTO " Panjo's PowerBalls!"  two extra bonus numbers
5) Panjo HIV campaign " Eye of the Tiger" 
6) Panjo iPhone screensavers
7) Panjo iPhone antenna covers

etc

Panjo, the cute tiger.

There is no such thing as a tame wild animal.
Some day, invariably, it will eat out of your hand right up to the shoulder.

It is ethical when controlled

Claiming you're involved in saving the tiger by keeping one at your home in South Africa is a bit of a stretch I think.

I have worked with endangered African big cats though and can definitely see massive value in keeping captive animals for the good of the species.

How they are kept and who keeps them is the important thing though, they're not commercial enterprises or pets. Education is the key to saving the world and they should play their part not find themselves hidden in private gardens.

Wild?

All tamed / domesticated are just that - TAMED. Even dogs and cats were once wild animals, they were domesticated. The difference between a rabbit in the field and the rabbit in your garden? Domestication. What's the difference between the cute tiger and the (few) left in the wild? Well, yes.

Tame them. As long as they're not lost, at least they're safe.

Want One too

There is no doubt that the Bengal tigers are amongst the most beautiful creatures on the planet. My opinion is that if you have the resources and expertise to keep such an animal, why not? Cats and dogs are not naturally domestic animals, humans have reared them that way. Panjo knows no different. He lives on a game farm, gets released from his enclosure and looks to be very well looked after. He has been humanised like a puppy or kitten and that is his new life. Hope they make a movie about him

I want one too

I think its disgusting and degrading to keep tigers like a domestic cat. This is a cat that can degut you with a single swip of its paw! What happens when it reaches sexual maturity and starts to act naturally? That's when things usually land up going tragically wrong.

I realise we need a certain number for research and educational purposes, but to subject them to this is horrendous!

Panjo

I sincerely hope that some of the readers will note that Panjo was rejected by his mother for being " weak"  . In nature terms it means he would have died very quickly, but for the owners who then looked after him. Thus everybody, including nature reserve, bla, bla , bla,

Stupid media frenzy

All you self-righteous prudes, the SPCA, the Mpumalanga Parks Board  all of you - why don't you leave this man - who clearly loves his cat alone - and go do something about saving the Rhinos on your doorstep -you bunch of hypocrites

PANJO

I think its great for the tiger and how he is cared for and loved by those who take care of him.YOU GO MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EARTH

We are heartened to preserve species that are dying out. However we live for but a few short years whilst the earth has been around for millions more - it rejuvenates, evolves, species die and others are born. Whilst we need to educate man on our duty to preserve and protect, let leave wild animals as they are - that's part of their mystique.

panjo

leave panjo with his owner! if ppl can afford a tiger and have space for it why not?? i want a piglet but its not like i can have one cos they grow up :) and why should he pay a fine ?? why not go after the poachers yes!

No Way

No way should people keep an animal like this in a domestic environment. Tigers, lions and the like are wild animals that we have no hope of domesticating. Dogs have been 'man's best friend' for thousands of years and they still attack people some times.

Pando

I recently saw a video, called "  The White Lion"  . Wild animals will never change, but may allow man into 'their' power circle. Thus, man will obey and will be respected. In the mentioned video it was said that the lion got hold of the trainer's arm, to tell the trainer that enough was enough for that days film shooting. The trainer acknowledged it. Thus, #Spyti K, leave it to the people that know and care. Please get hold of the video

Heeerreeee kitty kitty kitty....

Panjo will grow up and inevitably will injure someone wether intentionally or unintentionally. He will more than likely end up being kept in an enclosure or chained up... Some activists will make a scene, Derek Watts will conduct an investigation and poor Panjo is going to end up in a crappy zoo somewhere. Leave these beautiful creatures in the wild where they should be. People like Mr Fernandes could rather support a foundation that helps to ensure these creatures safety in the wild.

yummy

Be funny when the Tiger eats him

Panjo

either i have a serious connectivity problem or you delete every post that i make ythat is contentious or will cost you revenue...ok....i'll examine other means of airing (my) and other truth.

keeping wild animals safe

If he was in the wild, black people would have hunted him and killed him just for his skin as they are doing with Rhino's in our own country and nobody is doing sh** about it ?
He is better with a white man looking after and loving him!

Pando

Dear Alan, where does the black people fit into this conversation? I thought I said enough, but your comment is partly out of place. I humbly also refer you to "  The White Lion"  and the making of the movie afterwards. To Mr. Fernandes and his family, my highest regard and respect for what you did

Panjo

It is " allegedly"  unethical to keep wild animals (as advocated by various animal rights agencies), but these owners take care of them better than the agencies could.

I have seen dogs kept in worse situations and owners are allowed to abuse them because it is their right.

My contention is that as long as the owner take car of his animal, let it be! We sooo like to meddle in others affairs, while we ignore our own.

These owners of exotic animals must however not claim extra " privileges" .

Panjo

What really gets to me is that when a wild animal do attack its keeper / owner, it is shot!!! If Panjo ever attacks someone, he will be put down.

Panjo

I,d love to have a tiger together with many other beautiful animals ...but because I love and respect all animals I feel they should be allowed to roam freely in their own natural habitat....." roam freely and safely"  which unfortunately is not possible....so should you be priveledge to have a wild animal in your care...its you duty to ensure that all is done to keep it safe to the end of their natural life as you would a domestic cat and dog.

Panjo

I Want one! I have hand-reared many feral kitties, so scaling up shouldn't be a problem. I happily volunteer to help raise tiger/leopard/other cats who are rejected by their moms. It will be an honour. And to those who say that the cats should be left in the wild  yes, maybe it is a better in theory, but the reality is that there are more poachers out there than wellmeaning people, and they are better equiped to kill these animals right under our noses.

@william s and @alan

That would be a connectivity problem William! I never censor comments if I can help it, and then only in extreme cases i.e. if they contain really naughty words, or are highly bigoted and offensive. Alan, your comment has my finger hovering over the DELETE button... is it not possible for us to have ONE debate on 24.com without racist remarks? Sheesh.

but seeing as we are on race...

There are precious few races/cultures/ethnicities/nations indeed who do not have blood on their hands, both historically and currently, for unnecessary cruelty to and killing of our fellow creatures. Remember wild animals are threatened not only by direct threats like poaching  they are dying because our rampant land and resource use is squeezing them into ever smaller, more stressed and nutrient-poor " natural"  areas. See the article " Wild calling"  (link above, under " Read more" )

Panjo

The only wild cat that will not gobble up your arm one day when you are feeding it is the Cheetah! But you'll have to get it as a baby and then hand-rear it. It is a wonderful concoction of cat and dog character, and it takes to domestication like no other " wild"  animal, i.e. they make marvellous pets indeed. It would be quite happy to stay with you on your normal city half-acre property, but there are strict legalities about minimum property sizes for keeping such wild animals privately.

Keep wild animals

It think keeping wild animals at home is ethical if our intentions are to help and protect them, considering that it's not safe for them out in the wild due to poching and other factor therefore keeping them at home can be ok if the owner understands the risks involved in keeping such animals. Also i think if they are not kept for harmul intentions, like using them to indimidate other people or same other devious intent that they might have that are cruel and harmful to the animal. So basically for human to keep wild animals knowing how to handle such animals is a good think couse in the wild animals are nolonger safe.

Keep wild animals

It think keeping wild animals at home is ethical if our intentions are to help and protect them, considering that it's not safe for them out in the wild due to poching and other factor therefore keeping them at home can be ok if the owner understands the risks involved in keeping such animals. Also i think if they are not kept for harmul intentions, like using them to indimidate other people or same other devious intent that they might have that are cruel and harmful to the animal. So basically for human to keep wild animals knowing how to handle such animals is a good think couse in the wild animals are nolonger safe.

LOL

i dont agree with keeping wild animals as pets...BUT.... what is a dog? dogs are wild animals... what is a cat? wild animal.... it is completely stupid an idiotic to say a tiger is any different to a domestic cat..... wont go into the history of it...but *sigh* people are idiots...

Nandos

Where is Nandos in all this ? How about the 'Panjo schicken meal' - comes with a big stick, and instructions on how to say 'No' !

How ethical is it to keep an animal such as this ?

Dear Olivia, after all the discussions, to answer your question. When a wild animal puppy in danger, to my mind ethical issues has no bearing on the issue. Man/Woman has the insight to assist and care. I will not expand on the key word " insight" , given your 'keep'. It speaks for itself and from some heart warming comments from your readers.

humans are the problem

Lions and tigers are nothing like domestic cats, just as wolves are not like domestic dogs. Domestic animals have evolved and been bred for specific character traits which make their cohabitation with humans easier. The wild animals have evolved to hunt and survive as the predators that they are. They are far more likely to turn on us, especially if they are confined in a much smaller habitat than is natural for them. Sad that we have destroyed so much of their natural habitat. Us, all humans.

What a -|- tiger owner!

Let's make it simple. If your neigbour's Jack Russel bites your ankle you are fine. Now, if your neigbour's Pet Tiger bites you...you loose your leg (at least). And oh..did i mention they are not domesticated and thus cruel towards the animal.

what a ...

What a -|- - tiger owner!
Let's make it simple. If your neigbour's Jack Russel bites your ankle you are fine. Now, if your neigbour's Pet Tiger bites you...you loose your leg (at least). And oh..did i mention they are not domesticated and thus cruel towards the animal.

mind your own business

Keeping tigers as pets is nothing different to any other exotic 'pet', such as snakes, marmoset monkeys etc. Not everyone is satisfied with with dogs and cats. It's a personal thing/choice. And if a owner can supply everything the animal demands, acquire it through the right channels and attain permits, everyone else opinions is worth nothing.
And it doesn't need any justification such as preservation of species etc. The genepool of 99% of captive tigers is in anycase so generically reduced due to inbreeding that these animals serve no ecological purpose what so ever. Hence, breeding programs for species preservation is BS. Money making?

Our threatened natural habitats

Unfortunately it is because of the greed of humans that we have this situation. We take up more and more land to build houses, hotels etc. and drive the natural habitants further and further out. We invade and take up their space to " enhance"  ours. We poach / steal / kill them for money. We are responsible and yet we do little to nothing to stop it. When will we learn? When it is too late?

Panjo

i am affraid to say that the big cat do not get enough food then those small cats and dogs are in truble including the owner

e

heck - we gotta start somewhere - how then did we end up taming dogs and cats ... someone adopted them - it took off, became popular and millions of years later - we have our dogs and cats ... it's called evolution. evolutionary response ... unfortunately we've created the mess by ourselves for ourselves ... zoo's are like prisons .. so we must take responsibility for this.

NO

Has is occured to anyone that it is pure sentimetality in keeping these creatures alive? maybe they dont want to be saved - there's a thought. we still dont know why whales beach themselves. maybe they know their time is over? tigers need territory and to hunt, otherwise keeping him at home just makes him an overgrown striped cat. I mean, why did the saber tooth die out? it was a mammal, it was a tiger with jus really long teeth. ok &  a ton or so heavier. perhaps their time is over??

Capitalism

If tiger breeding is commercially viable and they can be made pets of. Capitalism rules that more people will breed them and they will not go extinct.

Lost and found tiger

Who cares??????..It's only a tiger. Can we please discuss important issues.

Wild?? Where??

Our children should be spending a good amount of time playing outdoors, but they dont. Razor wire fencing should be confined to prisons, but its not(we have them around our homes). And of course wild animals should be in the wild-what wild are we talking about? where the money hungry, greedy and cruel poachers lurk? This world is a cruelly dangerous place - especially for the defenceless (our children and animals). So, we take care of them.All the best, Fernandez!