It was sad to read about the culling of at least 360 pigs in Waynad District of Kerala that was ostensibly done to prevent the spread of African swine fever. As per the sub-collector the step was taken following the national protocol and the farmers would be suitably compensated. Around the world, culling is routinely carried out of birds and animals that are suspected or proven to infect their hale and hearty brethren or humans. Culling is a selfish procedure by humans so as to safeguard ourselves. We do not have a right to cull a few diseased faunas because thousands of healthy and innocent ones are also sacrificed. This is extreme cruelty and not dissimilar to genocide. Let us stop taking this easy route of mass killing and instead find cures for the ailments and not tinker with nature. During the Covid pandemic several vaccine makers were praised, honoured, became overnight celebrities and their profits soared for having saved millions of people. Are there no capable vaccine developers to help save at least the domestic animals from being culled unnecessarily? Hope that the future generations of humans do not encourage euthanasia and cull old, diseased and immobile people.
