The buffalo hazing referred to in my last letter reminds us of humanity’s destructive powers. Hunting activities have already taken the lives of 79 buffalo this season alone in this Montana hazing campaign.

Everyone should be concerned about the hunting mentality. Costa Rica is the first Latin American nation to ban sport hunting. What an excellent message to give to future generations.

I understand why hunters actually believe what they do is not only acceptable but essential; they have been fed these fallacies their whole lives.

Killing animals for recreation is basically killing them for fun. Most hunters certainly do not hunt with conservation in mind. Most hunt for sport or needless food and clothing. Hunting is not especially “efficient” in terms of animals being killed painlessly, either.

As Marc BeKoff, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, states: “People globally are extremely concerned with humans continuing to move incessantly into animal habitats and redecorating nature. Once they’re moved in, people often label the animals as ‘pests’ when the animals act as the beings they are.”

Compassionate conservation considers both human and non-human animals and how to work out solutions that are satisfactory to both. It is clear that it is our own nature to be kind, empathetic and compassionate.

Individual animals count on the goodwill of big-brained, big-footed and invasive humans to take their lives seriously.

Consider meatless Mondays.