"Cull of the Wild provides important thought and heart-provoking information to a world that must act now. Animals and the future are relying upon our passion, compassion, and commitment to end this senseless, destructive history."
"An excellent documentary that exposes the realities of hunting and trapping animals for fur, "wildlife management," and "nuisance control." Including interviews with trappers, supportive legislators, and wildlife biologists, the video is a wonderful educational tool."
"Cull of the Wild is a strongly recommended video addition to school and community library Wildlife reference collections and 'must' viewing for animal rights activists and governmental policy makers."
"I sat on my couch STUNNED after watching this film. Its images are forever emblazoned on my mind."
"You would be hard-pressed to find a more convincing case against animal trapping than Cull of the Wild. This 26-minute video thoughtfully explores the problems behind the trapping industry and allows real-life footage to fill in when words cannot adequately describe the suffering that trapping causes."
"An excellent resource for teens interested in learning more about the cruelty of the trapping industry. It's perfect for high-school classroom presentations: persuasive and thought-provoking narrative and gripping visuals."
The sensible among us know it’s good to stay away from scary videos. The blood, the gore, the sheer brutality do little to further anything in this world beyond shock and adrenaline.
But sometimes it is beneficial to look.
The one I viewed last week was filled with cruelty, pain and suffering--so much so that I had to turn my head a couple of times. It gave me a peek into a world I’d rather not visit.
It was the story of the anachronistic world of the fur trapper. The Animal Protection Institute produced the video, Cull of the Wild, as part of a campaign to stop the killing of millions of animals by trapping.
And it was an effective video. It showed wild-eyed, furry animals in the snares of steel-jawed leg traps. One can hardly bear to look at the shots of animals hopelessly struggling to pull their bloody paws out of the traps. The narrator told us that the creatures instinctively try to lunge out of the traps but only end up dislocating joints and severing tendons. Then, they try to chew their way out. The pictures of the helpless animals with bloody and broken teeth were almost too much.
And did you know that your tax dollars are going to help trap and kill thousands of animals each year? (See “Critters in the ’hood,” page 20.) There is now a movement to stop the trapping and come up with alternatives that work.
But, beyond the emotion of the video, there are problems with the wildlife that have adapted to and created a habitat in suburbia, where they are not welcome.
Something has to give, and it’s probably going to be the animals.
Reports from the field:
-In association with The Fund for Animals, "Neiman Carcass" activists across the country showed Cull of the Wild outside store windows to convince store managers and employees to go fur free!
-Members of the New Hampshire Furbearer Protection Team showed Cull of the Wild at protests after learning that the State Trappers Association planned to donate a coat made from the pelts of 25 fishers to the winner of the Miss New Hampshire Pageant.
-Activists in Indiana showed Cull of the Wild in their efforts to educate state officials about the use of cruel body-gripping traps by "nuisance" wildlife control trappers.
-As part of its campaign to end a statewide coyote-snaring program, the Maine NoSnare Task Force is using the film to inform residents about trapping.
-150 free copies were sent by Animal Protection Institute to national, state, and grassroots animal and environmental advocacy organizations.
-A joint mailing was done with the producers of “The Witness” to 75 philosophy and political science professors in the U.S. and Canada.
-Copies were provided to all 30 members of the Fur Free Alliance in European countries. |
