Aparently scientists recently killed the oldest living animal on the planet. A 410 year old clam that they pulled up from the dark ocean. No, it wasn't dead when they found it, or died in the process of being brought up from the ocean. They drilled holes into the clam to figure out how old it was. Lovely, isn't it?
Now, I'm no self-professed clam lover. I hate seafood and I generally dislike slimy things in the ocean. But the fact that the scientists killed some thing, and it is merely "regretable" seems just a little heartless. Yeah, a clam isn't nearly on the same intelligence level as us, or even say, a bird. But it was still a living creature.
All well. Who knew a clam could live that long anyway?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306076,00.html
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
And they didn't even eat it!
Animals rights groups have a hissy-fit when a hunter shoots a deer, and the hunter EATS the deer.
PETA has done numerous anti-fishing campaigns. Not just commercial fishing, but also father and son fishing off the dock type fishing.
"Holy Crap, this clam may be old!"
"Quick, kill it and check its rings!"
"Hey, it is the oldest clam ever!"
"Wow, too bad it is dead, but great, we'll get some free press now!"
What does killing it do? It's like when they find a new species of whale [or something else] - they kill it & then study it ... who is to say there are more of it's kind?
"Awesome! We found the oldest living animal on the planet."
Well maybe it could've kept going another 100 years if you didn't kill it.