Why is "Gamekeeping" a part of a "Conservation" course for learning to be a park ranger?

Question

I thought the whole point was trying to SAVE the environment - not to shoot things like rabbits and deer :(

Answer 1

Park animals must be managed, that is what gamekeeping is.

Answer 2

Most, if not all of the environments the gamekeepers look after are dependant on man to manage them and help keep the balance, otherwise they would become uninhabitable for the rare species which also inhabit them.

Rabbits and deer can cause huge damage as they mey be introduced species. therefore they need to be controlled.

.

Answer 3

Well one of the big misconceptions is the definitions of conservation and preservation.  Preservation is about leaving nature how it is and not changing it.  Conservation is about using nature in a responsible way.  Gamekeeping is a part of conservation because the animals are being used but they hunting needs to be managed in a responsible way so that the game species don't become extinct.  Conservation has a large part do do with saving the environment because no matter what people are going to have to use parts of the environment to survive but we need to do it in a way that we don't cut down huge forests or make species go extinct.

Answer 4

Your assumption in this instance is mistaken.  The whole point is not to save the environment.  All animals change the environment around them for their own benefit.  To be a conservation officer one has to understand issues related to hunting. If they did not, and hunters were allowed to take as many animals as they wanted, then we would have a real problem.  Many hunters (most in my experience) are responsible people, but it only takes a few that would hunt regardless of the season and take more then they should to adversely affect the population.

Answer 5

If you know anything about conservation than you should know that hunting comes into play.   When certain animals become over populated, the affects on the environment could be detrimental.  Most rangers and biologist for environmental government agencies are often responsible for checking on hunters and making sure they are legal and are not taking more than the legal limit.  Most wildlife refuges have legal hunting seasons for certain animals.  If you want to be a park ranger, you better get used to the idea of dealing with hunters and hunting.  Nowadays, most park ranger jobs are more like being a police officer rather than a conservationist.

Answer 6

Sometimes culling populations that are near the carrying capacity of the land is the humane thing to do.  Populations can rise, conditions change, and the population crashes.  Thinning top heavy populations can save animals from starvation or other ills.

In California, our resource agency is called the Department of Fish and Game.  That kinda blows, in my opinion, but they're not about to change the name any time soon.