Humane Killing

I went to inspect the lizard the Malay called it 'biawak or griang' (look similar to the baby crocodile but much smaller) trap that I set the other day near the fish pond. Bingo! The poor creature was caught strapped to the rope.

Deep inside me I have the conscience that I did not mean to kill the creature but… Okay I will let my mind ran loose awhile until it sooth out by itself. The lizard is still alive trying very much to free itself from the rope. ‘Serve you right!’ That’s what transpired in my thought. But animals never know what’s forbidden for them and cannot differentiate good from bad and they keep coming back to the spot if they find the food is available there. That's what actually had happen.

I have killed a few lizards, and trap a few predators but until now they- a new generation - keep coming back. There exist a matter of humanitarian and conscience bogging the human mind under those circumstances but not ‘animalitarian’ ever persisted for the animals. Animalitarian, wow! How animal could ever understand this without animalization? How humane are human dealing with animals?

If ever animals could talk and human would possibly hear in a scenario such as “Son!” A mother cow was talking to her young calf one day at the farm. “Don’t be too friendly with the human, did you know what happen to your father?” “What has happened to my father the bull?” The young calf asked in eagerness. “The human strapped your father to the post and slaughtered him and oh!.. It was terrible… I cannot bear to look at it.” “Then they skinned your father and disemboweled him and chop him to small pieces until you cannot recognize him anymore!” The mother cow said with tears running in her eyes. “Wow that was cruel and inhumane!!” The calf said. Well that would be a common scenario at the abattoirs.

Lucky enough God Almighty, Allah has not made human to hear this conversations. M.A. Haleem Eliasi mentioned in the introduction of the second edition (1981) of the The Holy Qur’an Transliteration in Roman script… “The whole Universe is endowed with life, Knowledge and expression. ‘There is not a thing but hymns its praises (of Him) but you understand not their praise.’ 44:17, 41:24. Solomon said. “We have been taught the language of birds…” 16: 27. The whole Universe adores Allah by instinct, but man adores Him by options, being gifted by the will of origin and hence responsible or his conduct. 18:22. At any rate there is Life, Knowledge and Expression in all the objects of nature, so much so that they have their own pairs and live a common life. vide 49:51. 3:13. 36:36. 38.6.

Every object of Nature has got its own significance, none, not even a gnat, is unworthy of attention. It is quite sufficient to reveal truth to those who care to gain knowledge. 26:2

The Qur’an thus invites man to study Nature, and to cultivate a living interest and sympathy with his natural surroundings- all living a life of aim and purpose. So we have much to think and ponders.

Before I made the pond the area was an unused swamp left neglected for a number of years. Of course lizards, snakes and other wildlife formed its inhabitant let alone mosquitoes rodents and other pests as well.

I had spawned the pond with about 1500 catfish seedlings and thrown in a few bags of fish feeds for the duration of about eight months and have some survived fish reached up to 15 inches long. With so many predators around the pond no fish would survived. The kingfisher picked up the baby fish from day one by the numbers every day and from within the pond there were those lizards.

Eventually one day, after I pumped the pond dried not many catfish were left. People say that catfish could dig tunnels in the earth and escape or migrate to other part of the pond.

Conscience in question, so after the second day or so, I let go the lizard free, and hopefully it will survive and become more wiser next time.