dgibson
New member
DENVER An idea being floated by some prominent ecologists has some other scientists and conservationists aghast at the thought of transplanted African species roaming U-S soil.
Supporters say moving animals like lions and elephants to the Great Plains of North America could help save some species from extinction in Africa. The scientists say protection is spotty and habitats are vanishing in the species' home continent.
But opponents say previous efforts to relocate foreign species often led to disaster like the rabbits that overran Australia.
While most modern African species never lived on the American prairie, supporters say some of their biological cousins like mastodons, camels and saber-toothed cats did just that.
The scientists' plan appears in Thursday's issue of the journal Nature.
It'll never happen, but it sure would be cool to hunt lion on the plains of...America!