"If I'm proven wrong, I'll probably feel a lot worse..."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Cameron Selogie, owner of the Il Vinaio restaurant in Mesa, served burgers made with African lion this week as a nod to the tournament in South Africa. Reservations sold out, with a waiting list 100 long.

But the burgers also attracted international attention and the scorn of animal rights activists, who picketed outside the restaurant. Selogie has even received some death threats.

***

Ashley Byrne, a spokeswoman for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said most lion meat served in restaurants comes from old zoo and circus lions. Regardless of where Selogie's meat came from, the lions "suffered terrifying deaths," Byrne said.

"Anybody who orders a lion burger is supporting cruelty to animals," she said.

Michele Pickover, spokeswoman for Animal Rights Africa, said she was concerned that an appetite for lion in the United States would increase poaching.

"In the United States it's about trying anything to make money," says Pickover. "That's not acceptable here in Africa. Eating predators is shunned here. Predator eating predator is rare. Even lions eating other predators is uncommon."

Selogie disclosed to his customers that there is some question about the meat, but said he feels that he acted in good faith and the entire situation has been overblown.

"I really, honestly believe that African lions were not shot. I really believe this isn't endangering the species," he said. "If I'm proven wrong, I'll probably feel a lot worse for it, but I've been led to believe that this is all legal, and it's such a small amount that we got."

http://www.salon.com/wires/us/2010/06/25/D9GIHC900_us_fea_lion_meat_burgers/index.html

[alphafemale]

1. OK. So a Lion is more worthy of not being eaten than a cow...or even a chicken?

I'd imagine lion meat would be nasty anyway...wouldn't want. But it's really silly to give the guy grief over it.

What?

Are some animals more equal than others?

[depakid]

2. Since you ask, yes- some are "more equal" than others

Something learned the hard way by this women 1.7 million years ago:

KNM-ER 1808



An abnormal outer layer of bone on her thigh shows evidence of bleeding just before death. After consulting doctors and accounts of wilderness explorers, researchers concluded that an overdose of vitamin A —perhaps from eating a carnivore’s liver, which concentrates vitamin A —caused the bleeding and her death.

[alphafemale]

3. Yeck. I'd never eat liver (toxic sponge) from any animal.

Not even with fava beans and a nice chianti.

[AmericaIsGreat]

16. Um, yeah, actually

The cow and chicken are already in stores available to be purchased to eat. Tons of them and plenty more where that came from. To get lion meat someone would need to go and poach it, which is illegal, and it's not like there are farms raising lions.

This guy should definitely get grief over it.

[dflprincess]

24. As a rule carnivores do not eat other carnivores

(nor do omnivores eat carnivores or other omnivores)

it's more of a food chain than an equality thing.

[Richard Steele]

27. Yes.

If a species is on the brink of extinction,
its individual members are more valuable to the planet
than chickens or cows.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. The worst part is that they sold out, and had a huge waiting list.

What is the appeal of doing the bizarre? Be the first on your block to eat a lion!

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. The outrage and publicity sent the guy's profits through the roof

So I'm sure he is grateful for his "critics."

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Shit. Can't win if you ignore it, can't win if you protest it. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

8. The way to win is to wait for people to figure out that lions make for shitty burgers.

That's my guess.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. LOL, let's hope they are shitty. nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

12. Shitty burgers at astronomical prices

That would be the one-two punch that puts this guy's lion franchise out of business for good.

:toast:

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Someone from PETA should go in in a lion suit, and order a "Man Burger".

At the very least, it would be more entertaining than some of their other publicity stunts.

[Duer 157099]

9. I'd never thought of this before, but in general it seems we don't eat carnivores

Do we? I never even considered it as a topic.

Which carnivores do we eat? Sharks?

:shrug:

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I think, with seafood, the line between predator and prey isn't so distinct.

Big fish eat littler fish, and so on..

but on land, for sure, there aren't too many top of the chain predators that we eat. I think they tend to be very lean and muscular. :shrug:

[Duer 157099]

13. But most fish don't eat meat. A shark will, though.

Fish eating fish somehow doesn't strike me the same for some reason.

It's weird, I've never thought about this. Interesting to consider.

[William Z. Foster]

18. sure they do

Fish eat other fish. That is why minnows work as bait. In fact, the opposite is true - fish for the most part don't eat plants.

[Duer 157099]

21. But fish isn't meat

By meat, I mean red meat.

edit: I think I said carnivore instead of meat-eaters oops

[FedUpWithIt All]

20. Pigs eat meat. Usually only small game when they are allowed a natural diet.

Chickens will also eat meat. They love it.

Obviously, ruminants would not naturally eat meat.

[alphafemale]

17. Professional courtesy.

Besides the fact that warm blooded predators taste...Nastee!!!

Shark meat is pretty damn tasty though. Alligator is OK. Similar to rattlesnake. Pretty much tastes like nothing.

[fishwax]

22. bear, alligator, snake

they're not common sources of food, but then again it's much more difficult and expensive to raise carnivores than it is to raise chicken or cows.

[ingac70]

14. "I really, honestly believe that African lions were not shot"

So is he selling of meat of something that died from disease?

[Arkana]

15. Nah. These lions committed suicide.

[NNN0LHI]

19. Someone watched the movie The Freshman (1990), one too many times

[Incitatus]

26. LOL

That movie did cross my mine. I wonder how many of his regular customers are disgusted and stopped going there and if his little increase in sales for this stunt will make up for the loss of their revenue longterm.

[blondeatlast]

23. God, I flicking DESPISE my fellow Zonies. Get me the flick outta here (except

I just watched the most incredible sunset over a saguaro in bloom, so I'll just keep on keepin' on).

But damn, I depise my statemates sometimes--and lately, a whole flicking lot more.

[Incitatus]

25. So he thinks it doesn't matter how they were killed, as long s they were not shot?

And just because it's legal, doesn't mean it will be generally accepted. Most think eating beef is perfectly acceptable, but the fact is society holds different animals to different standards. Killing an animal for food is killing an animal for food, but in reality that is not how most people see it.

Are there not any African cuisines that would have been a smarter choice?