Editing 2349: Rabbit Introduction
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| + | {{incomplete|Created by a RABBIT RESEARCH GRANT COMMITTEE. More needed on the title text. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
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[[Cueball]] is giving a presentation on the {{w|pygmy rabbit}} to a group of panelists, requesting a grant to introduce the species to the eastern United States. The head of the panel, [[Blondie]], asks about typical reasons for introducing a species. If they were native to an area, but had been locally depopulated, re-introduction can help to restore the local ecosystem, but Cueball admits this is not the case. Another reason animal populations may be introduced is to control a local pest. Cueball seems to have no idea what the impact on the local ecosystem would be. In fact, he makes quite clear that his reasoning is simply that the creatures are tiny and cute, and he wants to spread them. He also appears to be entirely perplexed that the panel doesn't feel the same way. | [[Cueball]] is giving a presentation on the {{w|pygmy rabbit}} to a group of panelists, requesting a grant to introduce the species to the eastern United States. The head of the panel, [[Blondie]], asks about typical reasons for introducing a species. If they were native to an area, but had been locally depopulated, re-introduction can help to restore the local ecosystem, but Cueball admits this is not the case. Another reason animal populations may be introduced is to control a local pest. Cueball seems to have no idea what the impact on the local ecosystem would be. In fact, he makes quite clear that his reasoning is simply that the creatures are tiny and cute, and he wants to spread them. He also appears to be entirely perplexed that the panel doesn't feel the same way. | ||
| β | Blondie, very reasonably, immediately moves to deny the request. Not only would such a grant expend funds for no legitimate scientific or ecological purpose, but it would risk serious and unstudied impacts on the local ecosystem ( | + | Blondie, very reasonably, immediately moves to deny the request. Not only would such a grant expend funds for no legitimate scientific or ecological purpose, but it would risk serious and unstudied impacts on the local ecosystem ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_in_Australia#Effects_on_Australia's_ecology especially considering that this very thing has happened with rabbits before]). However, at this point, the other three panelists - [[White Hat]], [[Megan]] and [[Hairy]] - have been swayed by Cueball's unconventional argument. All three of them are visibly entranced by the cuteness of the rabbits, and appear willing to fund the request purely based on affection for the animals. This is sort of the opposite of the "{{w|charismatic megafauna}}" method of conservation - charismatic <I>minifauna</I>: the more mini, the more charismatic. |
| β | The title text | + | The title text [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbits-washington mentions the effort] to reintroduce the {{w|Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit}} back into their native area of {{w|Columbia River drainage basin}}. It refers to an "Interstate Bun Gap", suggesting a competition between states over which has the most and/or cutest rabbits. That phrase is a ''reductio ad absurdum'' of other gaps in capabilities between states and nations, such as the {{w|bomber gap}} and {{w|missile gap}} (widely-publicized shortages - later revealed to be fictional - of the respective nuclear arsenals of the United States compared to the Soviet Union), perhaps similar to the satirical "mine shaft gap" from the 1964 film ''{{w|Dr. Strangelove}}''. |
This comic continues an xkcd tradition of dealing with the subjective cuteness of rabbits as a scientific discipline ([[1682: Bun]]). [[Randall]] seems fascinated with the cuteness of lagomorphs, as it is a [[:Category:Buns|recurring subject]]. | This comic continues an xkcd tradition of dealing with the subjective cuteness of rabbits as a scientific discipline ([[1682: Bun]]). [[Randall]] seems fascinated with the cuteness of lagomorphs, as it is a [[:Category:Buns|recurring subject]]. | ||
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:Megan: The little feet! | :Megan: The little feet! | ||
:Hairy: I vote we fund them! | :Hairy: I vote we fund them! | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
