The topic of killing came up whilst I was having a few beers with some mates at the end of a big day's fishing. We were venting our disgust at those that want to stop the very thing that we had all enjoyed so much that day, but I'd not had so many beers that I was rambling incoherently.
We'd started off by discussing the theory of evolution - that all species of animals in existence today are alive because they have evolved in a way that has made them smart enough to overcome dangers, or large enough in number that at least some will survive. All creatures have the instinct to hunt for food and to find shelter. The strongest, smartest, most resilient and most resourceful of each species are the ones left to breed, therefore the most genetically superior individuals make the next generation a little smarter, stronger, faster and resourceful.
The human ‘species', for the vast majority of its existence, has evolved in much the same way. The strongest, most successful and most respected men were attractive to women as a potential mate, as these men were most likely to be good providers to children. History has shown that any man that could hunt, fish or grow food from the land was well respected, as he could provide not only for his family but for his village or community, whereas those that could not provide for themselves or others would die, or were not attractive mates.
But something has changed, at least for Western civilisations. If you look back just 50 or 60 years in New Zealand's history, it would be rare to find a New Zealander that hadn't either hunted a wild animal, or eaten an animal hunted by a family member or friend, or at least eaten an animal that had been raised and slaughtered on the farm. But nowadays, most people buy their food all prepared and pre-packed at the supermarket. As a species, we have moved away from doing our own hunting and gathering.
My point to my mates was this - that last century, every one would have known where their food came from, and killing was accepted as a normal part of life, as it has been for thousands of years. Nowadays, I moaned, there are people - usually those in positions of power - that don't understand why we want to hunt and fish because they've lost the instinct for survival. Who needs to go hunting and killing when a trip to the supermarket will suffice?
Today, killing is becoming more and more of a taboo subject. In the UK, for example, hunting has been virtually outlawed, and using hooks with barbs is a banned practice in some areas as all fish have to be released. An English guy, who had recently moved to New Zealand, stopped me in the street one day and said he couldn't believe that we got away with killing fish on TV.
Yes, we have to be responsible with how we harvest our wild food, but at the same time we should be able to kill without shame. "The only thing to reverse the trend," I said to my mates, "is to ban supermarkets, and only those who can fend for themselves will survive!" I think I also said something about those working in government departments were all genetically inferior, where ineptitude is a pre-requisite, and simply created a new generation of inept people with hyphenated surnames, but by this time I was ranting - maybe I did have too many beers.
You may concede that killing is a part of life, but still question why people, particularly men, get a thrill out of catching a fish, or shooting a wild animal. The explanation is quite simple and ties in nicely with my theory.
The human body has an adrenalin gland that releases adrenalin into the body when we need it. Adrenalin acts like a super high-octane fuel that can power our body in times of trauma; it gives our muscles a boost of strength and heightens our senses. Mother Nature has programmed man with the instincts needed to hunt for food, so when an opportunity to catch a big feed comes along (like a giant fish, or a large animal), adrenalin is released to help us with the battle - hence the feeling of excitement.
Similarly, when you secure the food - in our case, a big fish - you feel overwhelmingly happy. This is Mother Nature giving you a reward by releasing endorphins and dopamine into your body and giving you a natural high.
We are programmed to feel good about doing the things that are necessary for our survival. It's like sex - if it didn't feel good, you certainly wouldn't bother doing it. Hell, you probably wouldn't even bother talking to the opposite sex! But we need sex for the survival of the human race - it's only nature.
Conversely, there is little joy, excitement or satisfaction that comes from sitting in front of a computer in an office somewhere - hardly a necessary skill for survival - so get out in the bush or out on the ocean, and do what you were put here to do. And don't be afraid to get excited about it.
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