Ocelot_FearofFailure_Tewes_Mike_KingsvilleTX_29June2023_Reel4159.mp3

Mike Tewes [00:00:00] And here's another fundamental thing that I think is overarching in all this.

Mike Tewes [00:00:05] There's a scientific paper called, the title is called "Fear of Failure".

Mike Tewes [00:00:10] It was documented, the many instances of endangered species, when we get down to very small population, individuals and policies are afraid to do things because, whatever is done, that species may become extinct anyway.

Mike Tewes [00:00:25] And if there's an action that can be pointed to that may be blamed or attributed as to why it disappeared, people are afraid to make that decision.

Mike Tewes [00:00:33] And I'm convinced that's fundamental to the failure for ocelts and other species.

Mike Tewes [00:00:39] But that article ought to be studied.

Mike Tewes [00:00:41] We're down to 12 ocelots.

Mike Tewes [00:00:43] So, if you move one or two ocelots to another population, and they die anyway - the population goes extirpated anyway - the manager at that time, or whoever made that decision, might be blamed.

Mike Tewes [00:00:54] And so that's a, that's a problem with agencies or anyone that has to make these tough decisions.

Mike Tewes [00:01:03] The same thing was on California condor, to take the last ones out of the wild reserve. It was a huge argument.

Mike Tewes [00:01:08] And this will be as well.