Jaguar-nabber off the hook, almost scat-free

I'm surprised, but charges against Janay Brun in the case of the death of Arizona jaguar Macho B have been dropped.

(The dismissal happened) in return for her admission that she was involved in an attempt to capture jaguar Macho B without "authorization or permission."

Brun, a research technician, had already admitted placing female jaguar scat at the site where Macho B was captured, at the orders of Emil McCain, a prominent large-cat biologist.

At least something halfway close to justice seems to have been done; contrary to my earlier fears, the feds didn't shit on Brun. That said, it's said that Thorton Smith, whom I suspect of more than just a moderate cover-up, is immune from prosecution.

Friday Macho scatblogging

To be precise, this is Macho B scatblogging, as in the Arizona jaguar well-known to many environmentalists.

A federal judge has upheld the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's right to snare the jaguar, but did NOT dismiss charges against Janay Brun, the private research technician who has admitted using jaguar scat as "bait" at the site Macho B was snared.

I hope Brun doesn't get hung out to dry in court for being a whistle-blower. Or simply for not being a government employee.

Given that Emil McCain, a fellow employee of the private Borderlands Jaguar Detection Project, contracted by the state and federal agencies to help with jaguar snaring, pled guilty last year on this very case, that wouldn't surprise me.

But, given the history of this case so far, and especially her history within it, Brun very likely is being hung out to dry.

That's not to mention the hypocrisy of the jaguar being listed on the Endangered Species Act, but the federal government doing nothing to actually protect it, like restricting cattle grazing on the Mogollon Rim, creating protection areas, etc.

Once again, can you smell the sweet smell of hypocrisy?