Cultural Differences in The Relationships of Human Beings and Animals

The relationships between human beings and the animals we share our earth with vary tremendously.  In North American and Western Europe many people relate to their dogs as though  they were their children.  Is this  more often true for people who don’t have children?)  In this blog I’ll share a few pictures of human beings and their animals that have made me take a second look and wonder.

I had never seen pigs subjected to the wills of their masters as completely as in this case among the  Toraja people of Indonesia.   In Latin America the squealing and hollering of pigs being dragged and poked to market is unforgettable.  But, the Toraja people, with the typical Asian adroitness with bamboo have this all figured out!  They  completely subject the pigs with bamboo.

Meanwhile the Philippinos know how to celebrate a feast with a whole roasted pig:

Water Buffalo.   Magnificent, powerful.   Yet a small Asian boy can lead one if they grow up together.   But, if you let them roam in the Venezuelan swamps,  “Cerrado”  the same species becomes wild and terribly obstinate.  The families of wealthy Indonesian Toraja people traditionally donate very expensive water buffalo at the funeral services for a family member.

Buffalo Donated at Toraja Funeral Service

Dogs.    Most North Americans abhor the idea of eating a dog.  Dogs for many North Americans are treated as human family members.   That’s the view of most members of my own family.        But, once I got to know some villagers in Laos who were fattening up some of their dogs to sell to Vietnamese traders, who, in turn would take them to market.