Thinking Out Loud - Auzzie Boy Kills Animals and Feeds to Croc

Not my usual Thinking Out Loud column. But I felt the need to comment on this news item I came across.

At the Alice Springs Reptile Center in Alice Springs, Australia, a 7-year old boy broke into the local zoo and killed or rendered unconcious 13 animals. He then proceeded to feed the animals to the zoo's 440-pound 11-foot long salt water crocodile. He did this in broad daylight (between 8am dn 8:30am) on a Wednesday morning. Zoo authorities have said they will be unable to charge or do anything to the boy, but that they will be suing the boy's parents for the $5,500 estimated value of the dead animals. The zoo's director, Rex Neindorf said, "I just want people to learn that they can't let their children go and run amok. If we can't put the blame on to the child, then someone has to accept the responsibility." In Australia's Northern Territoy, a child under the age of ten cannot be charged with a crime.

This is a most horrific act. More so due to the boy's very young age. Even though the boy was described as "quite a nasty seven-year-old," it would seem that there is a greater issue here that no one seems to be interested in commenting on. Only Neindorf had a thought on what should be done when he said that back in his day, the boy would get a "big boot up the arse."

But is this what should be done? Here we have a seven year old boy not only performing this heinous act, but he got away from his parents, snuck into the zoo and ran amok for over half an hour. Where were this boy's parents? Didn't they see other signs before his rampage? What kind of parents don't know where their young child is? And what was his home life like?

This act should be sending off red sirens all over the place. This boy's home life should be investigated. This young child needs some very serious psycological help. And how is it that a seven year old can breech the security of a zoo? This needs to be looked at as well.

But where is the focus by the media and the zoo officials? With the monetary loss of the animals, who to blame so that financial losses can be recovered and sensationalizing this horrific event. Where is the outcry? Where is the sense of what the heck is going on?

Lost in a miasma of an unbalanced media. Anything for a story, it seems.

Someone needs to hold the media responsible for loss of what is really important, for not asking the truly critical questions. They need to hold the zoo responsible for such a grand lack of security, and for where their priorities lay. They need to hold the parents responsible for allowing this child such a free reign, not seeing what was going on with this child in the first place, and not for the money involved. Someone needs to hold the state responsible for not having mechanisms in place for dealing with this young boy, who is very much in need of serious hlep, both at home and in the head.

Call me a reactionary who is way off the mark or say I'm "preaching to the chior, brother!" Either way, someone needs to be addressing the really miportant issues in this story and not focusing on the money.

No matter. This is just me, thinking out loud.

Have a great day!

Sources:

FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432085,00.html

Northern Territory News
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/10/03/7301_ntnews.html

Children's Rights: Australia
http://www.loc.gov/law/help/child-rights/australia.html