Van Oort does not blindly dismiss the criticism that Bird Protection received for its actions. “We understand where it comes from and it is very nice that people sympathize.”
At the same time, Van Oort says he wants to show real nature. “We don’t do ‘zooing’. That means we don’t intervene. If we do, you end up on a slippery slope.”
“Think of animals looking for food or youngsters losing their parents,” he continues. “Even then we do not intervene, because where else do you draw the line?”
According to Van Oort, we must realize that nature works differently than the human world. “It sounds harsh, but the world is a jungle. We must be careful not to project our own feelings onto nature.”
“Human actions would disrupt the natural balance,” he adds. “That’s why we let nature take its own course, even if that is sometimes difficult to see.”
Moreover, despite all the fuss, researcher Reesink, like Van Oort, also sees a positive side to the reactions. “Some emotions may have been strong, but it shows that people are involved in nature conservation.”
