08 February 2011

Human zoo specimens

"These five members of the Kawesqar tribe, which is home in Tierra del Fuego in Chile’s far south, were kidnapped in 1881 and sent to Europe to be displayed in “human zoos.” The five died in Zürich a year after their capture."
Found at First Time User.

5 comments:

  1. Much like Inuit and other "New World" First Nations people were taken by Missionaries and other explorers to be exhibited for paying customers in Europe.

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  2. Tierra del Fuego is in Argentina, not chile.

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  3. The archipelago consists of a main island (Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, often simply called Tierra del Fuego or Isla Grande) with an area of 48,100 km2 (18,572 sq mi), and a group of smaller islands. The main island is split between two countries: 18,507.3 km2 (7,146 sq mi) (38.57% of total) belongs to Argentina, while 29,484.7 km2 (11,384 sq mi) (61.43% of total) belongs to Chile.

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  4. "A 48-year-old Afghan citizen and Guantanamo detainee, Awal Gul, died on Tuesday [...] he was abducted in Afghanistan [...] Gul was imprisoned for 8 years without a shred of due process ..."

    Of course, Gul was not sent to a human zoo, we live in 2011 after all.

    We'll never learn...

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  5. In 1930's Germany, one could visit the Hagensbeck Tierpark (animal park) in Stellingen, a suburb of Hamburg and see the "African Village" populated by typical African wildlife, and a handful of "authentic Africans" (barefoot and in rags) living in thatched-roofed mud huts.
    see: Hans J. Massaquoi's autobiography, "Destined to Witness" (1999) Perennial, Harper-Collins.

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