cthia wrote:Should Star Trek's Prime directive be observed by Manticore? Should treecats be given weapons to use against hexapumas? It could upset the balance of nature in the bush. Heck, treecats could use frisbees manufactured with small explosives set to go off when it comes in the vicinity of pumas. Talk about a frisbee coming in hot!
At any rate, treecats have natural enemies, yet I haven't heard of treecat/human alliances benefiting the treecats in that respect. Treecats aren't ambushed by Peeps, they're ambushed by 'Pumas.
OrlandoNative wrote:Actually, that's an interesting question.
Manticore actually *does* observe something like the "Prime Directive" in regards to the natives of the Basilisk system.
As for treecats, however, given some of the stories in the anthologies they were "spying" on the human colonists before it would appear the colonists realized they were sentient - or at least *how* sentient. So, to some extent, "cultural contamination" has already occurred.
While hexapuma's are obviously a threat to individual (and possibly small groups of) treecats, it wouldn't appear they're a threat to the treecat species as a whole. Actually, in most cases it would appear the actual threat is more to a treecat not paying attention to their surroundings than one that is alert. Or ones that are too young or inexperienced to be able to keep/get out of the way.
In any case, treecats can now communicate directly with at least some humans, and, as far as I remember, NONE of them have asked for defensive weapons made by humans.
But should they have to ask before it should be offered? Treecats are sentient beings. They are living in the bush but are not savages. If they are to be accepted as equals to humans then they should be afforded the same rights and courtesies as humans. If we befriended a group of humans in a remote part of a planet and they were being killed by large predatory animals, would we not say "Here, this is a gun. Aim. Pull trigger. After the smoke clears, no more 'Puma."

Let the treecats decide after offering.