Can We Justify Killing Some Animals to Save Others?
Humans have a complex relationship with animals, ranking them in a hierarchy of utilisation and affection according to human cultures and values. While some animals are saved, others are slaughtered.
Depending on where you live in the world, elephants, rhinos and lions might be seen as endangered species to be protected or they might be used for pseudo-medicine, trinkets and trophies. Cats are beloved pets for some but for others, they are bird killers or meat. It can be difficult to balance cultural differences, species conservation status and ethics to find the best outcome.
But questionable cultural practices aside, even evidence-based conservation science faces an ethical dilemma.
Non-native animals can decimate native species
Wildlife conservation focuses on protecting animals and habitats. But what happens when native species are threatened by animals that have been introduced to a country by human colonisation? When native species haven’t evolved to deal with the threats posed by non-native animals, they’re at risk not only of being preyed upon but also from competition for food and contracting new diseases.
