Hunted predators: Intrinsic value

In their Perspective “When the hunter becomes the hunted” (19 June, p. [1312][1]), R. Woodroffe and S. M. Redpath summarize issues associated with lethal “predator control”—the killing of carnivores to benefit human industries (e.g., livestock production). We applaud their careful accounting of the ecological and economic trade-offs that accompany such actions, but we take issue with their assertion that “[p]ragmatic conservationists have long recognized that allowing some predator control—whether or not it achieves its stated aims—can help to build tolerance....” This claim is problematic for three reasons: First, existing research indicates that lethal control is often ineffective for increasing tolerance for wildlife ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). Second, as their own review makes clear, predator control often results in unforeseen ecological consequences (e.g., loss of ecosystem services). It is not only pragmatic for conservationists to oppose actions that may degrade ecosystem services and are ineffective for increasing tolerance, it is socially responsible. Finally, their claim relies on an ethical premise that few would accept: in essence, that it is acceptable to promote the killing of an organism as a means of reducing antipathy toward it. In fact, a recent study indicates most people believe that wildlife possess “intrinsic value,” which suggests that wildlife should be treated with regard for their own welfare, not just their utility (or lack thereof ) to humans ([ 3 ][4]). From an ethical perspective, treating wildlife with regard to their own welfare would require shifting the burden of proof such that those who advocate the use of lethal methods would be forced to provide strong arguments as to why such means were justified. That we still manage wildlife in a manner that so easily dismisses the interests of wild animals and the preferences of the broader public suggests that the institution of wildlife management needs broader reforms than the additional stakeholder processes that Woodroffe and Redpath recommend. 1. [↵][5]1. C. Browne-Nunez, 2. A. Treves, 3. D. MacFarland, 4. Z. Voyles, 5. C. Turng , Biol. Conserv., in press (2015); . 2. [↵][6]1. A. Treves, 2. J. T. Bruskotter , Science 344, 476 (2014). [OpenUrl][7][Abstract/FREE Full Text][8] 3. [↵][9]1. J. A. Vucetich, 2. J. T. Bruskotter, 3. M. P. Nelson , Conserv. Biol. 29, 321 (2015). [OpenUrl][10][CrossRef][11][PubMed][12] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaa8465 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [6]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [7]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DTreves%26rft.auinit1%253DA.%26rft.volume%253D344%26rft.issue%253D6183%26rft.spage%253D476%26rft.epage%253D477%26rft.atitle%253DTolerance%2Bfor%2BPredatory%2BWildlife%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.1252690%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24786065%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [8]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiQUJTVCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjEyOiIzNDQvNjE4My80NzYiO3M6NDoiYXRvbSI7czoyNToiL3NjaS8zNDkvNjI1NC8xMjk0LjIuYXRvbSI7fXM6ODoiZnJhZ21lbnQiO3M6MDoiIjt9 [9]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text" [10]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DConserv.%2BBiol.%26rft.volume%253D29%26rft.spage%253D321%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1111%252Fcobi.12464%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F25704250%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [11]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1111/cobi.12464&link_type=DOI [12]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=25704250&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F349%2F6254%2F1294.2.atom