Cull of the wild : killing in the name of conservation / Hugh Warwick.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Warwick, Hugh, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Wildlife conservation--Moral and ethical aspects.

Wildlife conservation.

Wildlife management.

Physical Description:

304 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Wildlife, 2024.

Summary:

Investigating the ethical and practical challenges of one of the greatest threats to biodiversity: invasive species. Across the world, invasive species pose a danger to ecosystems. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity ranks them as a major threat to biodiversity on par with habitat loss, climate change and pollution. Tackling this isn't easy, and no one knows this better than Hugh Warwick, a conservationist who loathes the idea of killing, harming or even eating animals. Yet as an ecologist, he is acutely aware of the need, at times, to kill invasive species whose presence harms the wider environment. Hugh explores the complex history of species control, revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence. Combining scientific theory with gentle humour in his signature style, he explains the issues conservationists face to control non-native animals and protect native species - including grey and red squirrels on Anglesey, ravens and tortoises in the Mojave Desert, cane toads in Australia and the smooth-billed ani on the Galapagos - and describes cases like Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos and the Burmese python pet trade. Taking a balanced and open approach to this emotive subject, Hugh speaks to experts on all sides of the debate. How do we protect endangered native species? Which species do we prioritise? And how do we reckon with the ethics of killing anything in the name of conservation?

Contents:

Introduction

Hedgehogs

Aside: Cane toads

Residents

Aside: Capercaillie and the pine marten

Squirrels

Aside: Deer

Lundy

Aside: Dormice

Scilly

Aside: Galapagos

Orkney

Aside: Raccoons

Minkicide

Aside: Pythons

Keepers

Aside: Cocaine hippos

New Zealand

Aside: Scottish wildcat

Compassionate conservation

Aside: Fortress conservation

Ethically consistent conservation

a manifesto.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (page 294) and index.

ISBN:

1399403745

9781399403740

OCLC:

1438949017