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CrowdScience: Should We Kill One Species to Save Another?

Discussion & Talk

Should We Kill One Species to Save Another?

22/09/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - CrowdScience, Should We Kill One Species to Save Another?

Is it fair to kill invasive species which humans have introduced?

From rats to cats and cane toads, invasive species can destroy ecosystems and make native wildlife go extinct. But can we justify killing them in return?

Is it fair to kill invasive species which humans have introduced? When people move around the world, many of their favourite – and not so favourite - animals tag along for the ride. From cane toads through to rats, cats and crayfish, so-called ‘invasive species’ can destroy ecosystems and kill off native wildlife. CrowdScience listener Jude Kirkham wants to know if eradicating these invaders is justified.

One country determined to do something about invasive species is New Zealand, where rats, stoats and possums are causing irreparable damage to the country’s unique bird life. If nothing is done, the iconic Kiwi could be extinct within 50 years. The government and volunteer groups across the country have responded with a plan to eradicate predatory mammals from New Zealand by 2050. But is all the time, energy and money needed to do this really justified? And is it morally right to kill off an animal species that humans introduced in the first place?

Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at crowdscience@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Marnie Chesterton
Producer: Anna Lacey

(Image: Headshot of a Possum Credit: Getty Images)

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