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Importance of lethal control of invasive predators for island conservation
Author(s) -
Russell James C.,
Jones Holly P.,
Armstrong Doug P.,
Courchamp Franck,
Kappes Peter J.,
Seddon Philip J.,
Oppel Steffen,
Rauzon Mark J.,
Cowan Phil E.,
Rocamora Gérard,
Genovesi Piero,
Bonnaud Elsa,
Keitt Bradford S.,
Holmes Nick D.,
Tershy Bernie R.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
conservation biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.2
H-Index - 222
eISSN - 1523-1739
pISSN - 0888-8892
DOI - 10.1111/cobi.12666
Subject(s) - wildlife , geography , fish <actinopterygii> , biodiversity conservation , wildlife conservation , predation , biodiversity , library science , fishery , ecology , biology , computer science
We support the call of Wallach et al. (2015a) for a compassionate approach to conservation, and agree that any lethal control must be justified by a high probability of conservation gains and supported by relevant stakeholders. We believe that lethal control of invasive predators is justified when it will reverse the negative impacts of predators introduced by humans on native species and ecosystems, and when the extent of that predation endangers the survival of entire populations or species. Globally a few key introduced predator species are having disproportionately large effects on island ecosystems and their constituent species (e.g. Towns et al. 2006; Medina et al. 2011). Where invasive predators are killed to achieve conservation goals, we believe this can come from compassion for all of the ecosystem, its species, the individuals being protected, and the invasive animals themselves. This view is well supported by literature and policies relating to the role of animal welfare, animal rights, and environmental ethics in pest control programmes (e.g. Gunn 2007; Dunlevy et al. 2011). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.