Hunter Roberts English 1010 Issue Exploration Essay Reintroduction of endangered species, are the earths endangered animals

worth saving? I chose this subject because it is something that I am very passionate about. I am an avid hunter and a conservationist. Im currently studying wildlife biology and chose this because this is one of the the main problems that many wildlife biologists face. Its very interesting when you realize all the contributing factors to what causes animals to go extinct and what a species needs in order to live in their ecosystems. To understand how to reintroduce a species back to its natural habitat you must understand how it got to be endangered in the first place. This is where different points of views conflict, and the opinions change. I have learned from research that there are people that are all for the reintroduction of endangered animals, people who are against it for their own reasons, and then there are people that have a kind of who cares, attitude about it. People need to realize the importance of animals and plants to the ecosystems to realize how it could affect humanity. Three groups of people that have some different views are biologists, Animal rights advocates, and even hunters/sportsmen. Some of these groups interestingly have sub groups that have different opinions on reintroduction. The views of people that are all for the reintroduction of species follow the concept behind the Endangered Species Act. This act states that species that have "esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value to the Nation and its people" (Endangered Species Act of 1973, sec. 2a) should be saved. I interviewed a biologist who works for the Bureau of Reclamation, and asked him his opinion on these issues. He gave me very long in depth answers to my questions I will try to condense some of them down. When asked the pros and cons of reintroduction he replied, Cons: It seems to me that

negative criticisms of species reintroductions come from two levels, the socio-economic and the scientific and/or environmental level. In our society, the negative attributes of reintroduction vary according to individual points of view. A rancher, for example, isnt likely to support wolf reintroductions in his neighborhood, but wildlife enthusiasts probably will.(David, interview) And the pros, Pros: The most immediate benefit to reintroductions is prevention of extinction. I can think at several examples in my immediate experience where reintroductions have prevented extinction, whereby populations were so diminished that they most certainly would have disappeared altogether were it not for efforts to artificially replenish their numbers. No doubt there are many others. (David, Interview) David, then ended this interview with this statement, Whether people know it or not, then, reintroductions and efforts to make them succeed are symbolic of a much larger effort to preserve our natural heritage for generations to come. Animal rights activist in my opinion have the most radical views on reintroduction. I found it rather interesting that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (P.E.T.A.) have some ideas that I agree with. They are against predator reintroduction, but not for the reasons I am against it. PETA and hunting do not go together well. I am an avid hunter, which is why this is surprising to me. PETAs reasoning behind their opposition to predator reintroduction is, PETA does not support predatorreintroduction programs for myriad reasons. Animals can very often escape artificial boundaries and become a nuisance, leading to their being poisoned, hit by cars, or shot. In failed attempts to escape, they might become entangled in barbed wire or be shocked by electric fences. Upon introduction to their new homes, their prey scatter, and their lives and behavior patterns are turned upside-down. (PETA. Animal Rights Uncompromised: Predator-Reintroduction Programs paragraph 1) I agree with the fact that predator reintroduction is a bad thing, but I disagree with their reasoning behind it. I feel that predator reintroduction affects other species of animals in ways that could later on cause prey species to become endangered as well, due to over population of predators. Animal rights

Hunters and sportsmen have their own views on animal reintroduction. Depending on what hunter you talk to they might be for or against reintroduction. A lot of hunters in my opinion are uneducated on the benefits of reintroducing animals. Hunters use some unconventional ideas to save animals. One of which is they want to auction tags for rare endangered animals in order to make money towards the efforts to save the species. Basically kill one to save many. An example of this is the Dallas Safari club which is a hunting club that is based in Texas, is auctioning of a tag to hunt the endangered black rhino with all the profits going towards the conservation of the species. Save the rhinos but get to kill one first. Thats the sales pitch of a Texas hunting group thats auctioning off a special permit to hunt an endangered black rhino in Namibia, with proceeds going to rhino conservation efforts. (Unknown. Texas hunting group offers to save endangered rhinos by auctioning off permit to kill one. 27 October 2013. Foxnews.com) that may be one of the more radical attempts by hunters that I dont think I can really agree with. I dont think killing one to save one is really a smart approach because I have this what if, thought like what if they end up auctioning off one tag a year and end up hurting more than helping. Law abiding hunters help fund these conservation acts with the hunting licenses and duck stamps that are bought through the state with proceeds going towards conservation. When statewide hunting laws are followed, they are a great contributing to conservation by managing the numbers of certain species and keeping them in check. Hunters against reintroducing animals mainly focus on the wolf. If you try to find anything on animals other than the wolf you are out of luck. I searched for days and couldnt find anything about hunters disagreeing on anything but the reintroduction of wolves. There is a group called Sportsmen Against Wolves AKA Lobo Watch, whose main focus is to get rid of the wolves because the wolves have a negative impact on game species such as deer, elk, moose, etc. LOBO WATCH is fast becoming the voice of concerned sportsmen who see the introduction of the wolf and expanded ranges of other

primary predators for what it really is, the Greatest Ecological Disaster of our lifetimes...and left unchecked, there soon won't be enough game left to hunt. And the anti-hunting environmental groups and organizations will have won. (Toby Bridges, Sportsmen Against Wolves - United We Stand! Good Big Game Conservation Begins with Predator Management paragraph 6) this would have to be the point of view that I agree with most. I agree at the fact that wolf reintroduction is hurting the game populations in the areas that the wolves have been introduced. I dont agree with Lobo Watch on how they say the Anti-hunting environmental groups will have won. I dont think that competition with those groups need to be a main concern in their argument. My opinion on this subject is that animals should be reintroduced back into their native habitats but should be managed. In my opinion by managing a reintroduced specie it should be proven that the ecosystem and the habitat can support the reintroduction of the certain species. Make sure that by reintroducing an animal you are not pushing other species to the brink of extinction by doing so. Make sure the habitat you are reintroducing a specie to is its natural habitat. Dont introduce an animal to a habitat that you think it will survive in. This will avoid any conflict with the native species and the reintroduces species will avoid being classified as an alien species. The most surprising thing that I have found is that people are finding ways to relate this to religion. I found some cases where people are saying that we should let god decide which specie is the best and that god is killing them off for a reason. It surprised me that people would go that far to relate endangered animals to religion.