Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it
Article
Allen, Benjamin L., Bobier, Christopher, Dawson, Stuart, Fleming, Peter J.S., Hampton, Jordan, Jachowski, David, Kerley, Graham I.H., Linnell, John D.C., Marnewick, Kelly, Minnie, Liaan, Muthersbaugh, Mike, O'Riain, M. Justin, Parker, Dan, Proulx, Gilbert, Somers, Michael J. and Titus, Keifer. 2023. "Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it." Science of the Total Environment. 896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165283
Article Title | Why humans kill animals and why we cannot avoid it |
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ERA Journal ID | 3551 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Allen, Benjamin L., Bobier, Christopher, Dawson, Stuart, Fleming, Peter J.S., Hampton, Jordan, Jachowski, David, Kerley, Graham I.H., Linnell, John D.C., Marnewick, Kelly, Minnie, Liaan, Muthersbaugh, Mike, O'Riain, M. Justin, Parker, Dan, Proulx, Gilbert, Somers, Michael J. and Titus, Keifer |
Journal Title | Science of the Total Environment |
Journal Citation | 896 |
Article Number | 165283 |
Number of Pages | 13 |
Year | 2023 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0048-9697 |
1879-1026 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165283 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969723039062 |
Abstract | Killing animals has been a ubiquitous human behaviour throughout history, yet it is becoming increasingly controversial and criticised in some parts of contemporary human society. Here we review 10 primary reasons why humans kill animals, discuss the necessity (or not) of these forms of killing, and describe the global ecological context for human killing of animals. Humans historically and currently kill animals either directly or indirectly for the following reasons: (1) wild harvest or food acquisition, (2) human health and safety, (3) agriculture and aquaculture, (4) urbanisation and industrialisation, (5) invasive, overabundant or nuisance wildlife control, (6) threatened species conservation, (7) recreation, sport or entertainment, (8) mercy or compassion, (9) cultural and religious practice, and (10) research, education and testing. While the necessity of some forms of animal killing is debatable and further depends on individual values, we emphasise that several of these forms of animal killing are a necessary component of our inescapable involvement in a single, functioning, finite, global food web. We conclude that humans (and all other animals) cannot live in a way that does not require animal killing either directly or indirectly, but humans can modify some of these killing behaviours in ways that improve the welfare of animals while they are alive, or to reduce animal suffering whenever they must be killed. We encourage a constructive dialogue that (1) accepts and permits human participation in one enormous global food web dependent on animal killing and (2) focuses on animal welfare and environmental sustainability. Doing so will improve the lives of both wild and domestic animals to a greater extent than efforts to avoid, prohibit or vilify human animal-killing behaviour. |
Keywords | Animal ethics; Conservation biology; Culling; Factory farming |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 4199. Other environmental sciences |
Byline Affiliations | Nelson Mandela University, South Africa |
Institute for Life Sciences and the Environment | |
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, United States | |
Murdoch University | |
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia | |
University of New England | |
Orange Agricultural Institute, Australia | |
University of Melbourne | |
Clemson University, United States | |
Norwegian Institute of Nature Research, Norway | |
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway | |
Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa | |
University of Mpumalanga, South Africa | |
University of Cape Town, South Africa | |
Alpha Wildlife Research and Management, Canada | |
University of Pretoria, South Africa |
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