Wildlife Ethics: A Comprehensive Guide to Management and Conservation

Wildlife Ethics, authored by Clare Palmer, offers a systematic account of the ethical issues related to wildlife management and conservation. This book-length discussion is the first of its kind, examining key ethical questions and controversies in the field. It is divided into two parts: the first part describes key concepts, ethical theories, and management models relating to wildlife, while the second part applies these concepts, theories, and models to real-world case studies on controversies in wildlife management and conservation.

The book delves into pressing topics such as human responsibilities due to climate change, trade-offs when managing zoonotic disease risks, the ethics of the wildlife trade, culling non-native species, indigenous wildlife use, and zoo-based conservation programs. It encourages readers to explore different ways of valuing wild animals and their practical implications.

This essential text:

• Explains and explores relationships between valuing biodiversity, human utility, ecosystems, species, and animal welfare.
• Describes established approaches to wildlife management, such as sustainable use, and emerging concepts, such as compassionate conservation.
• Discusses key ethical theories, including utilitarianism, ecocentrism, and animal rights.
• Offers a practical model of how to analyze ethical issues in wildlife management and conservation.

Wildlife Ethics: The Ethics of Wildlife Management and Conservation is an accessible introduction to complex ethical issues, making it an important resource for students in fields such as conservation biology, ecology, environmental science and policy, game management, public health, and veterinary medicine. It will also be an invaluable tool for wildlife managers, conservationists, One Health practitioners, practicing veterinarians, animal rehabilitation staff, contemporary wildlife professionals, and other stakeholders.