When should we intervene? V 1.0

[razeraze]

This is version 1 of the debate "When should we intervene?". This is not a place to insult, mock, degrade or put down members for their views. Engage the debate in the spirit in which it is meant to be debated.

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It is more a moral compass that I hope everyone takes time to answer.

When do we intervene with nature? I watched a documentary about Yellow stone bison recently and it got my wheels turning. One was injured in a fight and the scientist let it die and get feasted on by scavengers. This got me thinking when do we intervene with nature?

Here are two stories that illustrate two possible scenarios. The first was to control elephant population which led to the killing of endangered rhinos. The second is a natural disease running through koalas dwindling populations.

BBC News | AFRICA | Elephants kill endangered rhino
Chlamydia Vaccine to Help Koalas: Preventing Bacterial Infection to Slow Koala Population Decline

[mpgt]

Originally Posted by razeraze

I wanted to do this as a debate but could not figure out how to make it a debate...

I can help with that.

[spix14]

Well I think a lot of it depends on how much man's presence or intrusion has influenced the matter at hand. If it's a truly wild setting, like out on the plains of Africa or somewhere similiar, then let nature take its course. If it's a case of human influence, for instance a situation or behavior that started because of habitat intrusion, poaching, ect., then it's time to step in and do what we can. Natural illnesses I don't think should be interfered with because it is just nature's way of weeding out the weak and keeping the gene pool strong. Maybe if the situation got bad enough to where the species might go extinct, we should help out, but even then for me it's iffy because extinction is a natural part of the cycle, notwithstanding the incredible rate we've sped it up to. I mean naturally occuring extinction.

[mpgt]

I think Spix is right. If we created the problem, and we find ourselves in position to fix it, why not? Frankly saving one beached whale or one bison would probably not have a huge impact on the whole population; neither would ignoring such an animal. I think the great impact lies in the effect of the event on the people involved.

[razeraze]

Joe thank you.

Spix: I agree with that, accept maybe the extinction part. Nature seems to make some creatures extinct and make way for new creatures, so I am not sure how I feel about that. It is always sad to see things like global warming, but The earth is going to warm up with or with out our influence, so many creatures may die. If you look at the history of the earth there have been many cycles that cause extinction before humans were even on the map, so should we stop that cycle if we can?

I honestly don't know where I stand on this. If I found a wounded animal, I would try to help it how ever I may be taking another's meal or starving a family of scavengers. I guess it is the butterfly effect and I am not sure where I stand on this one.

[spike06]

i agree completely with spix and joe. nature is nature, like in raze's story, if that guy wasnt out there to witness the bison being killed and eaten, it still woudlve happened. now if that was an endangered animal, then yes, by all means intervene and save it

[TKR Reptiles]

i honeslty say never in the case of documentaries. the photographers have a "code" so to speak to never intervene with any real life situations. when scientists are studying animals they are there to watch them in their natural enviroment and watch their natural instincts. i assume they feel that they shouldnt intervene bc it would happen the exact same way if they werent there.

on a side note if i saw a bird trying to prey on a snake out in the open i would intervene by getting the snake to shelter. same goes with any animal i saw about to become a a meal. (other than rodents)