Compassionate Conservation
Learn about the differences between 'conservation' & 'compassionate conservation'
​To combat the belief systems that have led to the Sixth Mass Extinction, we promote animal welfare orientated conservation policies.
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Compassionate Conservation is an approach to wildlife conservation guided by four compassionate principles:
In a world where culling, 'humane slaughter' and killing 'softly' are becoming a normal conservation tool, we seek natural solutions that promote life and a natural balance.
From vaccinating badgers to limit the spread of bovine TB to beehive fences that deter elephants from crops and deflecting hunting foxes away from nesting wading birds by growing long grass that supports small mammals.
Instead of going straight to extermination, Compassionate Conservation looks to resolve human wildlife issues in a constructive, humane and natural way.
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For conversation to be effective it needs to integrate compassion, empathy and interdependency into conservation science. If we continue to convince ourselves that humans, or certain species, are superior to other animals we won't be able to change the decline of biodiversity.
1. Do No Harm
Conservation
Uses Conservation Culling
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Conservation culling is a common practice and has led to the killing of an untold number of animals. This is done because one animal is preferred to another. Sadly, the research used to 'justify' killing animals is often incomplete, cherry-picked or biased. ​
Compassionate Conservation
Will never kill any animal
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Compassionate conservation allows for more solutions other than the eradication of certain animals or species. Non-lethal, non-violent measures are used as solutions to wildlife issues instead.
2. Individuals Matter
Conservation
Only aims to protects (specific) species
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Conservation policies only take into consideration the survival of a species. This means that the moment an animal is no longer endangered it loses all safeguards protecting it, threatening the well-being of individual animals. This could mean that an animal could be hunted for entertainment, exterminated for being a pest or become the subject of a General License allowing culling.
Compassionate Conservation
Protects all animals from harm
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Life and being able to pursue one’s interests are equally important to the individual, regardless of species.
3. Intrinsically Value All Wildlife
Conservation
Animals deemed 'non-valuable' are not protected, subjected to abuse or killed
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Animals are judged on their benefit or value to mankind. Whether it be in terms of ecological significance, emotional companionship, commercial exploitation of body parts, or entertainment purposes. Consequently, if they are perceived as lacking value they are often subjected to lethal measures, particularly in situations of Human-Animal Conflict.
Compassionate Conservation
Views all animals as equally important and worthy of protection
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Compassionate conservation doesn't view animals through a hierarchical lens. We are all animals. We shouldn’t categorise in ways that allow us to respect and care about some animals more than others.
Intrinsically Value All Wildlife
4. Peaceful Co-Existence
Conservation
Focus is on 'managing' animals to resolve issues, even ones of human origin
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Research often fails fully to acknowledge human-created issues, and fails to place responsibility on humans and businesses. Research often mis-represents the gravity of the issue and so lethal or violent measures are inappropriately deployed.
Compassionate Conservation
Acknowledges and resolves human-animal conflict in ways that do not harm animals
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Compassionate Conservation looks to modify human behaviour where possible to reduce potential conflict with animals e.g waste management. It also states the need to research the actual significance of the animals' impact and find non-lethal, non-violent, minimally invasive ways to circumvent significant negative impacts.