Theos-Talk Archives (August 2002 Message tt00261)

When it comes to conservation issues many conundrums
arise, especially for the spiritualist. Often there
needs to be a trade off between culling members of one
species for the benefit of another. A case to
illustrate my point. Noisy Miner (Manorina
melanocephala) and its cousin Bell Miner (Manorina
melanophrys) are both aggressive birds inhabiting
eastern Australia. Effectively, they are very
territorial, mob other birds and have even been
observed attacking dogs, possums, and other animals
(animals that do not predate them or compete with them
in any conceivable way). These two species are driving
all other bird species out of vital habitats and
possibly into local extinction. It has been observed
that when the Bell Miner is removed from an area bird
diversity in that area immediately increases. So, from
a conservation perspective it is wise to control the
population of these two species for the benefit of all
other bird species. 

So what is the conundrum? We are told that all life is
sacred and must be treated with respect. Yet, it is
humans who initially disturbed these bird communities
and allowed the "ecological release" of these
aggressive birds. It is humans who are effectively
driving all these bird species into local extinction.
>From a spiritual point of view, do we cull these
aggressive species for the benefit of other species?
Or do we simply allow nature to take its course even
though this may mean the extinction of many species?

Curiously pondering,
mic

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