Question

Can you think of a situation where we deliberately want to make a species extinct?
How would you justify it?

Answer 1

Hint: Some organisms like pests may create problems for us, but at the same time they are essential parts of the ecosystem. Destroying them then leads to other problems for us.

Complete Answer:
- Mankind through most of its activities has been directly responsible for the extinction of thousands of plant and animal species. Most of this has been through a lack of concern or vision for future effects, while some has been for our sport and entertainment. None of this has been beneficial for us or the planet in general.
- However, there are a few instances in which extinction could be justified. The most obvious situation in which we would want to make a species extinct is from a health or medical perspective. More specifically, these would be parasites and pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
- Pathogens are disease causing organisms. They harm or even kill the host organism, and many of them have no apparent role in nature other than to cause us to fall ill. A good example of such a species is the smallpox virus.
- Creation of vaccines against this virus has resulted in the eradication of smallpox from the world. This is completely justifiable as it does not harm any other species, and is directly beneficial to us at the same time. The polio virus is another example which hopefully will be eradicated soon.

Note: By utilising the natural behaviour of animals, we can reduce our need for pesticides. For example, ladybugs feed on aphids.