Why should we try to protect endangered species?

One study in 2012 estimated that it would cost $76 billion (£49 billion) a year to preserve threatened land animals. Saving all the endangered marine species might well cost far more. Why should we spend all that money on wildlife when we could spend it to stop people dying of starvation or disease? read more

So, whether a species is considered endangered or not is not just looking at the current number of specimens existing, but also at the overall trend of species growth or decline and the reasons why. Of course, there are a number of technical criteria relating to the conservation status of the species, from extinct the wild yet living in captivity to one of absolute least concern. read more

Species go extinct all the time.Then, why should we spend billions of dollars trying to save threatened species. Won’t this money be better utilized in feeding starving and poor people! Superficially this argument looks very logical, but dive a little deeper and we see the flaws. read more

On the face of it, there are plenty of reasons why we shouldn't bother to save endangered species. The most obvious is the staggering cost involved. One study in 2012 estimated that it would cost $76 billion (£49 billion) a year to preserve threatened land animals. Saving all the endangered marine species might well cost far more. read more