Argentinian politicians unveil plan to shoot seagulls that attack whales

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/aug/29/shoot-seagulls-that-attack-whales


A seagull pecks at a whale in the southern Atlantic Ocean near Puerto Piramides, Argentina, in a photograph taken this month. Photograph: Daniel Feldman/AP

Saving the whales is something Argentinians take so seriously that authorities in Patagonia have launched a 100-day plan to shoot seagulls that have learned to attack the big mammals as they surface to breathe.

Environmentalists say the plan is misguided. They say humans are the real problem, creating so much garbage that the gull population has exploded.

Both sides agree that what was bizarre animal behaviour a decade ago has now become a real hazard for threatened southern right whales in one of their prime birthing grounds, turning whale-watching from a magical experience to something from a horror movie.

Seagulls off the coast of the Patagonian city of Puerto Madryn have discovered that by pecking at the whales as they come up for air, they can create open wounds.

[ZombieHorde]

1. I think this is interesting.

I often wonder how different people measure an animal's "worth." Why is a seagull's life worth less than a whale's life in the eyes of some people?

[Nihil]

2. Just a guess ...

... but I'd expect that relative numbers and guilt factor play a big part.

"Relative numbers" = A rare creature is more valuable than one that is always
present in large numbers (especially when the former population is dropping
and the latter is growing rapidly).

"Guilt factor" = A creature that is suffering from the direct (or even indirect)
effects of human action is more valuable than one that is thriving because
of humans.

Other things like perceived sentience (and yes, photogenic cuddliness or
phobias) will come into play with particular species but I believe that the
above are a large driver of the "we should cull X to save Y" arguments.

(JMHO of course)

[ZombieHorde]

3. Those seem like good guesses. nt