#12 The incredible improvement in terms of quality of life notwithstanding, 'moose's first point stands alone in its importance.
First of all, because it works, it killed off the huge market in endangered species used as aphrodisiacs, saving dozens of species.
While traffic in endangered animal parts still exists, there is little reason for it to continue. More importantly, we need to make all such poaching an instant death sentence. Game wardens should have shoot-on-sight orders for enforcement within game reserves.
As an example, a researcher was conducting experiments on frogs which required a minor surgical procedure. After operating and suturing back up the frogs they would be tossed back into their tanks. Their, slimy, muddy, detritus filled tanks. It slowly dawned upon those involved that the frogs were not succumbing to infections at anywhere near the rate that would have been expected. Why was this?
It turns out that in order to combat the incredibly bacertia-filled world that frogs inhabit, their skin secretes a powerful anti-bacterial agent that protects them. Current research is being directed at adapting this agent for use against drug resistant strains that pose immense health risks in modern hospitals.
The final point being: We never know when a certain species of animal, tree, insect or whatever will suddenly turn out to be the secret to fighting AIDS, cancer or who knows what unforseen plague. Nature has spent billions of years perfecting the survival mechanisms of its denizens. Each and every one of them represents a potential solution to a host of human survival problems. All of which dissappear forever if that species goes extinct. Viagra will help save the tiger, rhinocerous and many other animals from extinction. This one single contribution is worthy of a nobel prize. |
