Should we herbivorize predators?

Abstract

The predation problem is arguably the most difficult and controversial part of wild animal suffering. In what follows, I want to make an argument in favor of the idea to herbivorize predators (HP). I will not argue for its possibility or feasibility, because natural evolution already led to the herbivorization of some carnivorous species such as the giant panda, the red panda, the spectacled bear and the kinkajou. Here I present a moral argument, with the intention to open a discussion about whether animal welfare effective altruists should consider herbivorizing predators as a cause area. If the argument is sound, it entails that individuals are allowed to, and society has an obligation to apply safe, animal-friendly and effective means (technologies) to herbivorize predators, and at least we should start doing scientific research to look for such technologies.