Why Vegans Should Care About Suffering in Nature

Abstract

It is commonly assumed that animal-rights and environmentalism are perfectly aligned philosophies. However, the issue of wild-animal suffering creates tension between them. Environmentalists generally favor non-intervention in nature, while animal advocates should support research into how to reduce wild-animal suffering. Given the likelihood that suffering outweighs happiness among small, numerous wild animals, humans should reconsider introducing wildlife to new environments. While humans have historically lived better lives than most animals, the majority of wild animals endure short lifespans, high infant mortality rates, constant vigilance against predation, and painful deaths. Predation, while natural, causes significant suffering for prey animals. Therefore, the focus should not be on preserving nature’s current state, but on researching and implementing ways to mitigate wild-animal suffering, including avoiding the spread of wildlife to other planets or simulated realities. – AI-generated abstract.