Chris Packham, a TV naturalist out of the United Kingdom, says that since pandas aren't a strong species, we should choose to let them die.
Citing limited resources and cost effectiveness as the driving pragmatic factor, Chris Packham voices a minority opinion. He says the only reason pandas, the World Wildlife Fund's symbol, garners so much attention is because they're cute and cuddly. Otherwise, we'd care less. His stance also includes the notion that tigers are worth more dead than alive and therefore will not last more than 15 years as a species.
Our money would be better spent saving stronger species with a better chance. Apparently, last year he threatened to
eat the last panda if I could have the money we've spent on panda conservation to [spend on] more sensible things.
(To save face, he also paradoxically states that those who donate money to save the pandas aren't wasting their money -- how big of him.)
I'm a practical person, and to some extent, I understand where he's coming from. I'm an aspiring environmental ethicist and I agree that sometimes difficult decisions must be made. But the overall notion seems a bit ridiculous. Human beings force species out of existence every single day. And here's a naturalist saying that since we're wiping out panda territory and sustainability so quickly, we should just throw up our hands and call it quits. Pandas are in danger because of us, because of humankind's general disregard for the unbalance we create in the rest of the environment. A fact that seems to escape Packham -- do we not have a moral obligation to keep from extinction those species we have endangered, however strong their chances?
Yesterday, after being pressured by a reporter, he stood by what he said and made a non-apology apology:
I really upturned the apple cart with what I said and I'm sorry I upset people. But I am glad it has raised a debate and that was always my intention. I don't hate pandas, I love cuddly animals. I love all animals.
But not enough, apparently, to spend some extra money to keep them all alive.