Should We Kill One Species to Save Another?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 22 September 2017
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Is it fair to kill invasive species which humans have introduced? When people move around the world, many of their favourite – and not so favourite - animals tag along for the ride. From cane toads through to rats, cats and crayfish, so-called ‘invasive species’ can destroy ecosystems and kill off native wildlife. CrowdScience listener Jude Kirkham wants to know if eradicating these invaders is justified.
One country determined to do something about invasive species is New Zealand, where rats, stoats and possums are causing irreparable damage to the country’s unique bird life. If nothing is done, the iconic Kiwi could be extinct within 50 years. The government and volunteer groups across the country have responded with a plan to eradicate predatory mammals from New Zealand by 2050. But is all the time, energy and money needed to do this really justified? And is it morally right to kill off an animal species that humans introduced in the first place?
Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at crowdscience@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producer: Anna Lacey
(Image: Headshot of a Possum Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, the Science of |
| 0:07.0 | Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. Be careful of the hole. Oh mate. |
| 0:37.0 | Go around that way. |
| 0:41.0 | No, I can see a hole and I see that as a challenge. Famous last words. I'm Marnie Chesterton and you're listening to crowd science on the BBC World Service. |
| 0:56.3 | We'll swing round here. This is very much not the beaten truck. |
| 1:03.1 | So Rosemy, how far have we got to go? |
| 1:05.8 | Once we hit the main track, we've got 400 meters |
| 1:09.8 | to go down to where we go in off the main track |
| 1:12.0 | onto our bait station line. |
| 1:13.3 | Great. |
| 1:14.6 | This week you're joining me in the Hanoa Rangers in New Zealand, scrambling through the |
| 1:19.2 | dense tangly, probably death-trappy native bush. |
| 1:23.0 | The person I'm desperately trying to keep up with is Rosemary, |
| 1:27.0 | a sure-footed and enthusiastic conservation volunteer |
| 1:30.0 | with a rather bloodthirsty hobby, poisoning rats. |
| 1:34.0 | Here we are at our first bait station. |
| 1:37.0 | So you're turning it upside down. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.