80k After Hours Highlights: #210 – Cameron Meyer Shorb on dismantling the myth that we can’t do anything to help wild animals
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Dec 13, 2024 
Cameron Meyer Shorb, the Executive Director of Wild Animal Initiative, leads a fascinating discussion on improving wild animal welfare. He tackles the misconception that there's nothing we can do to help these creatures, exploring innovative solutions like selective reforestation and vaccine programs. Shorb also delves into the vast population of often-overlooked terrestrial arthropods and challenges the notion that nature is always good. The conversation even touches on cutting-edge gene drive technologies to combat harmful parasites, sparking hope for wildlife welfare.
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Improving Wild Animal Welfare Through Selective Reforestation
- Consider selective reforestation to improve wild animal welfare.
- Incorporate welfare considerations into existing land management policies, like REDD++.
The Importance of Invertebrates in Wild Animal Welfare
- The vast majority of animals are invertebrates, significantly outnumbering mammals, birds, and reptiles.
- Even a small chance of invertebrate sentience has massive implications for wild animal welfare.
Sources of Wild Animal Suffering
- Wild animal suffering stems from difficulties in meeting basic needs (food, shelter) and various interactions with other species.
- These interactions include competition, predation, and reproduction, each with varying welfare implications.