Lecture 3 Ethics

Question 1

Steps in ethics?

Answer 1

• What is the ethical question?
• Is it too paradoxical?
Who makes the decisions?

Question 2

What are the four different types of people’s behaviour?

Answer 2

• Prudent behaviour (what is wise/unwise)
• Conventional behaviour (do what has always been done or society has allowed) - Marius decision due to EAZA.
• Legal behaviour (because legal requirements)
Ethical behaviour (having thought through the issues and effects that it’s the right thing to do (morally correct)).

Question 3

What is it to “behave ethically”

Answer 3

• ‘the effort to guide one’s conduct by reason while giving equal weight to the interests of each individual who will be affected.’

Question 4

What are the two different types of ethics?

Answer 4

• Personal ethics (backed by logic from how we behave in our everyday lives)
Professional ethics (rules of conduct generally accepted in that profession)

Question 5

What are some salient issues in the zoo industry?

Answer 5

• Are animal rights and welfare philosophies compatible with wildlife conservation?
• What are the implications if the only way to save mass extinction is via captive breeding, culling, invasive research, translocation and modification of habitat?
• Should animal health and longevity take precedence over living in a naturalistic environment?
• Should all species require the same care and attention?
Predation in zoos if required for conservation? (lion needs to hunt).