The role of ethics in the management of New Zealand's wild mammals

Abstract

Wild deer are used to illustrate the conflicts that arise when an animal is both a pest and a valued resource. At present there are c. 250 000 wild deer in New Zealand. These are pursued by c. 37 000 hunters who spend more than $20 million annually to harvest c. 70 000 deer. Nearly two-thirds of the harvest is taken by recreational hunters; the remainder forms the basis of a small industry for venison export. Despite their recreational and commercial value, wild deer continue to be a significant conservation pest. Conservationists generally would like wild deer to be eradicated, or, failing that, their densities held at the lowest levels possible with the control resources available. Hunters, however, would like deer to remain, and at higher rather than lower densities, to provide better prospects for hunting success. We discuss ways in which these apparently incompatible aspirations can be partially reconciled.