If you had the power to save one species from extinction, which one would you choose and why?

Question

Singer, I understand completely where you're coming from, but only God has the power to save man. We can tell as many people as we can, but ultimately, it's a decision each person has to make ie whether to accept God's gift or not.
Don't give Satan any more power than he deserves. If you look at the end of the book, we win!

Thank you everyone for your answers. It is difficult to choose one best answer as I agree with most of your choices.

Answer 1

This is an interesting thought experiment. So "Francis G" and a few others need to lighten up and not be such jerks on this.

For those answering "mankind" you're also missing the point on this. It amazes me that about once every 100-120 years we go through a phase where everyone sees that the "end of days" are upon us. The Apocalypse just around the corner. The four horsemen already unleashed. What's fun is we can make them feel like idiots in a decade!

Having said that my selection for the one species I could save with the wave of a hand would be the Siberian tiger. This regal cat is still hunted and is losing sustainable habitat by the hour. What hope is there for so many other species if we can't save such a stunning and breath taking creature as the Siberian tiger?

Still, I think everything possible should be done for all species facing extinction. The loss of one lessens us all as a whole. I also think one of the critical issues we need to address in saving these animals (and in some cases plants as well) is the extensive protection and preservation of habitat.

For those interested in a much more involved thought experiment about the environment take a look at Alan Weisman's new book "The World Without Us". There is a link below to that -- pretty amazing ideas there.

Answer 2

People NEED to stop thinking they can play God. The neo-Christian ethic that we are the caretakers of this world is an outright lie. Nature works as an integrated system, we are just a single element of a complex system. No one has the power to save a single species. You save it all at once by ceasing to interfere with the natural world. The only way to "save a species" is to cease destroying their habitiat. The only way to save an animal is to save their home. We are destroying the environment to build a monochromatic environment where humans are comfortable, safe, lazy and ingorant; i.e. controllable.

I can more easily tell you which species I am having a VERY difficult time convincing myself should be saved from extinction. But that Answer is TOO obvious.

Answer 3

Mankind. We are on the verge of being able to create new species. All other species can soon be recreated by mankind. How can we do worse than 'nature'? There are animals with trees growing out of their heads(deer), there are animals thriving with no legs(snakes), there are animals with only legs and no arms or hands(birds),
There are no animals doing anything different from throughout their history(all animals except Humans). Carnivores are always killing and eating (even alive) other animals, herbivores are always eating grasses, no progress or change in these creatures for thousands of years.
The mammoths are extinct from sudden freezing(no great loss), The dinosaurs are extinct(thank God). The saber toothed tigers are extinct(double thanks to God).
Like polio and smallpox, if mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, and environmentalists would only become extinct the world would be closer to a heaven on Earth.

Answer 4

You probably won't like this answer, but I honestly believe that the human race is on a quick down spiral heading towards the end of the world. I believe that if we, as Christians do not step up to the plate and witness to the unsaved, show the love of Christ to people in a more compassionate way, the devil is going to push up the level of his 'steal, kill and destroy'' us until he has wiped out nations. I believe the human race that our loving God created is the species that needs to be saved from the gates of hell and satan.

Answer 5

I would like to remind everyone that the Animals have more right to this Planet than the Human Race. But when the Human Race has finally destroyed this Planet...and they will, lets hope the Animals will be able to take over again. They deserve it more than we do.

Answer 6

From the heart i say the Giant Panda.
How many times i've heard people say they're stupid animals, they dont evolve..they shouldnt need to, its our fault they're being forced up the mountains, its our fault completely.
They are the most beautiful creatures on the planet in my opinion, and could possibly become extinct through no fault of their own.

Answer 7

The manatee because it has been around for hundreds of years. It's a wild animal that doesn't mind interracting with people but people are slowly killing it. And, for a selfish reason, I want to see these gentle creatures they call a sea cow.

Answer 8

The Chinese swamp eel.
An asexual creature.
An amphibian.
Eats anything; everything.

If we can save this creature, it can live on land or in water...and produce offspring without a mate. Never to go hungry. Awesome!

The only true competitor to the current harbinger of this crisis...

any guesses?

Answer 9

I think I would save the polar bear. They are beautiful creatures and it's sad to see them scavenging in Canadian towns such as Churchill now the ice caps melt so quickly.

I don't think we need to save ourselves- there are a lot of overlooked nice people out there who believe in peace and not destruction.

Answer 10

the"human race"?i believe a lot of us got got lost and don't know where to turn, but i also believe that people are generally a kind and nice species, and want to do good, some have forgotten where they come from and what there here for?but i believe they can change and save themselves, if i cant save them??????????????