Poaching is one of the big factors in driving large animals—rhinos, tigers, elephants—toward extinction. The people who poach these animals are really just interested in the market value of their parts: rhino horns, tiger penises, and elephant tusks. From basic supply & demand economics, if one could flood the market with these items, their value would tank it would remove the economic incentive for people to poach.
So what we should be doing is perfecting the ability to grow these items in the lab. Scientists already are working on techniques to grow replacement organs and edible meat in the lab. I don't think it would be that big of a stretch to apply these techniques to help the plight of endangered species.
The question isn't whether it can be done. It is, "Who will undertake this important work?".
So what we should be doing is perfecting the ability to grow these items in the lab. Scientists already are working on techniques to grow replacement organs and edible meat in the lab. I don't think it would be that big of a stretch to apply these techniques to help the plight of endangered species.
The question isn't whether it can be done. It is, "Who will undertake this important work?".
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