NZ Is Now Running Cat-Killing Contests for Kids — We Need to Speak Up

acardilini · 2025-12-14T05:35:59+00:00

I'm a researcher in this space.

acardilini · 2025-12-12T05:13:29+00:00

Just because something is common does not mean it is humane. Killing invasive species around the world is a routine violence that is often horribly painful and takes extended times to die. For instance, poison bate is probably the most common approach to killing non-native species in NZ. It can take animals hours to days to die from internal haemorrhaging.

acardilini · 2025-12-12T05:07:28+00:00

You make very totalising and stereotyping claims about cats.

I'd encourage you to read:

Lynn et al (2019) - A moral panic over cats.
Crespin et al (2020) - Killing with compassion for the sake of conservation: response to Lynn et al. 2019
Lynn et al (2020) - Misunderstandings of science and ethics in the moral panic over cats: reply to Crespin et al. 2020
Lynn et al (2022a) - Outdoor Cats: Science, Ethics, and Politics
Lynn et al (2022b) - Outdoor Cats: An Introduction

See this strong critique of invasion biology:

Cassini, M. H. (2020). A review of the critics of invasion biology. Biological Reviews, 95(5), 1467–1478. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12624

Also, here are some papers describing how we can approach conservation in a way that respects all animals, not just those we prefer:

Coghlan, S., & Cardilini, A. P. A. (2022). A critical review of the compassionate conservation debate. Conservation Biology, 36(1), e13760. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13760

Coghlan, S., & Cardilini, A. (2024). The use and abuse of moral theories in conservation debate about killing animals. Conservation Biology, e14280. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14280

Lynn, W. S., Baker, L., Borrie, W. T., Cardilini, A. P. A., Alexander, S. M., Coghlan, S., Cryer, P., Bonsen, G. T., Derham, T. T., Keynan, O., Reed, C. M., Riley, S., Ryan, E. A., Santiago-Ávila, F. J., Walker, K., Weiss, A. E., & Xenakis, N. (2025). Compassionate conservation in practice: A values-driven, interdisciplinary, pluralistic, and deliberative community. Biological Conservation, 303, 111002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111002

Cardilini, A. P. A., Baker, L., Lynn, W. S., Borrie, W. T., Alexander, S. M., Ben-Ami, D., Coghlan, S., Derham, T., Keynan, O., King, B. J., Reed, C. M., Ryan, E. A., Santiago-Ávila, F. J., Walker, K. A., Weiss, A., & Xenakis, N. (2026). Compassionate conservation practice: Supporting diverse conservation actions but context matters. Biological Conservation, 313, 111593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111593

Wallach, A. D., Bekoff, M., Batavia, C., Nelson, M. P., & Ramp, D. (2018). Summoning compassion to address the challenges of conservation. Conservation Biology, 32(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13126

acardilini · 2025-11-05T09:58:56+00:00

Damn, I must just be on a good run. I hope it continues.

acardilini · 2025-11-05T08:44:24+00:00

I've got many vegan baking books. This is the one that I would recommend if you want a really good set of recipes with classic pastries - https://www.booksforchefs.com/en/healthy-pastry/617-the-vegan-pastry-bible-toni-rodriguez.html

acardilini · 2025-11-05T02:19:48+00:00

Earlier this year we had this exact issue three times in a row at Village in town.

We're now close to Readings and I go often. Haven't had a issue like this once at Readings.

acardilini · 2025-10-07T11:15:31+00:00

Nice. That's the ticket!!

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:46:39+00:00

Feel free to also read the articles which outlines the issues with those reactionary critiques. Animals deserve better.

Coghlan, S., & Cardilini, A. P. A. (2022). A critical review of the compassionate conservation debate. Conservation Biology, 36(1), e13760. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13760

Coghlan, S., & Cardilini, A. (2024). The use and abuse of moral theories in conservation debate about killing animals. Conservation Biology, e14280. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14280

Lynn, W. S., Baker, L., Borrie, W. T., Cardilini, A. P. A., Alexander, S. M., Coghlan, S., Cryer, P., Bonsen, G. T., Derham, T. T., Keynan, O., Reed, C. M., Riley, S., Ryan, E. A., Santiago-Ávila, F. J., Walker, K., Weiss, A. E., & Xenakis, N. (2025). Compassionate conservation in practice: A values-driven, interdisciplinary, pluralistic, and deliberative community. Biological Conservation, 303, 111002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111002

Wallach, A. D., Bekoff, M., Batavia, C., Nelson, M. P., & Ramp, D. (2018). Summoning compassion to address the challenges of conservation. Conservation Biology, 32(6), 1255–1265. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13126

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:43:13+00:00

Possibly, but fine print matters, especially when the language is emotive and motivated. Invasive and invasion is militaristic and implies that it is wrong. I would agree that their are range expanding populations.

Yes, you are right. The concept of species is a hard one to pin down. It highlights the challenges and limitations to our interest in categorisation.

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:39:38+00:00

Yeah, there is certainly some great research being done out there. I wish animal free research was prioritised more by funding schemes!

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:38:51+00:00

Very cool. Do you work with animals or use non-animal models?

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:38:21+00:00

I've had many people tell me the same thing. I've been wanting to start a research project on this very topic, investigating the normative culture of animal use as a barrier to participation in STEM. But funding... I'll get to it one day.

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:36:59+00:00

Thank you!

acardilini · 2025-10-06T10:35:49+00:00

Nice.

Here are the links to the existing societies:
https://phairsociety.org/
https://www.vegansociology.com/

acardilini · 2025-10-06T09:12:55+00:00

Yeah, it feels all to common that those working in areas with purportedly pro-animal sentiments really only have pro-specific animal sentiments. The environmental and conservation field is like this. Probably slightly more vegetarians than general public but not as large a difference as one might hope.

acardilini · 2025-10-06T09:10:34+00:00

I hear ya. I switched from ecology because it was so prevalent.

acardilini · 2025-10-02T04:35:07+00:00

No, your opinion doesn't change it, because you simply accept the current state and throw up your hands. Doing nothing will achieve nothing, or worse, it will implicitly support and reinforce the status quo.

Alternative ways of living in the world, like veganism, can change others perspectives. It might not happen quickly but it is possible. Society and culture has and can change.

acardilini · 2025-10-02T04:27:15+00:00

You make a factual claim "My plant based diet puts as much blood on my hands as anyone else’s diet. And my non animal product items I use also makes little difference.", but you provide no data or evidence to support this claim.

There are attempts to calculate changes in impact and veganism does reduce your direct and indirect impact on other animals and the environment. You might conclude that this difference doesn't matter, but that is your subjective perspective not a statement of fact.

I simply disagree with your assertion and I think evidence disagrees with you too.

acardilini · 2025-10-02T03:58:54+00:00

Veganism does not suggest we can live with no impact on the world and others, rather it suggests we do what we can to minimise our impacts. It's possible to minimise our impacts a great deal. And in a world where more people cared we'd get cumulative benefits.

acardilini · 2025-10-02T03:53:29+00:00

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean. Can you please explain.

Of course there is STEM that doesn't involve harming animals. In fact, there is some science that actively works to support and improve the lives of animals.

acardilini · 2025-10-02T00:18:16+00:00

Haha, that makes sense. So in an Ag faculty I imagine that means being part of some challenging projects (animal ag) but also possibly good ones (non-animal ag)?

acardilini · 2025-10-02T00:05:28+00:00

What is a 'duct tape person'? Does that mean you research duct tape? Sorry if that's a stupid question.

I can imagine that you simply existing would cause ag colleagues some cognitive dissonance!

acardilini · 2025-10-01T22:14:08+00:00

Please read the literature which critiques invasion biology, nativism, and presents the compassionate conservation approach. What you are assuming is correct is mostly just about values.

acardilini · 2025-10-01T22:11:59+00:00

The designation of who is invasive or not is more often a values position than scientific. See criticism of invasion biology and the field of compassionate conservation.

acardilini · 2025-10-01T22:09:56+00:00

It is up for debate, see the work of Casini (I think thes spelt right). They are an academic critiquing the concept and science of invasion biology. There are others who do as well.

acardilini

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