van Hassel F, Bovenkerk B. How Should We Help Wild Animals Cope with Climate Change? The Case of the Iberian Lynx.
Animals (Basel) 2023;
13:ani13030453. [PMID:
36766342 PMCID:
PMC9913476 DOI:
10.3390/ani13030453]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change and related shifts in weather conditions result in massive biodiversity declines and severe animal suffering. This article explores the measures that can be taken to decrease animal suffering and prevent species from going extinct. Taking the Iberian lynx as a case study, we assess the extent to which it is beneficial for animal welfare and species conservation to do nothing or reduce other threats, provide food or shelter, relocate the species via assisted migration, or bring the population into captivity. We argue that, given the Iberian lynx's non-invasive characteristics, assisted migration may be the best way to protect the species while ensuring animal welfare and protecting wildness and other ecosystem values.
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