Wild animal suffering is prevalent. There is no reason to have attitudes towards animals living in nature different from the ones we would have if they were domesticated animals or humans, so we should try to help animals in nature whenever possible.
Many people have a rosy view of the wild. Some think nonhuman
animals live in some kind of paradise in the wild. However, animals
living in nature have lives that are far from idyllic, and most of
them have to deal with the reality of constant threat of tremendous
suffering. Wild animal suffering is widely prevalent. Many people do
not see or think about this aspect of living in nature. Others
believe that wild animal suffering is not a serious issue because
animals can cope with their suffering better than domesticated
animals. Most of us may accept that nonhuman animals experience
suffering, yet it may be easy to think they suffer less than they
really do. This, however is not so.
If sentient beings matter, we shouldn’t be indifferent towards wild
animal suffering. Moreover, we should bear in mind that the amount
of suffering and premature death present in nature is very
significant. Wild animal suffering is much more prevalent than many
people think. Most animals die in painful ways when they are very
young, so they have no chances for enjoyment, for pursuing their
aims or fulfilling their capacities. This is so mainly due to the
reproductive strategies prevalent in nature due to evolutionary
reasons. The huge populations of animals living in the wild also
make this issue especially pressing. The following texts explain
this in detail.
Population dynamics and animal suffering
The reproductive strategy that is overwhelmingly prevalent in the
wild consists of having huge numbers of offspring of which the vast
majority die not long after coming into existence. This is the main
cause of wild animal suffering, as it means most animals in nature
have little time for enjoying positive experiences and often die in
ways that involve significant suffering (such as starvation,
dehydration, cold or being eaten alive). In this way, population
dynamics suggest that suffering prevails over happiness in nature.
Evolutionary reasons why suffering prevails in nature
Natural selection works when different individuals come into
existence but only some of them survive, as there are not sufficient
resources available for everyone. Because of this, many individuals
come into existence only to die shortly after, and a reproductive
strategy maximizing the number of new individuals that are born may
prevail for evolutionary reasons, even if it entails that wild
animal suffering and premature death increase tremendously.
Can animals in the wild be harmed in the same ways as
domesticated animals and humans?
Animals living in nature endure significant harms, as other animals
would be harmed in similar circumstances. Humans are not the only
beings that can feel suffering and wellbeing. The section on animal
sentience explains this in detail. Moreover, wild animal suffering
is prevalent. There is no reason to have attitudes towards animals
living in nature different from the ones we would have if they were
domesticated animals or humans, so we should try to help animals in
nature whenever possible.