Ethical guidelines

Guidelines for dealing with self-reliant animals on land managed by the State Forest Service

Until recently it was unusual to consider whether we had moral obligations towards individual animals living in the wild. After all, the animals live their own lives, outside human society. However, this has changed with the introduction into nature reserves of animals originating from within human society. If problems should arise as a result, we have to consider how far we are responsible, and whether we have an obligation to save the animals from harm. Large ‘wild’ animals such as roe and red deer appear to ‘share the benefits’ of the introduction of beavers, horses and cattle. Now we face further dilemmas, such as whether we have an obligation to provide supplementary feed for hungry deer.

These developments have been brought to the attention of the State Forest Service (Staatsbosbeheer) partly by questions and concerns raised by visitors. Managers of nature reserves would also like guidelines to assist them in the management of the large grazers and other animals in the reserve. These guidelines were drawn up in close consultation with reserve managers and relate to the way the managers operate. They also aim to enable the managers to explain their actions and to base their actions on good arguments. Members of the public who regularly visit nature reserves and indicate their concern have a right to clear explanations.

The author is Ronno Tramper, Centre for Bioethics and Health Law University of Utrecht

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