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Ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing
Allen , Benjamin L.; Abraham, Andrew J.; Arlinghaus, Robert; Belant, Jerrold L.; Blumstein, Daniel T.; Bobier, Christopher; Bodenchuk, Michael J.; Clauss, Marcus; Dawson , Stuart J.; Derbyshire, Stuart W.G.; Ferreira, Sam M.; Fleming, Peter J.S.; Forssman, Tim; Gorecki, Vanessa; Gortazar, Christian; Griffin, Andrea S.; Hampton, Jordan O.; Haswell , Peter M.; Kerley, Graham I.H.; Lean, Christopher H.; Leroy, Frederic; Linnell , John D.C.; Lynch, Kate; Mare, Celeste; Melville, Haemish; Minnie, Liaan; Moodley, Yoshan; Nayeri, Danial; O’Riain , M. Justin; Parker, Dan; Periquet-Pearce , Stephanie; Proulx, Gilbert; Radloff, Frans G.T.; Schwab, Alexander; Selier, Sarah-Anne Jeanetta; Shephard, Samuel; Somers, Michael J.; Van Wart , T. Adam; Vercauteren, Kurt C.; Von Essen, Erica (Frontiers Media, 2025-10-09)
Killing animals is a ubiquitous human activity consistent with our predatory and competitive ecological roles within the global food web. However, this reality does not automatically justify the moral permissibility of the various ways and reasons why humans kill animals – additional ethical arguments are required. Multiple ethical theories or frameworks provide guidance on this subject, and here we explore the permissibility of intentional animal killing within (1) consequentialism, (2) natural law or deontology, (3) religious ethics or divine command theory, (4) virtue ethics, (5) care ethics, (6) contractarianism or social contract theory, (7) ethical particularism, and (8) environmental ethics. These frameworks are most often used to argue that intentional animal killing is morally impermissible, bad, incorrect, or wrong, yet here we show that these same ethical frameworks can be used to argue that many forms of intentional animal killing are morally permissible, good, correct, or right. Each of these ethical frameworks support constrained positions where intentional animal killing is morally permissible in a variety of common contexts, and we further address and dispel typical ethical objections to this view. Given the demonstrably widespread and consistent ways that intentional animal killing can be ethically supported across multiple frameworks, we show that it is incorrect to label such killing as categorically unethical. We encourage deeper consideration of the many ethical arguments that support intentional animal killing and the contexts in which they apply.
Keeping Herstory silent in learners history textbooks
Nkabini, Senzelokuhle Mpumelelo (Emerald, 2026)
PURPOSE : The representation of women within the sub-section South African War and Union of 1899 to 1902 in nine South African grade 10 learners' history textbooks is the main focal point of this study. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : An intersectional feminist lens guided this qualitative study that focuses on the depiction, description and interpretation of women regarding the South African War and Union of 1899 to 1902 in nine South African CAPS-approved grade 10 learners' history textbooks. Two themes, Sexism, and Exclusion and minimal inclusion based on race, were derived from the historical text examination and analyses. FINDINGS : The findings revealed that women are misrepresented and under-represented in this sub-section compared to their male counterparts. Moreover, this form of denial has remained unchanged and uncontested. Hence, presently, prominent female figures are still silenced in these history textbooks. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : The introspection of women's representation within South African grade 10 learners' history textbooks adds to the existing literature on history education by providing an analysis of how women are depicted, described and interpreted in these learning resources. This is crucial because history textbooks have the potential of contributing to sexist and racially prejudiced mindsets that can lead to negative effects in schools and communities surrounding the school/s.
A non-invasive footprint technique for accurate identification of cryptic small mammal species : a sengi case study
Alibhai, Sk; Avenant, Nico; Oosthuizen, Maria Kathleen; Carlson, Lynn; Macfadyen, Duncan; Jewell, Zoe (Frontiers Media, 2026-01-27)
The acceleration of biodiversity loss highlights the need for practical, affordable species monitoring tools. A key requirement of monitoring is the accurate identification of species, a particular challenge with cryptic species. This study introduces a non-invasive footprint identification technology to classify two cryptic sengi species (Elephantulus myurus and Elephantulus intufi) - key bioindicators in the rapidly changing Southern African biomes. Front footprints were collected, using a custom Small Mammal Reference Track box, from live-captured individuals that were identified by experts in small mammal taxonomy and verified through genetic analyses. Morphometric features of the footprints (lengths, angles and areas) were extracted using JMP software. Linear Discriminant Analysis, based on nine key variables, achieved a mean classification accuracy of 94–96% across training, validation, and test datasets, robustly distinguishing the two species using a single footprint image. By integrating our field capture locations with data from the IUCN expert-defined ranges and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, we demonstrate that FIT empowers non-experts to contribute reliable, high-resolution occurrence data. This scalable approach has the potential to transform community-science efforts, improving the accuracy of species distribution maps and ultimately strengthening conservation outcomes. Planned advancements include open-ended track tunnels and expanded machine learning models to monitor more small mammals in at-risk ecosystems. This approach offers a scalable, low-impact alternative to traditional trapping and genetic methods, reduces animal stress, morbidity and mortality, and empowers local communities to enhance data quality and monitoring through integration with traditional ecological knowledge.
A multivariate GARCH model with time-varying correlations : what do inflation data show in Ethiopia?
Likassa, Habte Tadesse; Chen, Ding-Geng (Din); Nadarajah, Saralees; Sema, Meskerem; Chen, Jenny K.; Temesgen, Shibru; Gotu, Butte (Springer, 2026)
Please read abstract in the article.
A multi-scale environmental niche model for the endangered dhole Cuon alpinus
Khatiwada, Monsoon Pokharel; Kunkel, Kyran E.; Wright, Wendy; Acharya, B.; Aung, Saw Soe; Bhumpakphan, Naris; Cheng, T.C.; Davis, C.; Ean, Tan Poai; Ferraz, Katia M.P.M.B.; Ghaskadbi, P.; Ghimirey, Y.P.; Gilbert, M.; Gupta, B.K.; Habib, B.; Haidir, I.; Havmoller, L.; Havmoller, R.W.; Jenks, K.E.; Kamler, J.F.; Khatiwada, A.P.; Li, S.; Macdonald, D.W.; Machmudah, F.; Mekiln, Y.; Namgyal, C.; Nawangsari, V.A.; Ngoprasert, D.; Nurvianto, S.; Rahman, H.A.; Rahman, S.C.; Rasphone, A.; Roux, P.; Seuaturien, N.; Shwe, N.M.; Songsasen, N.; Steinmetz, R.; Sukmasuang, R.; Thinley, P.; Tipkantha, W.; Traylor-Holzer, K.; Wahyudi, H.; Dalerum, Fredrik (Cambridge University Press, 2026)
The dhole Cuon alpinus is a large canid that is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and at risk of global extinction. Information on the spatial distribution of suitable habitat is important for conservation planning but is largely unavailable. We quantified the spatial distribution of potential range as well as the relative probability of dhole occurrence across large parts of the species’ global range. We used the MaxEnt algorithm to produce a multi-scale environmental niche model based on 24 environmental variables and dhole occurrence data from 12 countries. We identified three regions where dhole conservation should be focused: western India, central India, and across the Himalayan foothills through Southeast Asia. Connectivity between suitable areas was poor, so coordinated action among these regions should be a priority. For instance, transboundary dhole conservation initiatives across the Himalayas from southern China, Myanmar, north-east India, Nepal and Bhutan need to be initiated. We also highlight the value of improving dhole population viability on unprotected land and increasing monitoring in the northern parts of its historic distribution, in particular in areas within mainland China.