To Save Endangered Species, Create Demand by Eating Them

May 11, 2008 3:06 PM

Save the animals one bite at a time. A Conservation Scientist is saying that the best way to save some endangered animals is to slice them up and slap them on a grill. He even offers recipes. The theory is that if you create a demand for endangered animals and plants as food, companies will be more likely to spend the money needed to protect and care for them. Gary Paul Nabhan has been controversial in the past and may be trying to boost his book sales, but the idea has merits.
posted by JD Rucker (13 comments total)

Previously on MeFi.
posted by languagehat at 3:13 PM on May 11

This reminds me of when Homer ate his pet lobster Mr. Pinchy.
posted by pwally at 3:14 PM on May 11

The shopping market is the solution to everything!
posted by ioerror at 3:18 PM on May 11 [1 favorite]

let me know when they're ready to chow down on these
posted by pyramid termite at 3:19 PM on May 11

Yes, let's create a market for panda steaks. That will end well.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:28 PM on May 11

Yeah, because humans have never eaten a species to extinction before...
posted by chrisamiller at 3:30 PM on May 11

Missed this link about apes, but yeah - you get the point.
posted by chrisamiller at 3:30 PM on May 11

"Sacred cows make the tastiest hamburger." - Abbie Hoffman
posted by porn in the woods at 3:34 PM on May 11

And while we're on the subject, when did meat-eating become "edgy"?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:34 PM on May 11

From today's guardian - How the world's oceans are running out of fish. Despite a world-wide fishing market.

Is anyone else sick of the deluge of dumbass "contrarians" we've been subjected to in recent years?
posted by bonecrusher at 3:34 PM on May 11 [4 favorites]

@languagehat - Dang it. I really need to get the search thing down. I tried "endangered food" thinking that would bring up anything that fit. It brought up a couple of unrelated items. Now that I re-search for "endangered", I see it. Still learning. Still learning metafilter. I've been watching from a distance for a couple of months, trying to get a feel for the site. When I finally have something that I think would work on here, I duplicate it.

Back to the drawing board.
posted by JD Rucker at 3:35 PM on May 11

It's sorta like The Freshman right? Mmmmm, kimodo dragon, $300K per plate. Bob Barker sings 'Maggies Farm.'
posted by fixedgear at 3:37 PM on May 11

We had to eat the species in order to save it.
posted by maudlin at 3:42 PM on May 11