# Saving an animal's life vs. saving a human's life **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 20, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520 "2015-03-20T18:43:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/21 "2015-03-20T20:33:14Z")
> [@scoots](#): > > Why? A human is just another animal. Word. > [@Superdude](#): > > But only because we’re “man.” That’s self-interest at its finest. It reminds me of something that George Carlin once said. So true. But if we weren’t so dedicated to self-preservation, the species would have died out long ago. It’s served an important purpose. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/22 "2015-03-20T20:49:25Z")
There are always exceptions ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/23 "2015-03-20T20:59:54Z")
Of course all things being equal the humans should take priority but I think the degree of endangeredness should be taken into account. For example in Africa there is an ongoing war between game wardens and poachers. Many human lives could be saved if we just let the poachers kill whatever animals they wanted, but I think most people here would not be in favor of that policy. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/24 "2015-03-20T21:03:35Z")
I’d go for future potential. What would have the most impact in the world tomorrow? As much as I love animals, only humans can master brain surgery, build a rocket ship to Mars or save a burning building full of orphans or orangutans. So, yeah. I’d pick people and hope for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/25 "2015-03-20T21:06:30Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > I’d go for future potential. What would have the most impact in the world tomorrow? As much as I love animals, only humans can master brain surgery, build a rocket ship to Mars or save a burning building full of orphans or orangutans. So, yeah. I’d pick people and hope for the best. I call bullshit on the claim that you, or anybody, loves animals without qualification. You love _some_ animals, in _some_ situations. But you need to qualify that to be accurate. Do you love sewer rats? Hyenas? Mako sharks? Hippos? ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/26 "2015-03-20T21:09:27Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Of course all things being equal the humans should take priority but I think the degree of endangeredness should be taken into account. For example in Africa there is an ongoing war between game wardens and poachers. Many human lives could be saved if we just let the poachers kill whatever animals they wanted, but I think most people here would not be in favor of that policy. many species go extinct every year and it has nothing to do with humans doing it. Its just how life continues on ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/27 "2015-03-20T21:11:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you love sewer rats? Hyenas? Mako sharks? Hippos? this is where posting pics would be fun ! weird examples but funny/true/cool LOL I hate chiwawas ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/28 "2015-03-20T21:31:58Z")
> [@davethehammer](#): > > I hate chiwawas Because they’re so hard to spell? ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/29 "2015-03-20T21:42:14Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Because they’re so hard to spell? google didn’t correct me 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/30 "2015-03-20T21:43:08Z")
> [@davethehammer](#): > > this is where posting pics would be fun ! > weird examples but funny/true/cool LOL > > I hate chiwawas dave, does it occur to you that coming to a web community new to you and immediately starting to criticize its customs is not the way to make friends? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/31 "2015-03-20T21:58:34Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I disagree. > > To use an extreme example, let’s say for some reason that there’s some kind of calamity that would wipe out an entire species- make it totally extinct. And you’re the pilot of the last helicopter out of the area. You have the choice of saving the last breeding pair of that species, or saving two otherwise unremarkable people without children- no special skills, knowledge, abilities, or even looks. > > Who would you choose? (and no silly BS about taking the people’s places in noble self-sacrifice. You’re the helicopter pilot- you get out or nobody does.) > > I’d choose the animals- it’s unfortunate that the people would die, but there are literally billions of us, and any two won’t be missed or make any difference at all. In such a case I would still happily choose the humans unless they are some sort of psychopaths who would murder me. Unless said animal and/or plant species is one way or the other of great importance to humankind, why should we care if it goes extinct or not? ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/32 "2015-03-20T22:12:52Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > dave, does it occur to you that coming to a web community new to you and immediately starting to criticize its customs is not the way to make friends? I made a comment without criticizing anyone. I wouldn’t save your pets before I saved you…there,does that make you feel better ? 😃 seems Hitler is the only universal loser in this one…Mussolini too I suppose ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/33 "2015-03-20T22:15:12Z")
[http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/overview1.html](http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/overview1.html) put your mouse over the map scrolled below ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/34 "2015-03-20T22:19:49Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Of course all things being equal the humans should take priority but I think the degree of endangeredness should be taken into account. For example in Africa there is an ongoing war between game wardens and poachers. Many human lives could be saved if we just let the poachers kill whatever animals they wanted, but I think most people here would not be in favor of that policy. OMG, someone actually came up with a real life scenario where this applies! I’m impressed. So, all you “humans 4-ever!” folks, what about this? Should poachers be allowed to wipe out mountain gorillas because people die when we try to stop them? > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I call bullshit on the claim that you, or anybody, loves animals without qualification. You love _some_ animals, in _some_ situations. But you need to qualify that to be accurate. Do you love sewer rats? Hyenas? Mako sharks? Hippos? Pedantic, much? ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/35 "2015-03-20T22:24:20Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > OMG, someone actually came up with a real life scenario where this applies! I’m impressed. > > So, all you “humans 4-ever!” folks, what about this? Should poachers be allowed to wipe out mountain gorillas because people die when we try to stop them? > Pedantic, much? theres no silly debate needed. Animals lose no matter what. Theres no math to gain them any ground. Pouchers pouch. If its a problem, you jail them. But women who say theyre pet dog is like their child and cry for a week after they die are idiots and have no valid opinion ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/36 "2015-03-20T22:28:10Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > OMG, someone actually came up with a real life scenario where this applies! I’m impressed. > > So, all you “humans 4-ever!” folks, what about this? Should poachers be allowed to wipe out mountain gorillas because people die when we try to stop them? > Pedantic, much? Nope. I contend that the number of sorts of animals which are loved by no human is far greater than the number of sorts that are. Even if we restrict ourselves to mammals. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/37 "2015-03-20T22:31:47Z")
> [@davethehammer](#): > > theres no silly debate needed. Animals lose no matter what. Theres no math to gain them any ground. Pouchers pouch. If its a problem, you jail them. But women who say theyre pet dog is like their child and cry for a week after they die are idiots and have no valid opinion Much of the human life that is lost trying to combat the poachers is due to poacher shooting the people who try to jail them. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/38 "2015-03-20T22:40:05Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > OMG, someone actually came up with a real life scenario where this applies! I’m impressed. > > So, all you “humans 4-ever!” folks, what about this? Should poachers be allowed to wipe out mountain gorillas because people die when we try to stop them? Nope. I said that I’d make exceptions to the humans-over-animals rule. ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/39 "2015-03-20T22:46:54Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > Much of the human life that is lost trying to combat the poachers is due to poacher shooting the people who try to jail them. whats your point ? animals will never invent guns LOL. if a dog attacks my child…he dies. if my pet dog is in a fire along with a family member the dog can die for all I care. good or bad situation the animal always loses ---
**Author:** ![davethehammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davethehammer/32/7317_2.png) [@davethehammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davethehammer)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520/40 "2015-03-20T22:47:56Z")
name your pit bull ‘Hitler’ and see what happens LOL [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saving-an-animals-life-vs-saving-a-humans-life/715520.md?page=3)