title: An animal welfare view of wildlife contraception.
abstract: Although there is some dissent, the animal protection community generally supports the concept of wildlife contraception. However, some contraceptive agents, delivery mechanisms and specific applications will be opposed by animal welfare advocates on environmental, humane or other ethical grounds, and some animal rights advocates may oppose wildlife contraception entirely. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has supported and conducted wildlife contraception studies for more than 10 years. In general, we have invested in contraceptive agents (such as porcine zona pellucida) that we believe will prove environmentally, physiologically and behaviourally benign, and in delivery mechanisms that are narrowly targeted. As we consider contraception to be a major intervention into natural processes, we believe that wildlife contraception should be applied judiciously, locally and in a manner that is sensitive to the needs of animals, humans and ecosystem function.
authors.affiliation: The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Grandy
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rutberg
mesh_terms: D017087:Animal Rights; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002335:Carnivora; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000662:veterinary*; D003670:Deer; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004606:Elephants; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011155:Population Control; D028662:Principle-Based Ethics; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D013552:Swine; D014481:United States; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins