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Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation
Investigating the ethical and practical challenges of one of the greatest threats to biodiversity: invasive species
Invasive species pose a danger to ecosystems across the world. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity ranks them as a major threat to biodiversity on par with habitat loss, climate change and pollution. Tackling the problem isn't easy, and no one knows this better than Hugh Warwick, a conservationist who loathes the killing, harming, and eating of animals—yet as an ecologist, he is acutely aware of the need, at times, to kill invasive species whose presence harms the wider environment.
Warwick explores the complex history of species control, revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence. Combining scientific theory with gentle humour in his signature style, he explains the issues conservationists face to control non-native animals and protect native species—including grey and red squirrels on Anglesey, ravens and tortoises in the Mojave Desert, cane toads in Australia, and the smooth-billed ani on the Galapagos—and describes cases like Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos and the Burmese python pet trade.
Taking a balanced and open approach to this complicated subject, Warwick speaks to experts on both sides of the debate. How do we protect endangered native species? Which species do we prioritise? And how do we reckon with the ethics of killing anything in the name of conservation?
Invasive species pose a danger to ecosystems across the world. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity ranks them as a major threat to biodiversity on par with habitat loss, climate change and pollution. Tackling the problem isn't easy, and no one knows this better than Hugh Warwick, a conservationist who loathes the killing, harming, and eating of animals—yet as an ecologist, he is acutely aware of the need, at times, to kill invasive species whose presence harms the wider environment.
Warwick explores the complex history of species control, revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence. Combining scientific theory with gentle humour in his signature style, he explains the issues conservationists face to control non-native animals and protect native species—including grey and red squirrels on Anglesey, ravens and tortoises in the Mojave Desert, cane toads in Australia, and the smooth-billed ani on the Galapagos—and describes cases like Pablo Escobar's cocaine hippos and the Burmese python pet trade.
Taking a balanced and open approach to this complicated subject, Warwick speaks to experts on both sides of the debate. How do we protect endangered native species? Which species do we prioritise? And how do we reckon with the ethics of killing anything in the name of conservation?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 12, 2024
“Cull of the Wild” offers a thought-provoking dive into the ethical and ecological complexities surrounding the practice of killing in wildlife conservation. This is a contentious debate in wildlife management and the author does a great job bringing to light the multifaceted nature of the issue.
A theme throughout the book is the inherent complexity of ecology. Warwick challenges the notion that ecological problems have straightforward solutions (which I fully agree with), emphasizing that the balance of nature is intricate and often resistant to simple fixes. An example I think of for this is the introduction of mongoose in Hawai’i, in an attempt to control rat populations.
Warwick makes a great comparison in the book, likening conservation culls to the “trolly problem.” I much appreciated his statement on ethics panels as “places where decisions are made that are not necessarily correct but have at least been thought about” as this acknowledgment is often how I feel about many aspects of policy and and the issues inherent in wildlife management.
The book also highlights the connection between conservation and colonialism. How 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity is found on Indigenous people’s land , when they occupy ~25% of the earth's surface. Much of the land now preserved around the world in protected areas was taken from Indigenous people, who were already stewarding these places while colonial powers were causing the harm.
Though I do not agree with Warwick fully, I do think that this book is a compelling and fair exploration of the ethical dimensions of culling in conservation. The book’s diverse perspectives and real-world examples offer valuable insights that encourage readers to reflect on their own views and the broader implications of wildlife management practices. I think anyone working in environmental conservation, with any opinion on wildlife culling, would benefit from reading this. Again, I don’t agree with everything in these pages but the perspectives shared have given me much to reflect on and even re-evaluate some of the viewpoints I hold regarding conservation.
A theme throughout the book is the inherent complexity of ecology. Warwick challenges the notion that ecological problems have straightforward solutions (which I fully agree with), emphasizing that the balance of nature is intricate and often resistant to simple fixes. An example I think of for this is the introduction of mongoose in Hawai’i, in an attempt to control rat populations.
Warwick makes a great comparison in the book, likening conservation culls to the “trolly problem.” I much appreciated his statement on ethics panels as “places where decisions are made that are not necessarily correct but have at least been thought about” as this acknowledgment is often how I feel about many aspects of policy and and the issues inherent in wildlife management.
The book also highlights the connection between conservation and colonialism. How 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity is found on Indigenous people’s land , when they occupy ~25% of the earth's surface. Much of the land now preserved around the world in protected areas was taken from Indigenous people, who were already stewarding these places while colonial powers were causing the harm.
Though I do not agree with Warwick fully, I do think that this book is a compelling and fair exploration of the ethical dimensions of culling in conservation. The book’s diverse perspectives and real-world examples offer valuable insights that encourage readers to reflect on their own views and the broader implications of wildlife management practices. I think anyone working in environmental conservation, with any opinion on wildlife culling, would benefit from reading this. Again, I don’t agree with everything in these pages but the perspectives shared have given me much to reflect on and even re-evaluate some of the viewpoints I hold regarding conservation.
January 20, 2025
This book is written in a light-hearted way, which is good for what is a depressing topic. Basically, humans mess up and introduce invasive species into areas where they mess up the native species, then humans decide to save the native species by killing the invasive species which we introduced in the first place and other humans get mad about it. We are a mess.
December 22, 2024
This was one of my favorite books I read all year. Great to learn more about the realities of conservation science. The philosophy and lessons really apply to all short-sighted human interventions in complex systems, far beyond conservation.
July 7, 2025
(4.75 star)
informative reflective medium-paced
This was a great read! This partially autobiographical book tackles some uncomfortable questions head-on, and truly examines the topic of killing for conservation from all angles. I enjoyed how the author spoke with various professionals and included those conversations as points of reference for their growing understanding. Very intriguing topic and well-rounded study of the philosophical, political, social, and scientific aspects too.
informative reflective medium-paced
This was a great read! This partially autobiographical book tackles some uncomfortable questions head-on, and truly examines the topic of killing for conservation from all angles. I enjoyed how the author spoke with various professionals and included those conversations as points of reference for their growing understanding. Very intriguing topic and well-rounded study of the philosophical, political, social, and scientific aspects too.
August 4, 2025
In this book Hugh Warwick discusses how wildlife management has often become wildlife killing or “culling.” It is interesting to think of various species that people consider pests even though they are simply existing exactly like they always have.
May 3, 2025
Good read, talking about the methods used, the animals being culled, and how everyone has different views and reasons for culling.
January 6, 2025
Says Hugh Warwick in his introduction:
"I feel very strongly about animals - and about nature. I find it hits me hard in the heart when I see and hear of cruelty, and I can find myself despairing at the state of humanity." Highly relatable for me personally, and I'm sure many others who consider picking up this book.
Throughout the book there are reminders that we can't turn back time - we have introduced invasive wildlife (I resonate with the acknowledgement in Chapter 2 that this should be framed as an anthropogenic problem - the animal shouldn't be demonised). We can't undo these introductions - now we have a responsibility to mitigate or adapt - and learn and deeply consider which will do the least harm - mitigation or adaptation. The implications of our actions need to be considered, and these considerations should impact the decisions made.
"Minimising suffering is a good starting point," writes Warwick. Minimising suffering doesn't mean zero culling. It does however mean, that if culling needs to take place, it needs to be done well, not haphazardly, without consideration, or by halves.
While reading this book I was reminded of something I heard on a podcast ('Knowing Animals') years ago. Animal ethicist and professor Robert C Jones spoke about the moral obligation of veganism, and I think it applies well when considering harm minimisation and culling wildlife:
"...put simply, I think it's a principle that most people agree with, which is: if you can prevent or not cause unnecessary harm, suffering or death, without much cost to yourself, that's something that you're obligated to do."
Taking this perspective, in terms of culling for conservation, sometimes there IS a genuine cost to ourselves and/or the health of vital ecological systems, and that might require some level of "necessary harm." The act of not killing, writes Warwick in Chapter 10 "can cause more death and, probably, more suffering than if killing had taken place." But when it can be prevented - if there are better, less harmful options - those are the ones we should feel an imperative to take.
"I feel very strongly about animals - and about nature. I find it hits me hard in the heart when I see and hear of cruelty, and I can find myself despairing at the state of humanity." Highly relatable for me personally, and I'm sure many others who consider picking up this book.
Throughout the book there are reminders that we can't turn back time - we have introduced invasive wildlife (I resonate with the acknowledgement in Chapter 2 that this should be framed as an anthropogenic problem - the animal shouldn't be demonised). We can't undo these introductions - now we have a responsibility to mitigate or adapt - and learn and deeply consider which will do the least harm - mitigation or adaptation. The implications of our actions need to be considered, and these considerations should impact the decisions made.
"Minimising suffering is a good starting point," writes Warwick. Minimising suffering doesn't mean zero culling. It does however mean, that if culling needs to take place, it needs to be done well, not haphazardly, without consideration, or by halves.
While reading this book I was reminded of something I heard on a podcast ('Knowing Animals') years ago. Animal ethicist and professor Robert C Jones spoke about the moral obligation of veganism, and I think it applies well when considering harm minimisation and culling wildlife:
"...put simply, I think it's a principle that most people agree with, which is: if you can prevent or not cause unnecessary harm, suffering or death, without much cost to yourself, that's something that you're obligated to do."
Taking this perspective, in terms of culling for conservation, sometimes there IS a genuine cost to ourselves and/or the health of vital ecological systems, and that might require some level of "necessary harm." The act of not killing, writes Warwick in Chapter 10 "can cause more death and, probably, more suffering than if killing had taken place." But when it can be prevented - if there are better, less harmful options - those are the ones we should feel an imperative to take.
April 2, 2025
One of the most interesting, thought-provoking NF books I've ever read, but also a huuuuuge fucking bummer. The author does a good job of keeping such a grim subject light, but oof. A really nuanced look at an impossible question.
December 1, 2024
All credit to Hugh Warwick for approaching a controversial theme in protecting biodiversity, so often hidden out of view. As a hedgehog expert who's taken a stand to rescue animals in remote islands he's well qualified to speak about protecting the unique birds and mammals on North Uist and islands off New Zealand.
Lots here to enjoy in understanding the difficult choices made to protect red squirrels in Anglesey, removing coypu and mink from East Anglia and the balance between shooting v poisoning, the hazards of attempts at biological control with predators. One intriguing counterexample being the use of [invasive] dingoes to remove goats from Pelorus Island off Southern Queensland. There are surprises in every chapter, though the absence of deer management to protect forests in Scotland is noted by many critics.
My only reservations: it's an armchair journey, Hugh admits he hasn't visited the places he speaks of. He's chosen a jovial 'dinner party' style which in places seems a little ingenuous. And of course speaking to experts with such varied backgrounds, comes to no great conclusion.
You can't disagree with his overall message: preventing extinction is a complex issue that must engage hunters, ecologists and local communities in each making compromises. I felt the other factors that beset rare creatures: intensive agriculture, climate change, pollution and overexploitation were dismissed a but summarily, as things we need to stop doing.
Culling to prevent extinction is a theme well worth revisiting in more depth, most of all in the removal of indigenous peoples from nature reserves such as Yosemite and Ngoro Ngoro, which he mentions only in passing.
Lots here to enjoy in understanding the difficult choices made to protect red squirrels in Anglesey, removing coypu and mink from East Anglia and the balance between shooting v poisoning, the hazards of attempts at biological control with predators. One intriguing counterexample being the use of [invasive] dingoes to remove goats from Pelorus Island off Southern Queensland. There are surprises in every chapter, though the absence of deer management to protect forests in Scotland is noted by many critics.
My only reservations: it's an armchair journey, Hugh admits he hasn't visited the places he speaks of. He's chosen a jovial 'dinner party' style which in places seems a little ingenuous. And of course speaking to experts with such varied backgrounds, comes to no great conclusion.
You can't disagree with his overall message: preventing extinction is a complex issue that must engage hunters, ecologists and local communities in each making compromises. I felt the other factors that beset rare creatures: intensive agriculture, climate change, pollution and overexploitation were dismissed a but summarily, as things we need to stop doing.
Culling to prevent extinction is a theme well worth revisiting in more depth, most of all in the removal of indigenous peoples from nature reserves such as Yosemite and Ngoro Ngoro, which he mentions only in passing.
June 9, 2024
I am defenseless against a good pun - so when I saw the title "Cull of the Wild" I could not resist the urge to check it out. And just reading the preface convinced me that I had just met an author of my favorite type: inquisitive, with a dry wit and an open mind.
Killing animals in the name of conservation is a very controversial subject, usually raised in the heat of one-sided attacks on people or organizations that do it. But things are more complicated than that. I have been interested in this issue for many years, and it troubles me as much as it troubles the author - so I appreciate his approach. As he writes, "The basis of this book is the collision between heart and head”.
Even if we can accept the fact that sometimes killing one animal for the sake of another is justified, there are still so many questions: How do we decide which species are worth saving and which should be decimated? Is there an ecologically perfect state that our actions should restore? Which animals are invasive, and which can be treated as native?
Hugh Wawick asks these questions and many more, visiting places and talking to experts, bringing back so many fascinating examples and admitting that there are no easy answers here. But I agree with him that "the arguments about letting nature take her course are redundant as we have already intervened, considerably".
Highly recommended for anyone who loves nature and cares about its preservation.
Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury Wildlife, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Killing animals in the name of conservation is a very controversial subject, usually raised in the heat of one-sided attacks on people or organizations that do it. But things are more complicated than that. I have been interested in this issue for many years, and it troubles me as much as it troubles the author - so I appreciate his approach. As he writes, "The basis of this book is the collision between heart and head”.
Even if we can accept the fact that sometimes killing one animal for the sake of another is justified, there are still so many questions: How do we decide which species are worth saving and which should be decimated? Is there an ecologically perfect state that our actions should restore? Which animals are invasive, and which can be treated as native?
Hugh Wawick asks these questions and many more, visiting places and talking to experts, bringing back so many fascinating examples and admitting that there are no easy answers here. But I agree with him that "the arguments about letting nature take her course are redundant as we have already intervened, considerably".
Highly recommended for anyone who loves nature and cares about its preservation.
Thanks to the publisher, Bloomsbury Wildlife, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
December 31, 2024
I love the library's Libby app which allows me to read books on my Kindle, but I have some of the same issues with it as I did with the old school Netflix DVD service. Because I generally have to wait for a Kindle version of the book to be available, I have to decide what future me wants to read. Generally, the books I envision my future self reading are more serious and substantive than what I want to read at any given time.
I knew "Cull of the Wild" was coming up in my list and for future me it sounded like a good and even responsible read - an exploration by someone invested in the welfare of animals as to whether it is necessary to kill animals for ecological reasons. But present me wasn't so sure I wanted to read it.
I was surprised by how accessible this book was. Written by a hedgehog expert, the book not only described the debate around killing animals for the benefits of the greater ecosystem, but it also charmingly described journeys to some of the lesser known British isles as part of the research for this book.
I knew "Cull of the Wild" was coming up in my list and for future me it sounded like a good and even responsible read - an exploration by someone invested in the welfare of animals as to whether it is necessary to kill animals for ecological reasons. But present me wasn't so sure I wanted to read it.
I was surprised by how accessible this book was. Written by a hedgehog expert, the book not only described the debate around killing animals for the benefits of the greater ecosystem, but it also charmingly described journeys to some of the lesser known British isles as part of the research for this book.
June 21, 2025
Very interested in the topic but found the author unlikeable. The introduction claims the book wants to find the middle ground on this issue, and then he immediately begins using loaded language that reveals his biases.
I was done with him and the book when he mentioned crossing the do-not-cross line at a UNESCO heritage site in Orkney. That sort of "but I'm a super special exception to the rules made to preserve these things" entitlement and arrogance is my biggest travel pet peeve. No, sir, you are not special and the rules absolutely apply to you. I don't care how old, white and British you are. Colonialism died, so should your misplaced lingering attitude of superiority.
When I saw someone sneaking photos with a flash in a different UNESCO site in Portugal, I snuck up behind him and whispered that if he did it again I'd break his camera and his wrist. Now THAT would be a good book - anti-entitlement vigilanteism!
I was done with him and the book when he mentioned crossing the do-not-cross line at a UNESCO heritage site in Orkney. That sort of "but I'm a super special exception to the rules made to preserve these things" entitlement and arrogance is my biggest travel pet peeve. No, sir, you are not special and the rules absolutely apply to you. I don't care how old, white and British you are. Colonialism died, so should your misplaced lingering attitude of superiority.
When I saw someone sneaking photos with a flash in a different UNESCO site in Portugal, I snuck up behind him and whispered that if he did it again I'd break his camera and his wrist. Now THAT would be a good book - anti-entitlement vigilanteism!
March 16, 2025
It was interesting to see someone who was very staunchly opposed to the killing of animals at the start of writing instead come around to a more nuanced position by the end of the book, after he'd done so much research and interviewed a lot of people on the subject. He went to a variety of places and talked about a multitude of issues on theme with the book's subject, and I feel like I have a much better grasp of the issues now.
However, I don't share some of his ethical hangups, so sometimes the mental handwringing he was doing started to get on my nerves. In addition, his narration has a sort of... emotional (?) quality to it, often veering into feeling like he was running out of breath because he's Just! So! Impassioned! About! This! Subject!, and that grated on my ears (I got over it, but it was definitely a struggle to push past).
However, I don't share some of his ethical hangups, so sometimes the mental handwringing he was doing started to get on my nerves. In addition, his narration has a sort of... emotional (?) quality to it, often veering into feeling like he was running out of breath because he's Just! So! Impassioned! About! This! Subject!, and that grated on my ears (I got over it, but it was definitely a struggle to push past).
April 30, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Its strong points were the author’s journey and the in-depth interviews with other scientists/advocates. These were fascinating. Warwick translates the science into easily understood language and adds in some humour. I found the writing very smooth and easy to read. I also appreciated how Warwick, although he feels strongly about many issues, is also very willing to look at less-than-perfect, but pragmatic solutions. This, to me, makes his advocacy even stronger. I had been expecting unbridled advocacy and a lecture from the bully pulpit, but I am glad that I was completely wrong about this. This book is well worth reading. Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Wildlife for the digital review copy.
August 22, 2025
I loved this book. Warwick does a great job of humanizing this work, while still maintaining a thoughtful discussion on the ethics of culling and why we are doing/not doing it. I read another book that introduced the characters in a fascinating field that just fell absolutely flat. contrasting it with this book, Warwick creates a very clear picture of the people working in the field and highlights their quandaries, which gives the reader a detailed view of the day-to-day. I would recommend this if you are interested in environmental ethics or are just curious about the topic!
4/5
4/5
August 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and liked the conversational style of writing. Coming from New Zealand, I was fascinated to read alternative and more nuanced views of pest control, some of which would be deemed quite sacrilegious in my part of the world where culling (esp trapping, poisoning, shooting) is the automatic first choice often in done in an ad hoc manner with no regard to animal welfare. I found the book brave and thought provoking.
September 7, 2024
Most of the British public should read this book. It is incredibly informative and offers many different points of views and examples from around the world. Most people do not know why we cull deer, remove grey squirrels and keep certain species numbers down. This book explains these topics in a highly digestible format. It is also funny at times. I was very pleased to see a chapter on Keepers, it was fascinating to hear from their side.
December 18, 2024
This book was fine. Not the most enjoyable read for me, but I think that is mostly my fault because it is firmly Nature Writing with excellent science rather than a Science Book and I simply am not such a fan of flowery Nature Writing with journeys.
My favourite thing I learned from this book is the concept of “fortress conservationism”, which is the term given to nature conservation that cuta of protected areas from indigenous populations in an effort to stay pristine and preserved.
My favourite thing I learned from this book is the concept of “fortress conservationism”, which is the term given to nature conservation that cuta of protected areas from indigenous populations in an effort to stay pristine and preserved.
January 9, 2025
What should we do about non-native species that are having an impact on the environments that we now find them in? When is it OK to kill one animal or species to protect or save another? Is eradication of invasive species possible? If so, how? If not, what’s acceptable? All great questions, and I was looking forward to a thought-provoking read. Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite do it for me. A bit too much rambling and getting side-tracked.
March 22, 2025
Thoughtful. Great book for delving into the intricacies of animal cull projects and how much time and effort is needed for them, and the human factor at play for whether a species gets to live or not. This book asks whether any form of animal killing/suffering is justified regardless of benefits to the overall environment, and I think that's a very important debate to have. Very interesting topic with no right answer and a necessary focus on being as ethical as possible.
October 18, 2025
This book explores many stories of culling for conservation and many of the things one must consider in situations like these. While retelling stories of culls, Warwick often gave the reader something to philosophically chew on which made the book 10x better (something I think books like these are often lacking). This book primarily focuses on species in other parts of the world. Hope to see, or not see, some of these species in my travels someday soon.
November 4, 2025
The style felt as if we were jumping around topics the entire time without diving into the subject matter completely. If you’re going to write about a scientific topic…stay on topic please. Don’t need to input personal life that’s not related to the subject (I.e. I buy myself books for Christmas…who cares?? What does this have to do with the topic of wildlife??) also who peer reviewed this? And I also felt it was very wrong to step over the “don’t cross here” signs…
June 1, 2025
I read like 80% of it before it was due. I wish it had more stuff I could personally do to help the environment
I did like how it provided the pov of a conservationist and covered various ways people have tried to clear invasive species. It did add to my depression of what is even the point of me being here because humans are an invasive species
I did like how it provided the pov of a conservationist and covered various ways people have tried to clear invasive species. It did add to my depression of what is even the point of me being here because humans are an invasive species
June 5, 2025
This was very interesting to me. There's a great blend of science, philosophy, and politics. Warwick clearly fought very hard against his preconceived notions to research for this book, and in the process, his stances evolved. This was such an interesting thought experiment in ethics with plenty of real world applications illuminated throughout.
June 27, 2024
I wanted to like this, but this was a different book than I was expecting (which is not the author’s problem, also). I couldn’t get into the meandering, personal style and didn’t agree with a lot of the analysis.
July 24, 2024
Thought provoking and a sad indictment of humans ability to mess things up in the natural world. But what we should do about it is the problem the author grapples with, and whether culling has to be the answer. Indeed the answer is never as simple as is hoped.
October 14, 2024
Well, this was a fun book to bring 2024's #30DaysWild to a close... but an important part of the spirit of the 'event'. 'Hedgehog Hugh' is a safe pair of hands for this delicate and disagreeable discussion - and the cover design, with its red and grey squirrel is a superb choice.
November 18, 2024
A highly interesting read, which asks many important questions about conservation and its goals. Don't expect answers, but extremely thought-provoking with a final chapter that does well in summary. I am so glad I read this, very important contribution to the wealth of nature writing.
November 18, 2025
This was very well done, finding an appropriate balance of voices without giving a platform to unfounded opinion like so many other moderate accounts do. Unfortunately Hugh’s vocal cadence was very distracting so this would have made a better read than listen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews