I read this news story on cloning endangered animals and wanted to know what you all think. Here's the link:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/Sci_Tech/story_47506.asp

Personally I think it's a band-aid solution. We need to protect and conserve the animals before they disappear. The failure rates of these experiments are really gross and disturbing too.

I agree. Species are endangered (most of them anyway) because of human actions. Unless those actions change, nothing will get better. Cloning has it;s whole set of issues too.

But the failure rates will improve as the technology improves. I agree that prevention is the ultimate first step, but is cloning that bad?

What's the use of reproducting animals that can't survive anymore ?

(because of "human" behavior?)

I agree with 1vegan. We can't always turn to science to solve all our problems. Sooner or later, we must change our ways.

Aren't cloned animals infertile too?
Kpickell - by saying that as the technology improves, failure rates will drop, does that mean that you agree with the testing of cloning on animals?!?
Most of these animals are born disfigured and in pain and are often die within the first week, how is this possibly humain?

I'm not for or against the cloning of endangered species. I'm not well enough educated on the matter. It sounds like it could be a good thing.

why kpickell?

If cloning were to become perfected then we'd have less reason to be concerned with our actions. We could increase developement and if we notice some species are disappearing, just run to the ice box and make a few more. Praise Science! ;)

Just think... no accountability for anything we do to the animals! Vegetarianism might become null and void if we can create some headless animals just for meat.

Originally posted by skylark
Just think... no accountability for anything we do to the animals! Vegetarianism might become null and void if we can create some headless animals just for meat.

In that case, I still wouldn't eat "meat".

I don't think I would feel good, eating something that gives 20% of the nutrition that went in to it.

For me it would still not be ethical, or acceptable environmental wise.