Effective Altruism Chicago - WIld Animal Welfare Discussion - 12/3
Join Effective Altruism Chicago for an in-depth discussion on one of the most neglected and ethically challenging cause areas in Effective Altruism: Wild Animal Suffering (WAS). This event will take place on December 3rd. Doors open at 6 but main discussion likely won't start until 7. We will have snack and drinks available! This event takes place in an apartment community room by old town - exact details will be sent out prior to event. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions!
For most of history, nature has been viewed romantically—a perfect balance that should not be interfered with. However, from the perspective of an individual wild animal, life is often marked by intense suffering: predation, starvation, disease, and extreme weather.
Effective Altruism challenges us to be impartial: if a vast amount of suffering exists, does its natural origin exempt us from the moral imperative to help? Given the trillions of wild animals on Earth, the scale of this problem is immense, yet the field is highly neglected and its solutions are profoundly difficult.
What We Will Discuss
This session will move beyond the common debate over farmed animal welfare to explore the core challenges of WAS:
Scale vs. Tractability: How should we weigh the potentially astronomical scale of wild animal suffering against the difficulty and risk of intervention?
The Problem of Intervention: What are the moral and practical risks of intervening in complex ecosystems? (e.g., unintended consequences, historical mistakes, the 'naturalness' argument).
Promising Paths: What are the most cautious, evidence-based, and high-leverage actions we can take today? This includes funding research (Welfare Biology), humane methods of pest control, and reducing human-caused harms like disease and pollution.
Moral Expansion: Does engaging with WAS help us expand our moral circle and set precedents for addressing suffering in other overlooked areas, such as potential digital minds?
No prior expertise is required—just an open mind and a commitment to doing good effectively.
Relevant Readings:
https://www.wildanimalinitiative.org/research-priorities
https://www.wildanimalinitiative.org/blog/2025-grants-announcement