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Colpocephalum californici - species of louse which became extinct when all surviving 22 individuals of its host species, the California condor, were deloused in the 1980s (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 8 months ago by to c/wikipedia@lemmy.world
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[–] 4 points 8 months ago (3 children)

This louse was reportedly not harmful to its hosts.

Kinda interested to hear an ethics of science type argument for/against this human-made extinction.

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  • [–] 3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

    Like with smallpox?

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  • [–] 1 point 8 months ago (1 child)

    Well, smallpox was definitely harmful to humans, and it's a virus which is different from an animal.

    (...and yes, I know that "harmful to humans" often means "good for the planet.")

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  • [–] -1 points 8 months ago

    (...and yes, I know that "harmful to humans" often means "good for the planet.")

    that just sounds like ecofascism to me. also, all the viruses I know of never affect just humans but keep mutating and jumping between mammal species. saving the ecosphere can't happen without also saving humans

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