Creating Life, Creating Strife? Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Extinction, and Wild Animal Welfare

Abstract Assisted Reproductive Technologies ( ART s), such as artificial insemination ( AI ) and gene editing, offer promising solutions for addressing species extinction. These techniques have the potential to preserve endangered species and even revive extinct ones. However, conservation efforts centered on preventing species extinction may overlook an equally important concern: the well-being of individual animals. Here I offer an overview of ART in species conservation, with a particular focus on de-extinction cases, and then proceed to identify and evaluate the normative assumptions underlying conservation biology. Next, I critically examine key ethical issues related to balancing individual animal welfare with species conservation goals. I claim that concerns for individual welfare may lead us to reject many ART -based de-extinction interventions and consider a potential shift in conservation priorities. Finally, I explore two potential ways ART s could support welfare-driven conservation efforts.