> A key concern is the health risk for the birds: cigarette filters contain toxic chemicals, and handling them may pose a risk to the crows. Corvid Cleaning acknowledges this issue and is carefully testing which types of litter are safe for collection.
> Moreover, there is a philosophical debate about sustainability: is it ethical to turn natural foraging behavior into a “job” for animals?
I wonder what the crows think? Whether they would notice that the health risks and stop on their own accord.
It’s probably not yet a “job” unless humans manage to remove all other food sources for crows, thus forcing crows to do this for their survival, then it becomes a “job”.
Damn fake news! I was just going to pose the question whether the crows should be eligible for a universal basic income. /s
lschueller•3h ago
This is pretty cool. Would be interested in the scientific review later on... I reckon, that just the increased awareness amongst smokers might account for a decrease of butts by 15 to 25%.
Towaway69•3h ago
> Moreover, there is a philosophical debate about sustainability: is it ethical to turn natural foraging behavior into a “job” for animals?
I wonder what the crows think? Whether they would notice that the health risks and stop on their own accord.
It’s probably not yet a “job” unless humans manage to remove all other food sources for crows, thus forcing crows to do this for their survival, then it becomes a “job”.