LONGLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON CONSERVATIONInvestigating the ethical and practical challenges of one of the greatest threats to biodiversity invasive species.Across the world invasive species pose a danger to ecosystems. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity ranks them as a major threat to biodiversity on par with habitat loss climate change and pollution.Tackling this isnt easy and no one knows this better than Hugh Warwick a conservationist who loathes the idea of killing harming or even eating animals. Yet as an ecologist he is acutely aware of the need at times to kill invasive species whose presence harms the wider environment.Hugh explores the complex history of species control revealing the global movement of species and the impacts of their presence. Combining scientific theory with gentle humour in his signature style he explains the issues conservationists face to control nonnative animals and protect native species including grey and red squirrels on Anglesey ravens and tortoises in the Mojave Desert cane toads in Australia and the smoothbilled ani on the Galapagos and describes cases like Pablo Escobars cocaine hippos and the Burmese python pet trade.Taking a balanced and open approach to this emotive subject Hugh speaks to experts on all sides of the debate. How do we protect endangered native species Which species do we prioritise And how do we reckon with the ethics of killing anything in the name of conservation