CONSERVATION AND INDIVIDUAL WORTH

It is commonly supposed that individual animals are of little relevanc e to conservation which is concerned, instead? with groups of things o r 'wholes' such as species, habitats, and the like. It is further cont ended by some that by prioritising individuals, two of those values th at are held dear by conservation - namely natural selection and fitnes s - are compromised. Taking wildlife rehabilitation as a paradigm case of concern for the individual, it is argued that the latter claim is based upon mistaken assumptions. Then, using red deer culling as a cas e study, the discord between conservation's holistic values and a conc ern for individual worth is explored. It emerges that the conservation value of red deer culling is more apparent than real and thus that th ere is more room for conservationists' acceptance of individual worth than usually supposed.