Ethics 8th Edition by Barbara MacKinnon,Andrew Fiala

Exercise 3

What Is a Panther Worth? The Florida panther is an endangered species. Not long ago, one of these animals was hit by a car and seriously injured. He was taken to the state university veterinary medical school, where steel plates were inserted in both legs, his right foot was rebuilt, and he had other expensive treatment. The panther was one of dozens that had been injured or killed on Florida's highways in recent years. As a result, some members of the Florida legislature introduced a proposal that would allocate $27 million to build forty bridges that would allow panthers to move about without the threat of car injuries and death. Those who support the measure point out that the Florida panther is unique and can survive only in swampland near the Everglades. Those who oppose the measure argue that the money could be better spent on education, needed highway repairs, or other projects.
Should the state spend this amount of money to save the Florida panther from extinction? Why or why not?