Three Cheers for Ecological Apocalypse

Sharks are racing toward extinction. Is there a single animal we will miss less?

Okay, okay. We understand that all of nature is connected, and that the loss of even a single species is a serious blow to the delicate balance. And we realize that sharks are beautiful, ancient creatures, among whom very few are the man-eating monsters of lore. Beyond that, we are appalled by the irresponsibility and outright cruelty of fishermen who hunt them only to hack off a fin and release the mutilated, doomed beasts back into the sea.

So, intellectually, we are distraught over the coming shark extinction. But still, there is a small, shameful, and atavistic part of our brain that feels ... victorious.