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264 R White privileges particular sectoral interests—and anthropocentric interests—over and above others, including the interests of nonhuman animals This overarching type of analysis is essential in comprehending the scale, dynamics and consequences of the problem and in understanding the ways in which the processes and pressures of global capitalism are constitutive in its making (see also Lynch et al 2015) Yet there are interesting and important moral elements to this story that require thoughtful reflection on who is doing what to whom and why Destruction of wildlife habitat is not all the same, everywhere Nor is it interpreted the same by different stakeholders and participants There is a significant difference, for example, between fire burning carried out by Indigenous people in northern Australia (part of traditional methods of landscape management and reverence for country) and burning of fires in Borneo and Sumatra (which are largely for commercial purposes even if performed by local villagers) The rejuvenation of the land sometimes requires actions that superficially appear destructive and damaging to wildlife habitat and the creatures living therein This is very different from the sorts of exploitative efforts generally driving wildlife habitat destruction in most parts of the world today In a similar vein, it is important to acknowledge that how humans, and specific agencies, intervene to manage habitat likewise has nuances and choices built into them This is seen in the way in which some habitats, and some species, are protected ahead of others and sometimes to the detriment of others Animal abuse is thus, as ever, a complex social phenomenon It necessarily involves value judgement and scientific expertise, a willingness to learn from the nonhuman Other and a commitment to act in good faith rather than mean spirit or ideological pureness Whose habitat we ‘save’ (or for that matter, destroy) and why and how we so is implicated in precisely these sorts of issues and conundrums References Anderson, E (2004) Animal rights and the values of nonhuman life In C Sustein & M Nussbaum (Eds.), Animal rights: current debates and new directions Oxford: Oxford University Press Australian Broadcasting Corporation [ABC] (2015, October 19) Southeast Asia’s haze: find out what is behind the choking smoke covering Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore ABC News