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Letter: Parasite park

Published 3 July 2004

From Jonathan White

Bob Holmes reports that nature reserves intended to preserve biodiversity also become reserves for parasites (5 June, p 14). I am delighted. I can’t see why this is a problem. I would respectfully observe that parasites are part of the biodiversity of the planet and have as much right to be here as we do. If it makes it easier to stomach, why not consider all nature reserves primarily as parasite reserves and view the interesting higher animals as hosts. The results will be much the same to look at, and a lot of angst will be avoided.

Rampton, Cambridgeshire, UK

Issue no. 2454 published 3 July 2004

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