Splitting is a known tool of conservationists, would you agree that all the prairie chickens that live in Texas aren't important because we have them in other s

Splitting is a known tool of conservationists, would you agree that all the prairie chickens that live in Texas aren't important because we have them in other states? The lesser prairie chicken is probably the best example I can think of to what you're arguing, but honestly the splitters while maybe somewhat dishonest seem to have good intentions. Another example might be the Gunnison Sage grouse, both of these are kind of the case of us as a culture not valuing desert landscapes. I really can't think of a case like you are mentioning where its just egregious splitting that serves no purpose, most of the time its to make a case to preserve the habitat of a bird in a specific place. You do seem like you might be on the side against the spotted owl since the barred owl is just a better adapted equivalent that due to changing fauna of the great plains was able to migrate west and displace the native spotted owl. I do agree with one part that you seem to be harping on that sometimes species are sometimes split for seemingly inane purposes, often probably to promote someone's career, but I don't think that is really the case when it comes to conservation, often these are last ditch efforts for landscapes that nobody is paying attention to or caring about since they aren't charismatic. Notice nobody has to split up the resident orcas to get support for them.