Why bother to protect a species of animal or plant? Presumably because it is rare, and protection will stop people persecuting or collecting it. This seems very reasonable, but a quick glance down the list of British protected species reveals ones with names such as the Sickle-leaved Hare's-ear, Bupleurum falcatum, and the Lagoon Sandworm, Armandia cirrhosa, which are unlikely to be the targets of midnight kleptomaniacs or destined to hang on a gamekeeper's gibbet.