[aeternum]

We very likely obliterated a few along the way but that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Humans had the power to exterminate many more but chose not to, and continue to choose not to.

[obedm]

Is that really true though?

Saying "we didn't kill them all" doesn't exempt the fact that we did it for many of them.

There's no easy answer to this. We are what we are. But it points to the disregard powerful beings have over weaker ones when they get in their way.

[aeternum]

Sure, but the interesting thing is that the powerful beings typically do not have disregard. Why do we care for all the species that we have power to exterminate?

Especially the predators that compete with us.