Beauty of the Beasts: Rethinking Nature's Least Loved Animals - Hardcover

by Jo Wimpenny (Author)

In an age of catastrophic biodiversity loss, the author of Aesop's Animals explains why we should champion and protect nature's underdogs.

The living world evokes many emotions, especially when it comes to our relationships with animals. Some of our reactions are logical responses to potential harm, but many are irrational, and our loathing and persecution of some species far exceed the threat they pose to us. We no longer prosecute animals for their 'crimes' as we did in the Middle Ages, but our human exceptionalism and vilification of unwelcome animal behaviour continues.

In Beauty of the Beasts, Jo Wimpenny challenges our perceptions of 'good' species and sets the record straight about those we label 'pests', 'scavengers' and 'predators'. Using the latest research, Jo explains the natural behaviours we use to villainise animals while demonstrating how these species benefit humanity and are more sentient than we ever thought. From wasps that provide free pest control and snakes whose venom may cure cancer to the deep social bonds of crocodiles and vultures, this book will convince you to rethink our most misunderstood beasts.

While it may be tempting to imagine a more pleasant world devoid of animals that scare and repulse us, Jo explains why losing them would devastate many ecosystems, encouraging all of us to appreciate these animals for what they are and the vital roles they fulfil for all life on Earth.

Author Biography

Jo Wimpenny is an author and former academic researcher who writes about science, nature and the human-animal relationship. She has a DPhil from Oxford University on tool use in crows and is the author of Aesop's Animals: The Science Behind the Fables and co-author of Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology Since Darwin, an award-winning book on the history of ornithology.