After a bit, I figured out that this dude is not necessarily on the side of the animals. :-(
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Jason Hribal’s book is a must read for people interested in animal welfare. Abuses and the unsatisfactory living conditions in zoos, ocean parks, and circuses are well-known. What sets Fear of the Animal Planet apart is its attempt to present the animal’s viewpoint. Escapes and attacks on humans by imprisoned higher animals (felines, primates, elephants, marine mammals) are usually dismissed as wild animals striking out due to pain or stress. Hribal makes an excellent case that these are reasoned attempts at escape, self-defense, or vengeance.
A decade ago, I would have sympathized with Hribal’s position, but felt he was being way too anthropomorphic. I have since spent much time working with ‘feral’ cats, and have come to understand that they think rationally. Animals not only have emotional lives, they have an intellectual life. They make decisions based on observation and thought. They think and plan differently than we do, but they do think and plan.
On several occasions, cats that I have fed for years, with little contact, have sought me out when badly injured. I don’t believe that they instinctively sought human help. They had observed me for years, and seen me help other cats. They made a conscious decision to risk approaching me when unable to help themselves. So, it’s not difficult for me to accept Hribal’s view that resistance and escape are decisions made by intelligent animals. His arguments are persuasive. Give this book a read, and you may be persuaded as well. ( )