AnimalsToo - why THAT name?

At first glance, the name of this site may be inspired by the fact that, despite our intellectual and technological advances as a species, we ourselves are still animals. While it is important not to forget this, the purpose for the name is due to the reality of the current situation. We are often so caught up in our own lives and infatuated by the convenient luxuries of the modern world that we often forget to take other species into consideration during our activities. While some of our actions may have only small consequences, with nearly 8 million people on Earth today, they can all add up to potential have devastating effects on the world as a whole. It is up to US to ensure that, in order to preserve the precious biodiversity that shares this planet, we strive to find the most sustainable and least-negatively impactful methods of shaping our lives. In other words, we need to reconnect with nature for the benefit of wildlife (both flora and fauna) and ultimately ourselves as well!

Like I said, Animals live here Too!

(Above) There are many ways that we interact and even work with animals today. While some will always be controversial, it is important to remember the ethics and history of the practice. Here, I am learning falconry techniques while handling a Harris hawk, a North American bird of prey species that has only recently come into the practice. The origin of falconry is a complex story dating back easily 3000 years, with its main goal being to catch food for both handler and bird. Today, captive birds of prey are fantastic ambassadors for conservation messages (such as the vital role that predators play within the ecosystem), as well as for controlling the number of other animals within certain areas. Gaining fascination for this area can really establish a connection between people and a very demonised animal!