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Animals and Extinction Studies

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Abstract

Amidst the unravelling of the sixth mass extinction—the first mass extinction event in planetary history primarily driven by anthropogenic causes—the emerging field of extinction studies places extinction within its historical, political, and sociocultural contexts. Typically, extinction is understood as the end of a species or other group which officially occurs upon the death of its final individual. Dodos, passenger pigeons, mammoths, dinosaurs—all are icons of extinction, some anthropogenically-driven and some not. Arguing against seeing extinction as a purely scientific issue that needs to be diagnosed and cured by the natural sciences, “extinction studies” contends that extinction cannot be disentangled from its social drivers and effects. The natural sciences have produced a vast interdisciplinary literature on extinction, but, following the lead of the field of “extinction studies,” this entry focuses on humanistic perspectives. Extinction studies examines extinction, endangerment, extirpation, and biodiversity loss from interdisciplinary humanistic and qualitative social science lenses. Extinction studies researchers across disciplines—anthropology, sociology, geography, history, philosophy, literary studies, religious studies, among others—are united by their interest in understanding what extinction is, how it comes to be, how it is understood, and, perhaps most importantly, how “we” – a varied, contested “we” – might attend to it in ethical, responsible, and just ways. Although extinction studies broadly includes many forms of extinction ranging from cultural and linguistic extinction to vegetal and other nonzoological extinctions, studies of nonhuman animals arguably form the bulk of current extinction studies research. Animals and their extinctions—actual or potential—have had a significant role in environmental history and environmental historiography, from studies of agriculture and fishing to studies of conservation, wildlife management, and animal protectionism. This entry begins with general overviews of extinction studies, focusing primarily on edited collections and special issues that have contributed to shaping this emerging field. After these overviews, the entry describes key online resources and digital humanities resources, which have emerged alongside the development of this field. After these broader sections, the entry is arranged around key themes in extinction studies, particularly in relation to extinction and animals. The final section focuses on futures of extinction and ethical questions prompted by emerging technological promises of “reversing” extinction. It is important to note that many of the sources included in this entry do not necessarily describe themselves as “extinction studies,” but each forms a core part of what is shaping that emerging field.

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