The hidden lives of misunderstood animals
by Jo Wimpenny
In the Middle Ages, it was not unheard of for pigs to be tried for murder or termites anathematised by the Church. Thankfully, we no longer haul animals into court for their perceived crimes, but the ways in which we think about and treat other species are often far from rational. In an age of catastrophic biodiversity loss, it’s more important than ever that we appreciate the remarkable qualities of diverse lifeforms, because many of the creatures we love to hate are either ecologically vital or more sentient than ever thought.
Illustrations (c) Abby Cook
Snakes with a PR problem
One of the most globally feared groups of beasts, snakes have a PR problem that they’ve never managed to shake. Yes, certain venomous species are responsible for considerable loss of life, especially in the Indian subcontinent. But that doesn’t make snakes evil. Far from being the sly villains of popular culture, these curious, shy creatures would much rather slither away and avoid conflict; most bites are purely defensive, and many deaths result from a lack of access to medical treatment. What’s more, the facts that some snakes care for their young, while others seek out companionship, speak to them having more complex social bonds than imagined.
Rats that giggle when tickled
Rats may be household pest #1, but popular culture has got them all wrong. While we’re justified on hygiene grounds in not wanting wild rats for housemates, we should recognise that in several ways, they are a bit like us. These extremely social, playful little rodents ‘giggle’ when tickled and go out of their way to help a friend in need. Not only that, but they were quick off the mark to adapt to living alongside us and exploiting the urban world. Our consumption has created opportunities a-plenty for these smart little mammals and, like us, they’ve spread across the globe, taking their chances and capitalising on our shared successes.
Maggots as small medical marvels
Few creatures elicit as uniform a ‘yuck’ response as the humble maggot. Usually written off as nothing more than unwanted by-products of death, fly babies, and specifically the tiny, toothless larvae of the green bottle fly, are actually medical marvels. Physiologically incapable of digesting healthy flesh, they focus on the infected parts and can clean a wound in a matter of days. Not only that, but having evolved under conditions rife with toxin-producing microorganisms, maggots produce their own specialised antipathogenic substances, helping to prevent bacterial infections (including C. difficile and MRSA) and reducing the need for antibiotics. People are grossed out by the thought of maggot therapy, but if it’s a question of a mesh bag of maggots on your wound, or a risk of gangrene and amputation, which would you choose?
Vultures are environmental caretakers
Between the mid-1990s and mid-2000s, tens of millions of vultures died across the Indian subcontinent. That this didn’t cause worldwide outrage is astonishing, but little love is spared for these birds. And yet, vultures are one of the most endangered of all bird groups and their absence is being felt – the Indian vulture crisis caused an estimated 100,000 additional annual human deaths, because without these environmental caretakers, carcasses were being left to rot, contaminate water sources and cause disease. Vultures haven’t yet recovered in Asia, and the situation in several African countries is also dire, due to mass poisonings. They need our support, and not just for their ecological importance. While typically depicted as hulking, ominous silhouettes, vultures can be curious, playful, extremely social birds, and their intelligence is only just coming to light.
