When Animals Rescue

Amazing True Stories about Heroic and Helpful Creatures

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What do stories about humpback whales protecting a biologist from a shark, a pride of lions rescuing a girl from kidnappers, gorillas working together to dismantle poacher snares, a parrot warding off an attacker in a park, a chimpanzee consoling a human, and an elephant trying to rescue a baby rhino tell us about animal nature? And what might they suggest about our very own human nature?

Until just a few decades ago, there were only a few animals reported to behave empathetically and altruistically. More recently, the list of species who have been observed behaving in compassionate, helpful, and caring ways has grown exponentially, ranging from rats to elephants.

When Animals Rescue: Amazing True Stories about Heroic and Helpful Creatures presents dozens of astonishing and heart-warming stories about animals, such as chickens, horses, dolphins, and wolves, who engage in acts of helpful kindness. During a time in history when studies show that human empathy is decreasing, our knowledge about animal empathy is increasing. These true tales of heroism, kindness, and compassion suggest that we have far more in common with other animals than we once believed and provocatively suggest that what’s best about our human natures just might be our animal natures.

Foreword by Mark Rowlands
Mark Rowlands (D.Phil., Oxford University) is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Miami. He is the author of twenty books, translated into more than twenty-five languages. His work in ethics and moral psychology includes Animal Rights (Macmillan 1998), The Environmental Crisis (Macmillan, 2000), Animals Like Us (Verso, 2002), Can Animals be Moral? (Oxford, 2012), and Can Animals Be Persons? (Oxford, 2019). He has also written several popular books, including his memoir, The Philosopher and the Wolf, an international bestseller.