Megan McCubbin (Hachette)
THREE species become extinct every single hour and most aren鈥檛 scientifically described 鈥� lost before they were found. This shocking statistic from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is one driver behind a new mini-anthology, An Atlas of Endangered Species. It is an accessibly written tour of species on the brink by rising star Megan McCubbin, a younger naturalist and science communicator.
McCubbin came to prominence appearing alongside her activist-broadcaster stepfather Chris Packham in their online live stream, The Self-Isolating Bird Club, during covid-19 lockdowns. She has since joined the BBC team presenting Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch. In writing this book, she is using her voice to raise awareness and make a call to action to protect those species at risk.
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In the atlas, she explores the plight of 19 species currently on the road to extinction and the threats oiling their wheels. For each, McCubbin interviewed a conservation researcher working to apply the brakes. Their insights provide the realism 鈥� but, more importantly, the optimism 鈥� that these topics require.
Regarding this, McCubbin regrets she couldn鈥檛 incorporate more Indigenous voices, recognising that 鈥渢he landscape and solutions can look very different for the people living within than from the outside鈥�.
The sad truth is that anyone writing a book about endangered species has their work cut out selecting a few to focus on 鈥� there are just too many to choose from.
I did feel a little hesitant when I saw that orcas, orangutans, elephants, rhinos, pangolins, vultures, snow leopards and k膩k膩po had been selected. This all seemed like rather well-trodden ground, particularly when so many threatened organisms (and particularly plants) are afforded less time in the spotlight.
But I was pleasantly surprised that, in telling the stories of these more 鈥渂lockbuster鈥� species, McCubbin goes beyond the regularly repeated tales.
For example, she focuses on Kyrgyzstan for her chapter on snow leopards. These aren鈥檛 officially endangered, but with only between 4000 and 6000 alive, that is little comfort, considering that, since 2008, poachers have killed an average of one snow leopard every day.
It is clear that poverty, rather than greed, is driving their declining numbers. Almost half the country鈥檚 population works in agriculture and families can earn less than $2 per day.
The in-country expert she spoke to was Kubanychbek Zhumai uulu, who works for the Snow Leopard Trust to protect the species and reduce conflict. He explained how threats are combined and interconnected because 鈥渢he roads and infrastructure of gold mines and trophy hunting give both herders and poachers access to the mountains. The herders鈥� livestock degrade the habitat and outcompete the snow leopards鈥� prey. The lack of prey causes the predator to hunt livestock, which leads to retaliatory killing.鈥�
McCubbin makes a strong point that, living in the UK, the closest thing to this kind of human-wildlife conflict she has ever experienced is the impact pet cats have on wildlife.
The book鈥檚 title is an odd choice, as many readers will be confused why this 鈥渁tlas鈥� doesn鈥檛 contain any maps 鈥� the only nod to geography is that the chapters are arranged by hemisphere 鈥� but the stories within are eye-opening and well told. There is even space for humour.
Did you know that 12 camels were disqualified from a 2021 camel festival with a 拢40 million prize because their owners had used Botox to enhance the animals鈥� lip-quality score? Or that three pods of Pacific orcas regularly get together for a massive party? They have clearly communicated in advance where and when to meet, and they wait for everyone to arrive before letting loose.
I didn鈥檛 know any of this, and lighter stories like these alongside the harder truths about wildlife declines should help make any reader better informed to make a difference.
Jack Ashby is assistant director of the聽University Museum of Zoology in聽Cambridge, UK, and author of Platypus Matters
