Introduction

In this section, we find a fascinating array of different species with one thing in common—they were all brought to the very brink of extinction and have all been given a second chance. Unlike the animals discussed in part 1, none of these species were ever declared “extinct in the wild”—although all certainly would have been but for those who determined it should not be so. The restoration of these species involved taking some individuals from the remaining wild populations for captive breeding—and the critics of captive breeding were often vociferous, the proponents, as always, determined.

The story of the return of the peregrine falcon, for example, represents an extraordinary effort by literally hundreds of people across the United States. The peregrine itself was never reduced to the small numbers of the other species in this part, but it was totally extirpated from a huge part of its original range in the eastern United States. And the account of the battle to ban the use of DDT is chilling in its revelation of the determination of major corporations to trample over other life-forms in their quest for wealth. The winning of that battle was a triumph for the environmental movement, and helped to save countless other species in addition to the peregrine.

These are our first stories about those dedicated to protecting not just the charismatic animals, but fishes, reptiles, and insects. “Why on earth,” people ask, “would anyone devote themselves to protecting a bug? The world would be better off without them.” When I was a child, we had a painting on the wall showing a cute little girl cuddled up with a bulldog of somewhat scowling aspect. It was captioned, “Everyone is loved by someone.” And the people whose stories we share here do care passionately about the creatures they are trying to protect. But they know, too, that every species has its own unique niche in the ecosystem—that interconnected web of life—and as such is important. This is one reason why the costs, sometimes great, are truly worth it.

And it is important to recognize that the animal species with which we share the planet have value in their own right. We have messed things up for so many—it is up to us to put things right.