It’s long been known that if we put machines in charge of simple tasks, humans will, without continuous training, forget how to do them.’ ― Matt Burgess, 2021. Artificial Intelligence: how machine learning will shape the next decade. Mustoe clearly explains, humans cannot live without 'wild'-life, for we are all subject to the same universal laws of dynamic interdependence and needing each other to survive ... isn't this true joy de vivre?!” When we take a fresh look at the origin of our own species, we realise this is the reason behind our rise as one of the latest and most successful animals. It's why we must learn from our ancient ancestors and Indigenous relatives.

This controversy has, sadly, led to an ongoing and rather strict moratorium on sharing information about where the crabs have congregated this year. People who wanted to see this natural marvel – the very same who would want to protect it – have been disappointed. Unfortunately this leads to ill-feeling and a disempowerment of the very people we need to create a change in human values.We can’t exist without wildlife and the time has come to make sure, WITHOUT FAIL, we don’t lose them. This book shows how it can be done.” As Wollehben bluntly puts it, we can’t live without trees. But that also means rebuilding a world rich with an abundance of diverse wildlife. When fantasy becomes reality The need to relate to the landscape and to other forms of life … is in our genes. Sever that connection and we are floating in a world where our deepest sense of ourselves is lost.’ – Isabella Tree, 2020. Wilding.

Natural philosophy Natural philosophy concerns itself with the question of 'why' things work [1]. Natural science tries to work out 'how' [1]. Understanding the difference is fundamental to conservation but is largely missing . Natural philosophy has more in kin with ecological wisdom, such as the beliefs, cultures and traditions of first nations peoples all over the world. It embraces an understanding is geared to answering ‘why’ questions, which generally entail ‘what’ questions (leaving related ‘how’ questions to science). Stanley Salthe, 2002. Becoming, Being And Passing: Our Myth From Science (the Second Law and Natural Simon Mustoe, the best-selling author and ecologist, expertly lifts the veil on the often-overlooked impact of wildlife. He reveals how animals serve as nature’s engineers, meticulously crafting, nurturing, and rejuvenating ecosystems. This revelation emphasizes the urgency of transforming our relationship with animals from one of dominance to one of cooperation, as we collectively strive to rectify the precarious state of our planet before it’s too late. Wildlife in the Balance offers a new perspective, a sly glance from the side, an initial dose of cynicism and preparation to rethink what you may have learnt about concepts like natural selection, evolution, ecosystems and conservation. Things don't quite work like you were taught at school or led to believe by decades of popular science. In the book, Simon reveals why we need animals to rebalance our de-stabilised planet. Whilst the world is increasingly aware we need to stop burning fossil fuels and protect and restore natural ecosystems, there is, however, a tendency to overlook the importance of the wildlife living in these natural ecosystems. In fact, with the twin crises of climate change & biodiversity loss and a 6 th mass extinction looming, there has never been a better time to understand the critical role animals have on our planet, what the stakes are for our future and survival, and what all of us can do to help rewild habitats and restore wildlife populations.For the most part, we stumble across wild animals randomly, seeing only fragments of a complex life. It takes evidence and imagination to translate this into a language for our own survival. This is the different story we need to tell. One where the very existence of wildlife is as part of the landscape. It’s about their power to shape entire ecosystems How ecosystems function An ecosystem is a community of lifeforms that interact in such an optimal way that how ecosystems function best, is when all components (including humans and other animals) can persist and live alongside each other for the longest time possible. Ecosystems are fuelled by the energy created by plants (primary producers) that convert the Sun's heat energy. Without creating a ‘change in human values’ conservation Why is animal conservation important? Animal conservation is important, because animals are the only mechanism to create biodiversity, which is the mechanism that creates a habitable planet for humans. Without animals, the energy from today’s plants (algae, trees, flowers etc) will eventually reach the atmosphere and ocean, much of it as carbon. The quantity of this plant-based waste is so cannot succeed. The longer we leave learning to respect and value the wildlife around us, the harder it will become to secure our own future. Why do sun bears exist at all? Ian Redmond OBE describes this as ‘perhaps the most important book of our time’, prefacing this important conservation book with: Ancient trees instantly know when something is wrong. Mother trees in forests are connected by fungal networks and communicate to regulate the survival of the trees around them. It helps trees to be connected to a mother tree that retains a thousand years of wisdom.

I don’t think we preserve an animal from the brink of extinction. We might preserve its habitat but what does that even mean? If all the matter in the universe except the nematodes were swept away, our world would still be dimly recognizable, and if, as disembodied spirits, we could then investigate it, we should find its mountains, hills, vales, rivers, lakes, and oceans represented by a film of nematodes.’ – Nathan Cobb, 1914. Nematodes and their RelationshipsWe humans are some of the most powerful beings to ever exist. In this power lies both our potential for destruction as well as our ability to adapt. The Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveller. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveller wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveller, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on.’ Aesops Fables Perhaps sun bear numbers used to be five times higher, when all their habitat was intact? Though no-one really knows or will ever know. What we can surmise though, is that remaining forested areas rely heavily on sun bears for forest condition. Any future recreation of fully-functioning systems will fail without them.

Humans live in a world of excess. If we are hungry, we can buy more food than we need to eat (and grow fat and unhealthy). For a bear, this would be a death-sentence. Here is another ecological paradox. Survival often means to struggle, cooperate and compromise, not to excel at the expense of everything else. This fragility makes bears both vulnerable and powerful in equal measure. And this makes sense when you realise they are part of the ecosystem. Bears are a slave to it, and the reason it exists at all. It’s important to recognise conservation does not describe an action. The conservation movement is full of such non-specific language and often fails to describe what is, or needs, to be done. For that, we should be using more intentional and motivational words. Preservation applies to what still exists Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness. Armour yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you.’ – George R.R. Martin, 1996. A Game of Thrones.

Press Releases

Many of us have marvelled at the sight of a whale, songbird or elephant, but have you stopped to consider why these animals are important? “Wildlife In The Balance” gives the answers to this simple question and explains how animals contribute to life as we know it, and why they are essential in our fight against the climate crisis. Best-selling Author and Ecologist Simon Mustoe lifts the veil on the overlooked impact of wildlife, how animals help “engineer”, maintain, regenerate and restore ecosystems and why we’re better off to change our relationship with them from one of domination to one of cooperation before it’s too late. Change the way we work and scientists have a far greater role to play. One where the community asks for advice on how to behave to conserve spider crabs. This is a more constructive and rewarding job for any scientist. It’s one that works together with those who care the most about our ocean creatures. Images of the spider crab aggregation The thing is, the compromise [on carbon reduction] is between countries and not a compromise with the Earth and that’s really who you need the extension from. When you get an extension, it’s from the teacher. The other students can’t be like, the class decided we’re all getting an extension on this exam. We don’t want to take it until next week. And then the teacher is like, “well that’s cute … you all fail!’ ― Hari Kondabolu 2019, The Bugle Podcast