In chapter 11 of the book, Kolbert visits one of the only rhino species left on earth, the Sumatran Rhinoceros, at the Cincinnati Zoo. In an attempt to save these endangered species, conservationist tried to relocate the last remaining rhinos from places like the Himalayas, to the zoo’s in the U.S. However, many still died due to infections and disease while being transported. Terri Roth, a conservationist, is working with these rhinos in an attempt to inseminate them so that the species doesn't face permanent extinction. Kolbert than brings up a question, thought about by several scientists in the past; why are so many of the extinct species on earth always the largest mammals? To further study this question, Kolbert visits Big Bone Lick, a famous fossil site. Different theories about the fossils found at this site include that changes in climate caused the extinction of these species, while others argue that the species went extinct due to human hunting. Kolbert also explains a few theories as to why humans may be the cause of the extinctions, one is that the extinctions occurred gradually as humans slowly colonized the world, while others such as scientist John Alroy, believed that attacks on large mammals occurred before the industrial revolution, when humans were still largely nomads. Thus in a broader sense, this chapter shows Kolbert's larger message that humans have always had a conflict with other species.
An APES theme that this chapter most represents is that, humans alter natural systems and that they have had an impact on the environment for millions of years. In the chapter, Kolbert explores different reasons as to why humans are the leading cause of the historical and modern extinctions of several big animals. For example in the chapter it states, “... And a reason they're able to exist at all is that when animals get to a certain size they space from predetation. They’re no longer vulnerable to being attacked… and that advantage completely disappears when people show up. Because no matter how big an animal is, we don't have a constraint on what we can eat… when humans appeared, the rules of the survival game changed” (pg. 233). Kolbert includes this quote to make the point that large animals had the advantage of survival over other species as it provided them with protection, however, humans essentially exploited whatever animal that they saw as a resource to themselves, thus viewing big animals more as a resource to their survival rather than a threat. (R) Humans essentially bent the rules of both nature and survival in order to better suit themselves, thus leading to the extinction of several big animals, as well as hundreds of other species. This is simply human nature, people will continue to do whatever they need to do in order to ensure themselves a successful wellbeing, also humans won't think twice about the effect. (Q) After considering that the truth about human nature is simply an inevitable reality, I wondered what would happen once humans completely run out of the resources that they need to survive? This process has already begun due to the extinctions that have been occurring, therefore (P) I predict that once this occurs, humans will either try to self-sustain themselves or the world will turn to a period of apocalyptic chaos.
Image of a Sumatran Rhinoceros and it's calf. 
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