Chapter 11 - Michael Torres

In Chapter 11, Kolbert goes to the Cincinnati Zoo to meet one of the most endangered species of rhino in the world.  This sparks a question to Kolbert: Why are there scarcely any enormous creature like the rhino before her eyes? The Kolbert takes the chapter to explore the different theories behind the extinction of many large animals.  One theory is that, due to the end of the Ice Age, the traits that were favorable for cold weather like large mass and fur were no longer favorable for creatures who were not living in a new environment. Another theory is that humans had actually hunted these animals to extinction.  In page 234-235, Kolbert writes, “Before humans emerged on the scene, being large and slow to reproduce was a highly successful strategy, and outsized creatures dominated the planet.” This quote is a fine example of the recurring theme that humans alter natural systems because Kolbert is saying how being a big animal was good until humans came along and changed the game for big animals.