Chapter thirteen - Waleska Reyes

Chapter thirteen - Waleska Reyes

Chapter thirteen starts off with the quote “futurology has never been a very respectable field of inquiry”. This quote leads me to believe this chapter will be about science forming predictions for the future. Kolbert visits the Institute for Conservation Research at the San Diego Zoo. Kolbert is shown the last genetic remains of a “black-faced honeycreeper, a chunky bird with a sweet face and a ream-colored chest that lived on Maui”. During her trip Kolbert asks an important question: is it necessary for these plants and animals to die? But acts like the Endangered Species Act try to prevent extinction which proves that maybe there is a solution.

Kolbert then meets Barbara Durant, a reproductive physiologist, from a veterinary hospital next to the ICR. Durant explains to Kolbert how she has worked hard to get a Hawaiian crow to reproduce but hasn’t had any luck. This makes Kolbert think about how some humans work hard to save species from extinction.

Kolbert then explains the term “sixth extinction”. Essentially we are in an era where humans are the dominant species therefore they can cause other species to become extinct. Thinking back to the previous chapters it is evident that humans alter the ecosystem and natural systems of other species easily. Kolbert states the outlook of more optimistic individuals by saying, “Human ingenuity will outrun any disaster human ingenuity sets in motion”. Humans will be able to fix the catastrophes they create. This chapter makes me wonder is the extinction of mankind a possibility ?