Journal Entry 13(Chapter Thirteen)-Ziomara Aguilar

Kolbert's final stop is the Institute for Conservation Research(or the ICR) in San Diego. There, she studies a very interesting topic, the future. In the ICR, they show her vials of genetics from extinct and near-extinct species. The ICR's collection of vials is also referred to as a frozen zoo. Kolbert notices that even though, human beings are destructive, they are also "forward- thinking and altruistic". In 1974, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act to protect animals on the verge of extinction. Scientists have worked relentlessly to prevent species from going extinct. Next, to the ICR, there is a veterinary hospital for both the ICR and the San Diego Zoo. Here, Kolbert meets Barbara Durrant who is a reproductive psychologist. Durrant works there trying to get endangered species to bear offspring. It is clear that humans care very much about preventing the extinction of many species because of all of the time and money they put into trying to get them to reproduce.
Throughout the book, Kolbert has been talking about the Anthropocene, aka the Sixth Extinction, which has been caused by humans. It is unclear as to whether or not the Sixth Extinction will continue or if humans will be able to control their demands and preserve the biodiversity on earth.
In the Museum of Natural History, there is an exhibit that displays the Sixth Extinction. The exhibit shows endangered and extinct animals. It also implies that if humans do not begin to think consciously then we will also cease to exist. And while human ingenuity is keeping some species alive, "the Sixth Extinction will continue to determine the course of life."