Of Parrots and People: The Sometimes Funny, Always Fascinating, and Often Catastrophic Collision of Two Intelligent Species by Mira Tweti
This title is an informative and moving account of the negative impact we have on the parrot population and on the planet as a whole. Tweti argues that we have not only destroyed their natural habitats, but have also turned these intelligent animals into our slaves. I have three pet parrots and have often questioned my decision to keep them in captivity. Though my birds are domestic and not wild-caught, they are still essentially wild animals. Though they are well cared-for, I often wonder if they dream of a life free of restraints.
This book has opened my eyes to how we can be better stewards of this planet and the creatures that live upon it. Tweti’s view of our relationship with animals can be narrowed down to a single statement: “The stark truth is, if we disappeared tomorrow (and took all of our toxin-producing technology with us), the world would be better off by far. On the other hand, if all the other living species disappeared tomorrow, we would perish almost immediately” (p. 293).