‘Wildlife conservation is largely anthropocentric rather than biocentric. It is about the actions of people more than the actions of wildlife.’ Drawing on a lifetime of work both in international conservation and on domestic issues in his home country of Australia, Grahame Webb distils the reality of working in conservation. Written in a semi-autobiographical style In the Belly of the Beast is easy to read and avoids the technical jargon often present in conservation, going so far as to criticize it. He uses candid humour and clever cartoons to highlight serious messages.
His willingness to evaluate flagship conservation issues critically, which many would avoid for fear of being labelled a heretic, is refreshing. He asks ‘How many species of plants and animals placed on threatened species lists, to stimulate conservation action, have ever been removed when the conservation action overcomes the threat?’ Whether you agree with his views or not, they are well argued and highlight the critical role biopolitics, the media, marketing, moral outrage, protectionism, biopaternity, profiteering and even Pamela Anderson can have on conservation outcomes.
The dedication in a lifetime of conservation is clear, although it has been paved with frustration. He highlights the difference between what he terms ‘big-C’ conservation, concerning population and habitat persistence, and ‘little-c’ conservation largely driven by animal rights and welfare motivations, and this is a theme throughout the book. His arguments are clear, well-reasoned and important, although the book does run the risk of becoming overzealous in its critique.
This aside, there are plenty of good-news anecdotes, from the recovery of Kemp's Ridley turtles to his own personal successes with crocodiles. Webb's insights, which stem from his knowledge of crocodile conservation, are used to present his understanding of the multifaceted beast that makes up conservation. He also draws from many other species and scenarios, and there is something of interest in the book whatever your conservation passion. The focus is largely on single species conservation but this does not detract from the overall message.
For students aspiring to become conservation leaders or for experienced conservation professionals, Webb's words will stimulate debate. His observations of ‘grantsmanship’ will be a reminder of familiar moral conundrums faced by many scientists, and the chapter entitled ‘Killing’ should be read by all those taking their first steps in conservation. His observation that research can have a ‘passionate allure like sex’ where the bureaucracy surrounding many research endeavours is likened to ‘the use of a bicycle tyre as a condom’ made me laugh out loud.
In the Belly of the Beast contains serious messages and observations and many people may feel their beliefs have been offended, but Webb is not apologetic. He has learned from both his successes and failures and any ‘big-C’ conservationist would be remiss not to listen to what Webb's experience has taught him: ‘The fundamental importance of science in conservation issues is clearly under threat, as the political machinery responds more and more to advocates and political expediency. This trend is not in the best interests of people or wildlife’. Whether you agree or disagree with his stance, his observations and experience should not be ignored.
