In the origin myths of many human cultures, a central theme is the distinguishing of humans from the rest of nature (Lévi-Strauss 1964). According to these histories, before humans as humans existed, people lived in a way indistinguishable from other animals – depending on wild species and eating them raw. After the origin, after emerging, after being created, after The Fall, humans are distinguishable from the rest of nature through the acquisition of culture and by means of it. People cook their food, people alter their landscape, people cultivate crops and raise domestic animals. In the words of the Judaeo-Christian Bible: ‘the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground …’ (Genesis 3: 23). And by contrast, wild animals define humanity. The relationship with wild species is fundamental to our self-identity. At its core, this book is about that relationship.

We humans value nature and wild species in many contexts and situations. Wild species are of cultural and social importance. They are valued as resources. We value their very existence. On the other hand, humans often and increasingly come into conflict with wildlife. We humans channel more and more of the world's resources to support our own kind. We now channel more than 40% of the terrestrial net primary productivity, which is the sustenance of all animals and decomposers, to our own ends (Vitousek et al. 1986).