Behind the happy picture of animals as pets, as entertainment, as humankind's helpers and friends, there lies a fearsome and often hidden reality of animals as killers. It is this darker side of man's contact with animals that Edward R. Ricciuti, author, science journalist, hunter, and environmentalist, explores in KILLER ANIMALS.
With a wealth of documented reports from hundreds of zoologists and field biologists, Ricciuti examines the human-beast conflict as it pervades modern life: in homes, in cities and suburbs, in what is left of the wilderness. He tells of animals' revenge as they turn on their hunters; of pets gone berserk and attacking small children; of terrible, gruesome attacks in zoos and circuses; and of the formidable array of animal-borne diseases that continue to plague us.
In addition, Ricciuti uncovers much shocking information on the thriving, modern-day animal underworld of cockfighting, poaching, black-market animal dealers, snake cultists, alligator wrestlers, and much more.
In a sharply critical style, Ricciuti focuses on the hypocrisy, sentimentalism, and commercialization that pervade today's animal "industry," and he has some pungent comments on organized pet lovers, safari parks, animals on TV, and mass-market pet stores. Ricciuti ultimately suggests that the darker side of animals is something we may bring upon ourselves.