As humans destroy animal habitats around the world, wildcreatures will slowly become extinct, David Quammen said Thursdaynight at Pruis.
"Before many decades, we'll lose (wild animals) all together,"Quammen said. "And when the wild are lost, they are lost in thedeepest sense."
David Quammen, an award-winning nature and science writer,recently published his book "Monster of God: The Man-EatingPredator in the Jungles of History and the Mind." The bookemphasizes the importance of large carnivores in today's world.
Quammen is one of seven keynote speakers invited to talk thisyear as part of Ball State's Fifth Annual Greening of theCampus.
C. Warren Vander Hill, professor of environmental studies, saidthe three-day conference provides students, faculty andadministrators from across the world an opportunity to exchangeideas about key environmental issues.
Quammen's speech Thursday centered on humanity's obligation toconserve the world's wildlife.
"We, as humans, may be the most reflective members of thenatural world, but we are not its dominant proprietors," Quammensaid.
Quammen said that if humans continue to dominate, transform anduse animal habitats, wildlife may cease to exist by the year2150.
Carnivores have been an important part of our culture, Quammensaid. Creatures such as lions and bears have found their way intomyths, art, religion and epic poems, he said.
"They are part of a large and beautiful story, a story we as aspecies have been part of for a million years," Quammen said. "Itwill be a desperate shame if the story does not continue into thefuture."
Vander Hill said he was pleased to see about 220 students andfaculty come.
Quammen's environmental research has won him several awards,including two National Magazine Awards and an Academy Award inLiterature. Quammen has also won the Lannan Literary Award for his1996 nonfiction book, "Song of the Dodo."
Vander Hill said Ball State was privileged to have Quammenparticipate in the Greening of the Campus.
"At Ball State University, we are pleased to call him a'friend,'" Vander Hill said. "This is his fourth visit to campus,and we certainly hope it will not be his last."
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