Summary: Show notes: Dr. Con Slobodchikoff has written a book called Chasing Doctor Dolittle about the language of animals, particularly of prairie dogs. Dr. Slobodchikoff shares his research on animal communication. About the book: Groundbreaking research has been done teaching animals human language, but what about the other way around? Studies have shown that lizards, squid, monkeys, and birds are talking to each other, communicating information about food, predators, squabbles, and petty jealousies. These animal languages are unique and highly adaptive. By exploring them, we come to appreciate the basis of our own languages; understanding or even “speaking” them allows us to get closer to the other species who inhabit this planet with us. The implications of animals having language are enormous. It has been one of the last bastions separating “us” from “them.” Read more about Dr. Slobodchikoff's work at his website, conslobodchikoff.com Pete Keller writes the blog iheartar.com about why animal rights matter. He is an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Animal Rights Network, and founder and director of NARN’s Vegan Mentor Program, a volunteer program of long-term vegans providing information, resources and follow-up support to new vegans. He was an organizing member of Occupy Seattle’s Animal Rights and Environmentalism Work Group. He also runs the blog When Animals Resist, chronicling instances where animals fight back against their own exploitation.
