The bronze guardian of Burgers’ Zoo ‘by night’. Photo Resource ‘In a world in which the importance of media is ever increasing, we frequently encounter animals in the media. But what is their effect? Do images of animals lead to better understanding and more insight, or to a distorted image?’
Some one hundred animal scientists, veterinarians, other animal professionals and ‘ordinary’ animal lovers gathered to discuss these questions during the annual Animal Dialogue organised by CenSAS. CenSAS stands for Centre for Sustainable Animal Stewardship, which is a collaboration between the Utrecht Veterinary Faculty and Wageningen Animal Sciences, focussing on responsible and sustainable cohabitation between animals and humans.
Cats and the internet
After two online editions, the Animal Dialogue could take place live in Burger’s Zoo this year. This year’s theme, animals in the picture, was introduced in a mini-lecture by Maarten Reesink, assistant professor of Animal Studies at Amsterdam University. With contagious enthusiasm, he explained that animals have, in fact, always dominated the media. From the oldest rock paintings to the most rudimentary motion pictures of the first YouTube video: Animals play the lead role. ‘And everyone, of course, knows that the internet belongs to the cats.’
The dialogue took place in small groups. How do animals in the media affect the perception of animals? How does the way in which media portray individual animals – in movies such as Wolf, Cow, Gunda – impact the treatment and conservation of species? And what is the practical value of this media coverage? How does science benefit from the fact that state-of-the-art cameras can reveal hitherto shrouded aspects of animal life?
The evening did not yield any concrete answers or insights, but that was not the goal. What it did yield were food for thought, an increased understanding of the position of others and new contacts. Plus a YouTube tip by Reesink: Check ‘If Disney Cartoon Animals Were Scientifically Accurate’ – simply because it is very funny.
