Re:wild - Wild Life!: A Look at Natures Odd Ducks, Underfrogs, and Other At-Risk Species

Wild Life! reminds us of the interconnectedness of all wild beings, and of the role we all play within that complexity.

Adrian Grenier, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, impact investor, and cofounder of Lonely Whale

Wild life!

Re:wild

with SYD Robinson

A Look at Natures Odd Ducks, Underfrogs, and Other At-Risk Species

Embracing the wild means stepping back and connecting with the larger complexity. By focusing on natures lesser-known but critical species and the people who work to protect them, Wild Life! reminds us of the interconnectedness of all wild beings, and of the role we all play within that complexity.

ADRIAN GRENIER, UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, impact investor, and cofounder of Lonely Whale

An intersectional approach to the protection of both people + planet that seeks to uplift all people and empower Indigenous voices is crucial to restoring the wild! It takes all of us to save the planetread this book and gain insights from the best!

LEAH THOMAS, founder of Intersectional Environmentalist

We all have our own story to tell, and this book contains stories of species and the incredible people protecting them. It celebrates their quirks and talents, and their importance to the amazing, interconnected system of the wild.

KARRUECHE TRAN, actor and model

Wild Life! takes us on a fact-based ride through the wild and wonderful world of species that are little known, seldom seen, and in need of more love. Geek out over these animalstheyll definitely grab your attention and take you to places you didnt know existed.

CARL SAFINA, author of Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace

NENQUIMO, whose bold spirit inspires us to listen to the Indigenous peoples who are guardians of our planet, and to cherish and protect our profound connection with the wild and all of life on Earth.

We would like to thank the following individuals for offering their expertise and reviewing the profiles pertinent to their work:

• Abdullahi H. Ali
• Agustn Schiariti
• Albert Bertolero
• Alexei V. Abramov
• Amirrudin B. Ahmad
• Amy Deane
• Amy Moran
• Andrea Piones
• Andrew Smith
• Andrew Tilker
• Andy Gluesenkamp
• Anya Ratnayaka
• Arif Setiawan
• Axel Hochkirch
• Badru Mugerwa
• Barb Taylor
• Barney Long
• Benoit Dodelin
• Bradley Watson
• Brodie Chiswick
• Bronwyn Jeynes
• Carlos Henrique Salvador
• Carlos Nores
• Cecil Jennings
• Chien C. Lee
• Chris Bowden
• Chris Jordan
• Clay Bolt
• Clive Evans
• Cynthia Smith
• David Jeggo
• David Priddel
• David Sischo
• Day B Ligon
• Deborah Pardo
• Denise Risch
• Denise Thompson
• Douglas Krause
• Douglas M. Richardson
• Edward Louis
• Eli Wyman
• Emmanuel Schtz
• Esteban Brenes-Mora
• Eva Pisano
• Hugo Alejandro Herrera Gomez
• Ian Hogg
• Indraneil Das
• Inger Perkins
• Jacob Marlin
• Jacqueline D. Litzgus
• Jake Osborne
• James Burton
• Jan Schipper
• Jenny Daltry
• Jessica Lee
• James M. Dietz
• Jim Sanderson
• John Sparks
• John Zichy-Woinarski
• Jon Paul Rodrguez
• Jordi Salmona
• Jrg Freyhof
• Jos Tavares
• Joseph Eastman
• Joshua M. Guilbert
• Juan Herrero
• Julian Kerbis Peterhans
• Julie Harvey
• Karen Strier
• Keri Parker
• Kristina Martz
• Laura Ghigliotti
• Lauren Augustine
• Leandro Castello
• Li Ling Ho
• Lina Valencia
• Liz Brown
• Liza Fowler
• Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho
• Marianne Hartmann-Furter
• Marina Rutovskaya
• Maurice La Haye
• Mic Mayhew
• Michael McFadden
• Michelle LaRue
• Milton Yacelga
• Minh Le
• Natalia Rossi
• Nerida G. Wilson
• Nerissa Chao
• Nicholas M. Teets
• Paul A. Cziko
• Peter Paul van Dijk
• Petra Kova-Konrad
• PJ Stephenson
• Rachel Ashegbofe Ikemeh
• Rhys Buckingham
• Richard Griffiths
• Richard Lewis
• Richard Thorns
• Rob Holm
• Roberto Guidetti
• Robin D. Moore
• Rogan Colbourne
• Roger Key
• Roger Safford
• Roopali Raghavan
• Rosalind Kennerley
• S. Blair Hedges
• Samuel Turvey
• Sandro Lovari
• Sarah Lamar
• Scott Johnson
• Scott Tremor
• Sectionov Inov
• Serene Chng
• Sonja Luz
• Stephen P. Kirkman
• Sula Vanderplank
• Susan M. Cheyne
• Teresa Camacho Badani
• Thnh Nguyn Van
• Thomas M. Butynski
• Thomas Rainwater
• Tim Davenport
• Tim Faulkner
• Tom Espinoza
• Treya Picking
• Vicky Wilkins
• Wes Sechrest

We would also like to thank the following Re:wild editors: Carrie Hutchison, Barney Long, Robin Moore, Devin Murphy, Lindsay Renick Mayer, Kyrsten Stringer, and Wes Sechrest. Thank you also to Macson McGuigan for his critical role in pulling the photos for this book together.

From the tiniest mouse to the most colossal whaleand all the whimsical and fantastical animals in betweenall living things on our planet are part of Earths biodiversity. The diversity of life is key to healthy ecosystems, and healthy ecosystems are the immune system of our planet. They curb climate change, prevent catastrophic fires and pandemics, regulate our weather, and ensure a healthy planet for all life on Earthincluding humans. Though the extinction of a single species may not spell catastrophe for our planet, each species that vanishes pushes us closer to finding ourselves on an unlivable Earth.

Heres the kicker, though: Ecosystems contain more than plants and animals. YOU play a role too. Everyone you know plays their own critical part in keeping the world keepin on, and if that sounds really metathats because it is. Now is the time to rewild our planet.

What does rewild mean? Well, for example, you can rewild your backyard by planting some native trees or plants. You could also rewild mainland Australia by reintroducing the Tasmanian Devil to its ecosystems after being absent for three thousand years. Rewilding is all about restoring and rebalancing the Earth. Its also about rewilding ourselves and reveling in the wonders of the wild. Simply put, thats Re:wilds mission, and thats what were trying to do with this very cool and very fun book youre currently holding.

In Wild Life! well introduce you to one hundred animals who fly a little more under the radar. Youve probably seen a million books about charismatic megafauna like pandas, lions, and elephants, but what about the little guys whose stories are rarely told, the hidden gems of the natural kingdom? Ever heard of the Pink-Headed Duck? Now you have.

Wild Life! shines a light on the animals youve never heard of, including a few that have been lost to science for decades (we call these Lost Species), and encourages you to reimagine our collective role in self-sustaining ecosystems.

In this book, youll get to know these underfrogsas we like to call them!from all seven continents, as well as certain celebrity animals, and even some stories about the people who work on protecting these species every day, aka Re:wilds guardians. Most of these profiles include beautiful, full-color photographs, but for our Lost Species features, we had to get creative by illustrating these animals the best we could.