Human-Animal Interactions in Anthropocene Asia

This book examines the theme of human–animal interactions contextualized against the idea of the Anthropocene. Focused on China and its immediate Asian borderlands, this interdisciplinary collection provides a powerful and insightful analysis of the ecological challenges that mankind’s traditional activities have created. Through in-depth case studies, each focusing on a particular human–animal dynamic, the book contextualizes and advances the understanding of existing environmental and ecological problems faced by local communities in Asia. In particular, the book hopes to transcend the duality of the nature versus culture debate by locating animal-ecological problems in the behavior of human institutions, beliefs, and practices, which are often affected by prevailing cultural proclivities, political ideologies, economic interests, and scientific agendas. Through interrogation of theoretical concepts of Anthropocene and human–animal binary, the volume highlights the controversial debates that follow their usage as well as their empirical utility understanding human– animal interactions historically, thereby engaging a broader interdisciplinary conversation increasingly links these two fields together. Providing a platform for discussion and dialogue for a wide audience, this book will appeal to students and scholars of environmental history and politics, anthropology, political science and policy studies, China studies, and Asian studies more generally.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures List of Tables List of Contributors Acknowledgments 1 Human–Animal Interactions in Anthropocene Asia: Culture, Development, and the Politics VICTOR TEO 2 “Rearing the Rare”: History, Coexistence, and Contestation of Wildlife Conservation in the Singalila National Park, Darjeeling, India SANGAY TAMANG 3 A Mongolian Muzzle in the Chinese Grasslands: The Shifting Uses of the Camel in Nomadic Pastoralism and Festivities AURORE DUMONT 4 Reindeer, Taiga, Ethnic Culture: State-Forced Resettlement and the Changing Human–Animal Interactions in the Aoluguya Ewenki Community HANG LIN 5 Yak Dzongs in Sikkim Himalayas: Spaces of Conflict in the Making BHIM SUBBA 6 Turtles amid Healing and Extinction: International Relations and Question of Animal Agency in the South China Sea Disputes CARMINA YU UNTALAN 7 From Colonial Science to the Genome Age: The Politics of Asian Giant Salamander Conservation LISA YOSHIKAWA 8 The Destiny of China’s Honeybees in the Anthropocene KEOKAM KRAISORAPHONG 9 Human–Animal Interface and Sociocultural Ecology of Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks in Anthropocene China SUNGWON YOON 10 Tiger Parks in Anthropocene China: Culture, Capitalism, and the Limits of Conservation VICTOR TEO Index