Jason Hribal, historian and author, most recently of “Fear Of The Animal Planet: The Hidden History Of Animal Resistance,” which examines zoos, circuses and aquariums, and the array of circumstances behind the animal escapes and attacks that occur at those facilities.
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Jason Hribal, an author who holds a PhD in history, discusses his latest book, “Fear Of The Animal Planet: The Hidden History Of Animal Resistance,” explores zoos, circuses, aquariums & comparable operations and specifically examines tragedies like the orca Tilikum drowning her trainer at Orlando’s SeaWorld, the incident where that Siberian tiger leaped over the fence at the SF Zoo and mauled three visitors who’d been tormenting her, and circus elephants who trample, gore or otherwise attack their trainers, often leaving other humans nearby completely unharmed as they focus their fury on the trainers. A significant portion of the conversation with Hribal was framed around the book’s sections dealing with the treatment and behavior of animals at Ringling (and other circuses), as this show was pegged to the opening that day of Ringling’s Tampa engagement (a “Talking Animals” tradition since the show’s inception in 2003). (www.AKpress.org/2010/items/fearoftheanimalplanet)
ALSO: We spoke briefly with Bryan Wilson of Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF), one of the organizers of protests of the Tampa Ringling performances. (www.AnimalRightsFlorida.org)
COMEDY CORNER: Bill Burr’s “Pit Bull” (www.BillBurr.com)
MUSIC: Neko Case’s “I’m An Animal,” Dandelion Collective’s “The Bear Who Wanted To Fly,” Florence & The Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Pink Floyd’s “Sheep”
