Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz and Kathryn Bowers–co-authors of “Zoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human And Animal Health,” a New York Times bestseller recently issued in paperback—discuss the genesis of the “zoobiquity” philosophy and the term itself. 
Natterson-Horowitz–a cardiologist at the UCLA Medical Center and professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA—explains how she was launched in the zoobiquity direction through her work consulting for the Los Angeles Zoo, and particularly an epiphany of sorts while examining a tamaran there. She and Bowers (an accomplished journalist, editor and science writer) address some of the diseases and conditions found in both humans animals—expected ones like cancer and heart disease, but also ones that were more startling to find in the animal world, like addiction, eating disorders and suicide. The authors note that in connecting health in animals and humans, the findings don’t merely serve the human side of the zoobiquity divide, but travel in both directions, fostered by Zoobiquity conferences they’ve held in Los Angeles, with the first in New York slated for November—designed to bring together top academic veterinarians and academic physicians, discussing animal and human cases, then going on rounds at a nearby zoo. Natterson-Horowitz and Bowers also describe how the “Zoobiquity” experience has profoundly influenced how they approach their work and live their lives. (http://zoobiquity.com/)
Listen Online Now:
COMEDY CORNER: Danny Bhoy’s “Dangerous Animals—Part 1 (edit)” (www.dannybhoy.com )
MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” Bob Dylan’s “Man Gave Names To All The Animals,” instrumentals
NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Rolf Harris’ “Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport”
