Prologue Avian Conservation: The Veterinarian’s Role

A conservationist is an individual who advocates for the planned preservation of natural resources. The roots of conservation can be found with early man, who lived at a time when there was ample food and land. A hunter’s success was believed to be based not on his skill, but on his ability to show ample respect for his prey, whereupon his prey would present itself to him. In return, the hunter would perform a ceremony, releasing the animal’s spirit. In this way the animal could return to replenish the herds of antelope or schools of fish. Joseph Campbell characterizes this concept as the beginning of religion.3 Perhaps it was also the beginning of conservation.