Decolonizing Extinction: The Work of Care in Orangutan Rehabilitation

Juno Salazar Parreñas ethnographically explores how colonialism, decolonization, and indigeneity shape relations at orangutan rehabilitation centers in Borneo, highlighting the inseparability of risk and futurity from orangutan care. She suggests examining workers' care for these semi-wild apes can cultivate mutual but unequal vulnerability in an era of annihilation, leading to a feminist sense of welfare.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 20 August 2018
Publisher: Duke University Press

In her ethnographic study titled "Decolonizing Extinction," Juno Salazar Parreñas delves into the intricate web of colonialism, decolonization, and indigeneity that shapes the relationships within orangutan rehabilitation centers located in Borneo. Through her captivating storytelling, Parreñas weaves together the narratives of wildlife workers and the endangered animals they care for, highlighting the inseparable connection between risk and futurity in orangutan care. Drawing upon a diverse range of disciplines such as anthropology, primatology, Southeast Asian history, gender studies, queer theory, and science and technology studies, Parreñas proposes that examining the care given to these semi-wild apes can serve as a foundation for cultivating mutual but unequal vulnerability in an era characterized by annihilation.

Parreñas argues that by embracing rehabilitation perspectives that have been previously overlooked, conservation biology can shift away from its reliance on ultimately violent investments in population growth and embrace a feminist sense of welfare. This shift, she suggests, may involve experiencing loss and pain, but it holds the potential to create a more compassionate and sustainable approach to conservation.

Through her meticulous research and compelling analysis, Parreñas sheds light on the complex interplay of power, privilege, and identity that shapes the conservation efforts surrounding orangutans. She challenges the dominant narratives that often prioritize the interests of humans over the well-being of other species and advocates for a more inclusive and equitable approach that recognizes the inherent value and rights of all living beings.

"Decolonizing Extinction" is a thought-provoking and deeply empathetic work that offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing conservation biology in the era of extinction. It serves as a call to action for researchers, policymakers, and conservationists alike to reevaluate their approaches and strive for a more compassionate and sustainable future for all species.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 154 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780822370772