LinkedIn Article | Beast Rebellion: Animals in Urban Spaces

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Story Alchemist & Narrative Weaver | Global Branding, Marketing & Crisis Comms Expert | Impact-Driven Leader | Animal Lover | DII Rugby Player & Coach

Published Apr 10, 2020

By now, I am sure you have seen the photographs and videos taken around the world of animals taking back our villages and streets.

And these are animals that typically stay away from urban sprawls. Some you may expect to see – like deer. But, what is shocking to many of us are the animals that you would never expect to see leisurely checking out the streets without any fear of humans, like pumas and wild boar.

Let that sink in for a moment.

We’ve all seen the famous video of the Wales village taken over by goats. I mean, they are goats, kind of funny and cute right?

It wasn't until I saw what I consider one of the most shocking videos on the Internet where I thought, that's not cute, that's scary. It immediately brought back memories of Alfred Hitchcock’s movie, “The Birds”. Hundreds, maybe thousands (?) of monkeys, in this video, take to the streets in Thailand, most definitely ‘hangry’ and not giving a ‘you know what’ about humans.

Listen to the monkeys. Then listen to the birds in this scene from the Hitchcock movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplpQt424Ls when they attack school children. The sound is so eerily the same, it gave me goosebumps.

Just think…what if wild animals decided to turn on the humans like the crows in the Hitchcock movie?

It would be a Beast Rebellion.

At least that’s what veterinarian pathologist professor Dr. Mitch Morgan, a main character in the TV series, “The Zoo”, called the global revolt by the animals against humans. The series, based on the James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge 2012 novel, took a very Hollywood look at what would happen if a mysterious virus caused a pandemic that turned wild animals into crazy killers…specifically of humans.

Let that sink in for a moment.

I know what you’re thinking…that’s ridiculous…that’s Hollywood… and you're right. I mean, who doesn't love a good old fashioned Hollywood pandemic drama (Contagion anyone?). But then there’s Nadia. Who's Nadia? She's that stunning Malayan tiger in the Bronx Zoo that recently became the first wild animal diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Which makes me think, perhaps the series and book were ahead of their time?

Sure, Nadia is not wild, nor did the coronavirus make her rabid…and, as far as we know, COVID-19 doesn’t make anyone, much less animals, rabid. But, it still begs the question...

Do we really know what would happen if wild animals, infected with a novel virus took over the streets while we were shut in, that when we all try to return, they may not allow it?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!