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The most striking feature that links all the contributions to the theme of Science under siege: zoology under threat, is the rejection of the notion that science is optional in our society, i.e. that science can be ignored, even derided. In the main, these anti-science worldviews derive from religious groups that are hostile to science, a political or commercial stance that sees short-term gains in rejecting or undermining science, or a non-zoological understanding of animals that arrives at a philosophical position opposed to the study and management of wild animals. The extreme ‘animal rights’ position is also inimical to conservation of our native fauna, although an ethical approach to animals and the environment is a critical component to their long-term management and we both encourage, and participate in, this debate. Brian Martin, in his engaging paper on Breaking the siege: guidelines for struggle in science, observed that when scientists come under attack, it is predictable that the attackers will use methods to minimise public outrage over the attack, including covering up the action, devaluing the target, reinterpreting what is happening, using official processes to give an appearance of justice, and intimidating people involved. Zoology is under attack, so are working zoologists, and the distressing consequence for our fauna will be its continuing decline. With increasing rates of extinction that reflect threats, such as invasive species and climate change compounding the impact of simplified landscapes, Australia is being progressively robbed of its rich zoological legacy.

Anderson, E. 2004. Animal rights and values of nonhuman life. Pp. 277-298 in Animal rights: current debates and new directions, edited by C. R. Sunstein and M. C. Nussbaum. Oxford University Press, NY, USA.
Beder, S. 2002 Global Spin. The corporate assault on environmentalism. Green books, Devon, UK.
Bolton, G. 1981 Spoils and spoilers. Allen and Unwin, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Brockman. J. (ed.). 2006 What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Broks, P. 1996 Media science before the Great War. MacMillan, Hampshire, UK.
Campbell, P. 2006. Public engagement in science and technology. P. 225 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket Book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Davies, P. C. W. 2006. The fight against global warming is lost. Pp. 43-44 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
DeMello, M. 2010. Introduction to human-animal studies. Pp xi-xxi in The philosophy of animal rights: a brief introduction for students and teachers, edited by M. Engel, and K. Jenni. Lantern books, Brooklyn New York, USA.
Ehrlich, P. R. and Ehrlich, A. H. 1996 Betrayal of science and reason: how anti-environmental rhetoric threatens our future. Island Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Engel, M. and Jenni, K. 2010 The philosophy of animal rights: a brief introduction for students and teachers. Lantern books, Brooklyn New York, USA.
Home, R. W. 1983. Preface. Pp. ix-xvii in Science under scrutiny, edited by R. W. Home. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland.
Hunt, M. M. 1999 The New Know-Nothings: the Political Foes of the Scientific Study of Human Nature. Transaction Publishers, Rutgers-the State university, New Jersey, USA.
Kennedy, R. F. Jr. 2004 Crimes against Nature. Standing up to Bush and the Kyoto killers who are cashing in on our world. Penguin books, London, UK.
Kirk, J. T. O. 2007 Science and certainty. CSIRO publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.
Kitcher, P. 2001 Science, truth, and democracy. Oxford University press. New York, USA.
Lunney, D. 2012a. Wildlife management and the debate on the ethics of animal use. I. Decisions within a State wildlife agency. Pacific Conservation Biology 18: 5-21.
Lunney, D. 2012b. Wildlife management and the debate on the ethics of animal use. II. A challenge for the animal protection movement. Pacific Conservation Biology 18: 81-99.
Lunney D. 2012c. Ethics and Australian mammalogy: reflections on 15 years (1991-2006) on an animal ethics committee. Australian Mammalogy 34: 1-17.
Lunney, D. and Hutchings, P. (eds). 2012 Wildlife and climate change: towards robust conservation strategies for Australian fauna. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman NSW, Australia.
Mooney, C. 2005 The Republican War on Science. Basic books, NY, USA.
Morton, O. 2006. Our planet is not in peril. Pp. 50-54 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Pinker, S. 2006. Introduction. Pp. xvii-xxviii in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Rees, M. 2006. Science may be running out of control. Pp. 35-37, in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Saunders, D. 2011. Chopping forest research: does NSW Government care about science? The Conversation 22 August 2011.
Science Service. (ed.). 1969 Science news yearbook 1969/1970. Charles Scribner and Sons, New York, USA.
Seethaler, S. 2009 Lies, damned lies and science: how to sort through the noise around global warming, the latest health claims, and other scientific controversies. Pearson education, Inc. Publishing as FT press science. New Jersey, USA
Sunstein, C. R. and Nussbaum, M. C. (eds). 2004 Animal rights: current debates and new directions. Oxford University Press, NY, USA.
Waldau, P. 2011 Animal rights: what everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Walker, M. 2003a. Introduction: science and ideology. Pp. 1-16 in Science and ideology: a comparative history, edited by M. Walker. Routledge, London, UK.
Walker, M. (ed.). 2003b Science and ideology: a comparative history. Routledge, London, UK.
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References

Anderson, E. 2004. Animal rights and values of nonhuman life. Pp. 277-298 in Animal rights: current debates and new directions, edited by C. R. Sunstein and M. C. Nussbaum. Oxford University Press, NY, USA.
Beder, S. 2002 Global Spin. The corporate assault on environmentalism. Green books, Devon, UK.
Bolton, G. 1981 Spoils and spoilers. Allen and Unwin, North Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Brockman. J. (ed.). 2006 What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Broks, P. 1996 Media science before the Great War. MacMillan, Hampshire, UK.
Campbell, P. 2006. Public engagement in science and technology. P. 225 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket Book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Davies, P. C. W. 2006. The fight against global warming is lost. Pp. 43-44 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
DeMello, M. 2010. Introduction to human-animal studies. Pp xi-xxi in The philosophy of animal rights: a brief introduction for students and teachers, edited by M. Engel, and K. Jenni. Lantern books, Brooklyn New York, USA.
Ehrlich, P. R. and Ehrlich, A. H. 1996 Betrayal of science and reason: how anti-environmental rhetoric threatens our future. Island Press, Washington, DC, USA.
Engel, M. and Jenni, K. 2010 The philosophy of animal rights: a brief introduction for students and teachers. Lantern books, Brooklyn New York, USA.
Home, R. W. 1983. Preface. Pp. ix-xvii in Science under scrutiny, edited by R. W. Home. D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland.
Hunt, M. M. 1999 The New Know-Nothings: the Political Foes of the Scientific Study of Human Nature. Transaction Publishers, Rutgers-the State university, New Jersey, USA.
Kennedy, R. F. Jr. 2004 Crimes against Nature. Standing up to Bush and the Kyoto killers who are cashing in on our world. Penguin books, London, UK.
Kirk, J. T. O. 2007 Science and certainty. CSIRO publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.
Kitcher, P. 2001 Science, truth, and democracy. Oxford University press. New York, USA.
Lunney, D. 2012a. Wildlife management and the debate on the ethics of animal use. I. Decisions within a State wildlife agency. Pacific Conservation Biology 18: 5-21.
Lunney, D. 2012b. Wildlife management and the debate on the ethics of animal use. II. A challenge for the animal protection movement. Pacific Conservation Biology 18: 81-99.
Lunney D. 2012c. Ethics and Australian mammalogy: reflections on 15 years (1991-2006) on an animal ethics committee. Australian Mammalogy 34: 1-17.
Lunney, D. and Hutchings, P. (eds). 2012 Wildlife and climate change: towards robust conservation strategies for Australian fauna. Royal Zoological Society of NSW, Mosman NSW, Australia.
Mooney, C. 2005 The Republican War on Science. Basic books, NY, USA.
Morton, O. 2006. Our planet is not in peril. Pp. 50-54 in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Pinker, S. 2006. Introduction. Pp. xvii-xxviii in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Rees, M. 2006. Science may be running out of control. Pp. 35-37, in What is your dangerous idea? Today's leading thinkers on the unthinkable, edited by John Brockman. Simon and Schuster, London, UK and the Pocket book edition, and imprint of Simon and Schuster.
Saunders, D. 2011. Chopping forest research: does NSW Government care about science? The Conversation 22 August 2011.
Science Service. (ed.). 1969 Science news yearbook 1969/1970. Charles Scribner and Sons, New York, USA.
Seethaler, S. 2009 Lies, damned lies and science: how to sort through the noise around global warming, the latest health claims, and other scientific controversies. Pearson education, Inc. Publishing as FT press science. New Jersey, USA
Sunstein, C. R. and Nussbaum, M. C. (eds). 2004 Animal rights: current debates and new directions. Oxford University Press, NY, USA.
Waldau, P. 2011 Animal rights: what everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press, New York, USA.
Walker, M. 2003a. Introduction: science and ideology. Pp. 1-16 in Science and ideology: a comparative history, edited by M. Walker. Routledge, London, UK.
Walker, M. (ed.). 2003b Science and ideology: a comparative history. Routledge, London, UK.
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