Thank you for directing SoundEagle to this post. Based on the studies of, and the findings in, epigenetics, gene-culture coevolution, biophilia (and biophobia) as well as animal whisperers such as Temple Grandin, SoundEagle is very much inclined to agree with you that it would be amiss or misguided to insist “that we become human primarily with other humans (a purification of what is human)”.

Hello! SoundEagle is delighted to stumbled upon your blog and be acquainted with you and your work here. Since your “research has focused on the language of apes, animal welfare and gender”, please allow SoundEagle the liberty for commenting as follows:

Interspecies interactions and communications are special in that they can and tend to transcend many boundaries and expectations imposed by human customs and belief systems. Perhaps you have heard of or studied such disciplines as zoo-anthropology or anthrozoology?

What do you think of the writings of David Abram, specifically his book entitled “Becoming Animal”?

To what degree does your research entail seeing animals outside of the box of human expectations or ideas that humans have about “utility” (not necessarily limited or pertaining to the utilitarian perspective or paradigm)?

How do you find Frans de Waal’s book “The Ape and the Sushi Master”, which argues that animals are capable of forming and developing cultures and complex societies?

Would you agree and/or recommend that we could learn a great deal about ourselves and Nature via the notion of “Biophilia” as first proposed by Edward O Wilson?