Peter Allison Quote

She asked another question: "What does it matter if the rhinos die out? Is it really important that they are saved?"This would normally have riled me... but I had comes to think of her as Dr. Spock form Star Trek - an emotionless, purely logical creature, at least with regards to her feels for animals. Like Spock, though, I knew there were one or two things that stirred her, so I gave an honest reply."... to be honest, it doesn't matter. No economy will suffer, nobody will go hungry, no diseases will be spawned. Yet there will never be a way to place a value on what we have lost. Future children will see rhinos only in books and wonder how we let them go so easily. It would be like lighting a fire in the Louvre and watching the Mona Lisa burn. Most people would think 'What a pity' and leave it at that while only a few wept.

Peter Allison

She asked another question: "What does it matter if the rhinos die out? Is it really important that they are saved?"This would normally have riled me... but I had comes to think of her as Dr. Spock form Star Trek - an emotionless, purely logical creature, at least with regards to her feels for animals. Like Spock, though, I knew there were one or two things that stirred her, so I gave an honest reply."... to be honest, it doesn't matter. No economy will suffer, nobody will go hungry, no diseases will be spawned. Yet there will never be a way to place a value on what we have lost. Future children will see rhinos only in books and wonder how we let them go so easily. It would be like lighting a fire in the Louvre and watching the Mona Lisa burn. Most people would think 'What a pity' and leave it at that while only a few wept.

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About Peter Allison

Peter Allison is an Australian writer whose books have focused on his time as an African safari guide, as well as his time in South America.
He currently lives in the United Kingdom with his wife Pru, and their two children. He works for Natural Selection as a salesman and safari guide for private groups. Peter hosts a less than serious podcast about animals and conservation called Deep In The Bush, a production of the Be The Uproar network.
Allison grew up in Sydney but at the age of 16 won a scholarship for study in Japan. At 19 he travelled to Africa and became a guide for Idube Game Reserve and then Wilderness Safaris.
His books have been compared to campfire tales relating stories of silly antics or perilous situations. Whatever You Do, Don't Run achieved best seller status.