The pigeons of Passchendaele – and why animals still suffer and die in modern conflicts

Phillips, G (2017) The pigeons of Passchendaele – and why animals still suffer and die in modern conflicts. The Conversation.

Preview

Available under License Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives. Download (139kB) | Preview

Abstract

Next month marks the 100th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. Much has been written about the massive human cost of that war but what is perhaps less well-known is how many animals were killed and the impact these creatures – particularly the pigeons – had on the outcome of that terrible conflict. Even now, animals from dogs to dolphins, honey bees to rats are being exploited and killed in modern warfare.