Humans
have always had a relationship with animals, but never before has it been so
fraught or so complicated. Until recently it was all very simple, dead animals
filled our bellies, living ones ploughed our fields. Man and beast stood for an
unchallenged, ancient natural order.
After
countless millennia of guilt-free dominance, our relationship with our fellow
creatures now stands at a fascinating crossroads. Every day we discover more
about their minds and their extraordinary abilities and every day another one
of our 7.8 million species disappears forever. As a result, Martin Clunes will
travel the world to unravel these cultural changes and to understand their extraordinary
impact. From a snake festival in Italy and the cormorant fishermen of Japan, to
yoga classes for dogs and the smartest goldfish in the world; everywhere he
goes, Martin will discover just how far the phrase “man and beast” has changed
in the 21st century.