Marc Bekoff Unveils New Book “Love in Their Hearts,” Discusses Animal Emotions, and a Lifetime of Ethological Discovery

Boulder, CO – Dr. Marc Bekoff, a distinguished Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, recently engaged in a compelling discussion on The Pawsitive Post in Conversation podcast with hosts Zazie Todd and Kristi Benson. The interview delved into Bekoff’s latest book, Love in Their Hearts: A Celebration of Animal Emotions and A Guide to Compassionate Action, co-authored with Jeff Campbell, and explored his extensive career studying canids, his influential collaborations with Dr. Jane Goodall, and his unwavering advocacy for animal sentience and compassionate conservation. The conversation highlighted Bekoff’s unique approach to blending rigorous science with powerful storytelling, aimed at inspiring a new generation of animal advocates.

A Deep Dive into Animal Emotions and Compassionate Action

Love in Their Hearts, published by New World Library, is presented as a pivotal work designed primarily for teens and young adults, though its profound messages and engaging narrative style have resonated broadly with adult readers, including parents and educators. The book, distinct from Bekoff’s earlier seminal work, The Emotional Lives of Animals (2007, with a second edition published recently), is not a simplified version but rather a fresh exploration tailored for a younger audience. It incorporates more personal stories, interactive activities, and insights into Bekoff’s own "nonlinear" journey into the world of ethology.

Co-authored with Jeff Campbell, Bekoff’s long-time copy editor and an experienced writer for young audiences, the book aims to be more than just an educational text. It serves as "a guide to compassionate action," actively encouraging readers to become proactive participants in animal protection. This ethos aligns deeply with the work of Dr. Jane Goodall and her global Roots & Shoots program, emphasizing that every individual, regardless of age, possesses the capacity to make a tangible difference in the lives of animals and the health of the planet.

The Ethos of Empathy: Bekoff’s Journey and Influences

Dr. Bekoff’s illustrious career is marked by a prolific output of over 30 books and numerous awards recognizing his groundbreaking research in animal behavior, emotions, cognitive ethology, compassionate conservation, and animal protection. He holds significant positions, including co-chair of the Ethics Committee of the Jane Goodall Institute, and is a former Guggenheim Fellow. In June 2022, his dedication to canine welfare was formally recognized when he was honored as a "hero" by the Academy for Dog Trainers. His regular contributions to Psychology Today further extend his reach, bringing complex scientific insights to a wider public.

Bekoff’s path to becoming a leading voice in animal ethology was, by his own admission, unconventional. Born in Brooklyn, New York, his childhood was defined by an innate fascination with the natural world and an intuitive understanding of animal emotions. Despite being perceived by some neighbors as a "whack job," his parents steadfastly supported his early observations of local dogs, cats, squirrels, and ants. This formative experience laid the groundwork for his later work, particularly his 2002 book Minding Animals, which explored the dual meaning of "minding" – caring for animals and attributing minds to them.

A pivotal shift in Bekoff’s academic trajectory occurred when he abandoned a Ph.D. medical program to pursue ethology, connecting with renowned ethologist Michael Fox. This mentorship, coupled with the indirect influence of Jane Goodall through her then-husband Hugo van Lawick, cemented Bekoff’s belief in the importance of naming individual animals and acknowledging their unique personalities and emotions—a practice often met with skepticism in traditional scientific circles at the time. Goodall’s groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, where she defied academic norms by attributing individual names and personalities, served as a powerful validation for Bekoff’s own intuitive understanding.

Bridging Science and Storytelling: Tales of Cross-Species Empathy

A hallmark of Bekoff’s educational approach, prominently featured in Love in Their Hearts, is the seamless integration of scientific principles with compelling narratives. This method, praised by co-host Zazie Todd, makes complex concepts accessible and deeply resonant. The book features several memorable stories, two of which were highlighted during the podcast:

• Jethro and the Baby Bunny: Bekoff recounted the touching story of Jethro, a 90-pound Doberman-shepherd-hound hybrid he rescued from the Humane Society of the Boulder Valley. Jethro, despite his imposing size and predatory instincts, exhibited profound cross-species empathy. One day, he presented Bekoff with a live baby bunny he had gently retrieved, belching it out unharmed. Jethro then vigilantly guarded the bunny, refusing to leave its side for weeks until it recuperated. This incident, later mirrored by Jethro’s rescue of a baby bird, powerfully illustrates the capacity for compassion and paternal care across species boundaries, challenging simplistic views of animal behavior.

• Grizzly Bear 399: An Icon of the Wild: Another poignant story shared in the book is that of Grizzly Bear 399, a renowned mama bear in Grand Teton National Park, whose life and interactions were extensively documented by world-famous photographer Tom Mangelsen. Mangelsen, a close friend of Bekoff’s, contributed an autobiographical piece from 399’s perspective for Love in Their Hearts. Grizzly 399 became a global icon, attracting thousands of visitors who sought to witness her and her cubs. The story, while celebrating the deep human-bear bond, also touches upon the tragic reality of human-wildlife conflict, as 399 was eventually hit by a car. This narrative underscores the complex challenges of coexistence and the profound impact individual animals can have on human hearts and conservation efforts. The book’s back cover features a captivating image by Mangelsen of 399 and her four cubs, looking directly into the book—a powerful visual metaphor for seeking understanding of the animal world.

Empowering the Next Generation: Education and Activism

A central tenet of Love in Their Hearts is its commitment to fostering "compassionate action" and cultivating young activists. To support this mission, Bekoff and Campbell have developed an extensive Educator’s Kit and a comprehensive list of sources, both accessible online via a QR code within the book and on Bekoff’s website (markbekoff.com). These resources guide students and adults toward pertinent readings and practical ways to engage with animal welfare.

The kit draws inspiration from Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots program, which empowers individuals of all ages to make a difference. Bekoff encourages "citizen science" initiatives, citing an example of a Kentucky teenager who, inspired by Bekoff’s work, built an outdoor enclosure to study mouse behavior, observing color preferences in a naturalistic setting. This hands-on approach demystifies scientific inquiry, demonstrating that valuable observations can be made outside traditional lab environments. Bekoff also advocates for observing animals in everyday settings, such as dog parks, to understand their behavior and social dynamics. He stresses the message of hope and perseverance: "Don’t ever give up. Never say never."

A Lifetime of Canid Ethology and Beyond

Bekoff’s foundational research in canid ethology began under Michael Fox, focusing on the developmental behavior of young beagles, coyotes, wolves, and various hybrids (coyote-beagle and wolf-dog). His doctoral thesis explored the intricate pathways of behavior from early life, providing detailed descriptions that expanded upon Fox’s seminal work, The Behavior of Wolves, Dogs and Related Canids. This research illuminated species-specific developmental patterns, noting that less social canids like foxes and coyotes exhibit different developmental trajectories compared to highly social wolves, a finding that has largely held true over decades.

Bekoff’s commitment to the principles of ethology, particularly those espoused by pioneers like Niko Tinbergen (who outlined four key questions in ethology: causation, development, evolution, and function), drove his comparative studies. He was among the few Americans to attend early international ethological congresses in Europe, interacting with figures like Konrad Lorenz and Tinbergen himself. His work uniquely integrated questions about the evolution of developmental pathways (phylogeny and ontogeny), leading to significant theoretical contributions.

A notable achievement was his Guggenheim Fellowship in 1977, awarded for his development of the "social cohesion theory of dispersal." This theory, which garnered the attention of renowned biologist E.O. Wilson, posited that young coyotes often disperse from their natal groups not primarily due to dominance hierarchies or aggressive expulsion, but rather due to their inability to form strong social bonds with other group members. This challenge in social integration, rather than outright conflict, explained their departure. This hypothesis challenged prevailing models of dominance and subordination, offering an alternative mechanism for dispersal, and continues to be explored and tested by researchers today.

Bekoff’s dedication to field biology led him to study wild coyotes in the Lamar Valley of Grand Teton National Park. He also observed free-ranging dogs in the mountains near Boulder, Colorado, advocating for the value of naturalistic observation over strictly controlled laboratory studies, which he believes, while important, have limited utility in fully understanding complex animal behaviors. His meticulous film analyses of different canid groups, including pure species and hybrids, demonstrated that distinct behavioral profiles could serve as a basis for taxonomic classification—a pioneering application of behavioral taxonomy to mammals.

Upcoming Engagements and Continued Advocacy

Dr. Bekoff’s commitment to sharing his insights continues unabated. He is slated to participate in Bark! Fest, a book festival for animal lovers held in September, where he will join a panel discussing books for teen and middle-grade readers, further promoting Love in Their Hearts.

Looking ahead, Bekoff has another significant publication on the horizon: Every Elephant Has a Name, a young readers’ book co-authored with the late Dr. Jane Goodall. The book, whose text was completed before Goodall’s passing, continues their collaborative legacy of fostering hope and compassion, building upon their 2002 work, The Ten Trusts. The cover, featuring an elephant’s trunk reaching toward the title, has been noted for its symbolic beauty and reinforces the book’s message of individual recognition and empathy for elephants.

For those seeking further literary inspiration, Bekoff recommended Knowing Wonder, An Elephant Story by Merrill Sapp, a concise yet profoundly moving book that delves into the individual lives and experiences of elephants.

Broader Implications for Animal Welfare and Conservation

Dr. Marc Bekoff’s work represents a critical paradigm shift in how humanity understands and interacts with the animal kingdom. His persistent advocacy for animal emotions, intelligence, and sentience has significantly contributed to the broader scientific and public acceptance of these concepts, moving beyond anthropocentric biases that historically denied complex inner lives to non-human animals. The Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness (2012), for instance, formally recognized that many non-human animals possess neurological substrates for consciousness, validating decades of research from ethologists like Bekoff.

By empowering youth through accessible science and calls to compassionate action, Bekoff is cultivating a generation of informed and engaged citizens ready to tackle pressing global challenges in animal welfare and conservation. His emphasis on interspecies empathy and the interconnectedness of all living beings underscores a vital message for a world grappling with biodiversity loss, climate change, and ethical considerations for animal treatment. Bekoff’s legacy is one of bridging scientific rigor with heartfelt compassion, ultimately inspiring a more humane and sustainable future for all inhabitants of our shared planet.

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