Abstract :
The concept of resilience has been applied in a wide variety of situations and from the molecular to the ecosystem level. It has been most commonly used, however, to describe the capacity of human populations to survive disasters of acute onset and broad scope that are political, economic, social or environmental in origin. One aspect of resilience that is frequently overlooked is the role that animals may play in helping human populations to maintain and restore resilience. The role of animals encompasses companion animals as key sources of social support, as was seen in the United States after Hurricane Katrina, to livestock as critical sources of social and economic capital, as has been seen among herding communities after drought and forced migration in Africa and elsewhere. Because the role of animal populations in disasters is typically overlooked, data on the role of animals in maintaining and restoring human resilience is scant.
