Review: The Once and Future World
The Once and Future World: Nature as it Was, as it Is, as it Could Be
by J.B. MacKinnon[1] (2014)
“-in order to understand our current state of nature, we need to look at the present through the lens of the past.”
The phrase above is probably the most descriptive statement relevant to the point MacKinnon is trying to make in this book. His comment certainly follows upon those of other naturalists who have said the same thing, over and over. Repetition is often necessary to engage a new audience, so…
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
MacKinnon provides extensive examples of the impacts to species, including (for example) the Tasmanian Tiger. “In fact the species was protected under law exactly fifty-nine days before the last known thylacine died in captivity.” (MacKinnon, 2014: 33) [2] And if a species from Down Under seems irrelevant to the majority of North Americans who read my blog, perhaps consider the iconic wolf. While, at the time of writing MacKinnon (2014: 41) says the wolf, once the planet’s most wide-spread carnivore, “is still present in 65 percent of its primeval range worldwide.” [3]
“That sounds hopeful, almost impressive, except that the animal is categorized as ‘fully viable’ in just five of the sixty-three countries where packs once prowled.”
I was intrigued enough by this statement to do some updated research of my own.
If you check the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List on the Red Wolf (Canis rufus) it states this species is Critically Endangered (CR) with a group of only 20-30 individuals that were reintroduced in Northern Carolina, and a declining population at that. Despite its status as CR, it was last assessed in 2018 (7 years ago).
The Red Wolf’s traditional range was from (at least) North Carolina (NC) to as far north as Algonquin Park in Ontario. Their range is now defined by that tiny dark green dot in northern NC. [4]
Other wolf species on the Red List include the: Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis) - Endangered (EN); African Wolf (Canis lupaster) Least Concern (LC); and the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) is LC, with a supposedly stable population (but no known population size to compare it to - based on the last assessment in 2018).[5] Note that a subspecies of the Grey Wolf, the Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus ssp. chanco) was assessed in 2023 as Vulnerable (VU). [6]
In Canada, the Eastern Wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) is listed as Threatened under the Species at Risk Act.[7] The Arctic Grey Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) is listed as Data Deficient as of the last assessment in 1999, more than 25 years ago! [8]
It is really not looking good for this beautiful animal.
Vancouver Coastal Sea Wolf (Canis lupus crassodon) - By Mathieu.S.Addison (2017)
But I digress. Back to the book…
MacKinnon goes on to talk about ‘rewilding’ as a form of conservation, using the Bolson Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus) as an example. The species is currently listed as Critically Endangered (CR),[9] and highly dependent on conservation measures.[10] I won’t go into depth here about why the author chose this species to highlight, but I think it was a very interesting choice. (I recommend you read the book.)
“The beast (Bolson Tortoise) is nothing short of a miracle, able to survive months without food or water and to live more than a hundred years.”
I was thrilled with the author’s description of ancient art as being so accurate that an engraving of an Egyptian scarab in a museum reminded him of a prairie Tumblebug (Canthon simplex) [11] from his homeland. (MacKinnon, 2014: 79-80) Interestingly, Canthon simplex is also shown with a distribution into British Columbia and Alberta.[12]
The author reminds us through a view of the past that our connection with nature has generally been eroded, particularly by those who live in urban settings.
“To many, the idea of paying deliberate attention to nature may sound ridiculously old-fashioned. So is breathing, I suppose. An awareness of nature is not first and foremost a sentimental or spiritual practice, but a profoundly realistic one - a way of binding ourselves to the simple truth that human beings depend on ecological systems for our survival.”
While this book talks a lot about environmental issues, the hypothetical solutions aren’t particularly helpful, but definitely engaging. I don’t think it was intended to provide answers but share the thoughtful global research that demonstrates the ongoing destruction. It is a reminder that generational amnesia exists.
This book is quite thought provoking, and even though it is more than a decade old, I still found it an excellent read. It aroused my interest enough to check on the current status of many of the species mentioned throughout.
What came from the reading is that we really need to do better! I found the author’s prose clear, grounded in truth and quote-worthy. He opened my mind to another way of seeing. I really enjoyed this book. There were three lovely sketches in the 2014 edition, but no reference to who drew them, presumably the author.
Happy Reading!📗
P.S. The next Alberta Wilderness Association (AWA) Book Club meeting will be Tuesday, September 9th, 2025. We will choose a book sometime next week and post the upcoming event on the AWA website. Feel free to join us in Calgary!
[1] James Bernard MacKinnon https://www.jbmackinnon.ca/
[2] Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalis) - although the last known tiger was captured in 1933 and died in 1936, the species was not listed as extinct (EX) under the IUCN Red List until 1982. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21866/258672491
[3] In 2017, Alina Bradford reported that Red Wolves were Critically Endangered (CR) and Ethiopian Wolves were Endangered (EN) under the IUCN Red List. Bradford, A. (2017) Wolf Facts: Gray Wolves, Timber Wolves & Red Wolves. Live Science. published online July 10, 2017.
[4] Phillips, M. (2018) Canis rufus (errata version published in 2020). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T3747A163509841. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T3747A163509841.en Accessed on 04 July 2025.
[5] Hoffmann, M. & Atickem, A. (2019) Canis lupaster. The IUCN Red List 2019: e.T118264888A118265889; Marino, J. & Sillero-Zubiri, C. (2011) Canis simensis. The IUCN Red List 2011: e.T3748A10051312; Boitani, L., Phillips, M. & Jhala, Y.V. (2023) Canis lupus (amended version of 2018 assessment). The IUCN Red List 2023: e.T3746A247624660. All Accessed on 04 July 2025.
[6] Werhahn, G., Hennelly, L.M., Lyngdoh, S.J., Habib, B., Viranta, S. & Shrotriya, S. (2024) Canis lupus ssp. chanco (amended version of 2023 assessment). The IUCN Red List 2024: e.T223987824A258477123. Accessed on 04 July 2025.
[7] Eastern Wolf (Canis sp. cf. lycaon) - https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/608-381
[8] Arctic Grey Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) - https://species-registry.canada.ca/index-en.html#/species/592-0
[9] Kiester, A.R., Palomo-Ramos, R., Ríos-Arana, J. & Goode, E.V. 2018. Gopherus flavomarginatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T9402A112660985. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T9402A112660985.en. Accessed on 10 July 2025.
[10] “Conservation Dependence is High; because of the recent increase in high-intensity grazing and agriculture occurring in the area, the land protected by the biosphere is increasingly in demand for deep drilling for groundwater and intense agriculture, which (together with other threats) would likely drive the species to extinction within 10 years if protection was removed.” van Dijk, P.P. & Castañeda Gaytán, G. 2024. Gopherus flavomarginatus (Green Status assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T9402A940220251.Accessed on 10 July 2025.
[11] As an Egyptian archaeologist I am always pleased to see such mentions. Images of Tumblebugs can be found here.
[12] Canthon simplex - Simple Dung Beetle https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.917952/Canthon_simplex Accessed 10 July 2025.
