Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, 2023, 6(4); doi: 10.25236/AJHSS.2023.060414.
Yang Xuanyu, Zeng Xiaoyu
School of Ethnology and Sociology, Southwest Minzu Institute, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Referring to the modern cities, most people may think of "industry", "traffic", "buildings", and "population gathering". The city seems to have become the domain of human beings, but in fact, there are many kinds of animals living in the gaps between skyscrapers. From homeless stray animals to wildlife such as foxes and raccoon dogs that appear unexpectedly, how to deal with the human-animal relationship is an important part of urban management. In the face of different animals, citizens have adopted different attitudes, including the kindness towards stray animals and the detachment of wild animals. Such different attitudes reflect the divergent status of animals in the urban order. Understanding the reasons for different attitudes is both a central part of the inquiry into human-animal relationship, and can provide ideas for wildlife management. As an emerging field, multi-species ethnography has opened up a new perspective on human-animal relationship, and can better analyze the participation of animals in human society.
Multi-species ethnography; Stray cat; Raccoon dog; Wildlife management; Human-animal relationship; Privileged animal
Yang Xuanyu, Zeng Xiaoyu. A multi-species ethnographic perspective on urban human-wildlife relationships—A comparative study of stray cats and wild raccoon dogs in Shanghai city. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2023) Vol. 6, Issue 4: 73-78. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2023.060414.
[1] S.E. Kirksey & S. Helmreich. (2010). The Emergence Of Multispecies Ethnography. Cultural Anthropology (04), 545-576.
[2] Zhou YuFei. (2019). Research methods and Chinese experience on the ethical relationship between humans and animals. Journal of Guangxi University for Nationalities (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition) (06), 68-78.
[3] Yang Yirong. (2021). Meeting, Company and Parting -- Ethnography of Urban pet Raising. Published master's thesis, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai.
[4] Han Chengyan.(2014). From Individual Love to Common Good -- The Social life of pet dogs in American Middle Town. Northwest Ethnic Studies (04), 208-216+202.
[5] Keith Thomas. (2008). Man and the Natural World: Changing Attitudes in England 1500-1800. translated by Lili Song. Nanjing: Yilin Publishing House.
[6] Ji Changlan.(2015). On the pet phenomenon in Song Dynasty society. A Collection of Essays on the Study of Song History (01), 176-196.
[7] Yang Faxiang, Li Anqi.(2022). Pet consumption of urban young white-collar workers. Youth Research (01), 73-83+96.
[8] Chang Jiwen.(2006). The definition and reflection on the legal status of animals. Journal of Ningbo Polytechnic (04), 13-15.
[9] (Qing) Huang Han, (Qing) Wang Chutong, Yu Xiaobai proofreading. (2016). Cat Court, Cat Ride. Hangzhou: Zhejiang People's Fine Arts Publishing House.
[10] Liu Qinqin. (2020). Legal Research on the Standardized Management of Stray Animals in China, Published master's thesis, Northwest University, Xi 'an, Shaanxi.
[11] Zhai Yunyi, Wang Qiang, Sheng Jian, Wang Hui.(2018). The current situation and analysis of housing stray dogs and cats in cities in my country. Chinese Journal of Veterinary Medicine(09), 116-118.
[12] Shao Shuai, Yin Xiaochen. (2021). Research on the Design of Rescue Services for Stray Cats in Urban Communities. Design (01), 60-63.
[13] Mary Douglas. (2008). Cleanliness and Danger. translated by Huang Jianbo, Liu Boyun, etc. Beijing: Nationalities Press.
[14] Wang Fang, Wang Fang, Sun Xiaodong. (2021). "Raccoon dogs" and their home, 150 communities and 5,000 raccoon dogs in a city. China National Geographic (04), 125.