Animal Law in Australasia: A Quiet Crisis

Animal law, as a field of legal education, research and practice, is now treated with more seriousness than ever before. Regionally and globally, there are discrete animal law units available to students and an increasing number of animal law research hubs. This book taps into the strong interest in the area and provides a critical exploration of current issues in animal law. The ‘quiet crisis’ referred to in the subtitle acknowledges that while the area of animal law may be more popular, there remain many troubling and little discussed aspects of present-day human-animal relations.

The book covers many of the systemic problems that exist in our treatment of non-human animals. Some of these are long standing; others have become more acute in recent years, such as the impact of climate change and the implications of pandemics caused by zoonotic diseases. Structured around three parts, the book covers three key themes. Part I of the book examines foundational concepts in animal law; Part II investigates key issues in contemporary animal law; and Part III reflects on law reform.

The editors, Jane Kotzmann, Associate Professor at Deakin University, and Joanna Kyriakakis, Associate Professor at Monash University, have brought together an excellent group of contributors who are experts in the field. They include academics, lawyers, and policy advisors.

Animal Law in Australasia provides students with the most up-to-date understanding of the significant themes and issues in animal law today.