Carl Safina and Alfie: so a owl made the great scholar fall in love (net of scientific neutrality)

Alfie is one lucky owl. Fall from the nest, he met Carl Safinaecologist, university professor, who saved and looked at her in a loving way. He did not think « well, it is natural that among the new births several Muoiano » and instead he dedicated himself with passion and patience to this puppy – that the scientists call « Pullus » – of night rapacious, to be precise Eastern American axiolo. The story of this rescue – which has become a book, « Alfie and I », published in Italy by Adelphi – is full of emotions and of Ethological and existential discoveries.

Safine He is a scientist but is capable of poetry And he speaks clearly about his emotions, even in first person. But the axiolo it is a wild animal, it must live freeand Safina tells her doubts. He does not want to make Alfie « a beggar » who asks for food from humans, but freeing it means to export it to the difficulties, the risks of the world, can become an abandonment, a bad end. Will the little Assiola be able to get by?

So the release will be gradual, little by little. Go away and then return. The aviary will have the door open, it will be A place to take refuge and not a cagea prison. Alfie has become part of the family Di Safina, together with his wife, three dogs (educated not to disturb the birds or other guests), about ten hens and two parrots, one of whom, however, dies soon soon.

In one of the photographs in the center of the volume, Alfie kisses Safina « in the manner of the Assioli », but so that it resembles the kiss on the mouth between humans. In short, There is no claim to scientific neutralityon the contrary, there is a strong affective relationshipthe axiolo flutters for the house and, among other things, takes food from the hand, in yet another but fundamental moment of communication.

Soon Alfie proves to be a skilled insect hunter, removing a concern from his Savior. Among the foods provided are the mice, which Safina buys frozen by a producer who guarantees a farm respectful of the well -being of these small rodents, and, perhaps, a sweet death, an euthanasia. After a quick passage in the microwave, it gives them to Alfie. In short, nature must be helped or, at least, even wild animals must be helped.

At a certain point, Alfie has a boyfriend, an axiol attracted by his calls, and Safina describes the courtship, with a nice tip of jealousy. The new axiolo is called Plus-one And he also appears in the photographs, with a less relaxed expression than that of Alfie, given that rightly wary human beings. After numerous couplings, Alfie lays the eggs, from which five chicks are born. And new lives bloom.

Safina insists a lot on the relationship, on indispensable connection between humans and naturebetween humans and animals, and also makes philosophical excursus. Western culture and Christianity, which compares with ancient oriental traditions and with indigenous cultures, perhaps a little idealized, have separated man from the natural world and his body, starting from Platoand finding his culmination in Descartesso hated by animal rights activists.