Dr. Adam P. Johnson, incoming director of the Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross State University, has released a new book examining the complex relationships between humans and javelinas in Texas.
The book, “Living with Javelinas: Multispecies Conviviality in Texas,” was published by the University of Texas Press and explores how people and wildlife interact, share landscapes and coexist.
The Center for Big Bend Studies announced the release Tuesday, Oct. 20, congratulating Johnson on the publication.
Johnson’s work offers a perspective on the relationship between humans and javelinas, an animal commonly encountered throughout the Big Bend region and other parts of Texas.
Javelinas, also known as collared peccaries, are native to the American Southwest and are frequently mistaken for wild pigs. Despite their similar appearance, they belong to a different biological family.
The book examines the ways humans and javelinas navigate shared environments, offering insights into wildlife, human behavior and the challenges of coexistence.
Johnson’s appointment as incoming director of the Center for Big Bend Studies places him at the helm of an institution dedicated to researching and preserving the history, archaeology and cultural heritage of the Big Bend region.
Based at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, the center conducts research and supports scholarship focused on Far West Texas and the surrounding region.
The publication adds to academic discussions about how humans understand and interact with wildlife, particularly in landscapes where residential development, ranching and natural habitats intersect.
“Living with Javelinas: Multispecies Conviviality in Texas” is available through the University of Texas Press.
