A lonely polar bear navigates an arctic landscape altered by climate change. A faithful hound mourns the loss of the endangered rhino he swore to project. Vultures seek meaning as they attend to an antelope that perished in Central Asia. A beloved donkey’s loyalty to a zookeeper in Gaza is put to the ultimate test. And a wounded pigeon in Delhi finds an unlikely friend. In these stories and more, Talia Lakshmi Kolluri’s debut collection speaks to the fears and joys of the animals we share our world with in striking, immersive detail against the backdrop of an ever-changing international landscape. Through nine emotionally vivid stories, all narrated from animal perspectives portraying the complexity of their lives and relationships, WHAT WE FED TO THE MANTICORE explores themes of environmentalism, conservation, identity, belonging, loss, and family with resounding heart and deep tenderness, and ultimately places the reader under the rich canopy of the tree of life.