Book Description
Cynthia Moss has studied the elephants in Kenya's Amboseli National Park for over twenty-seven years. Her long-term research has revealed much of what we now know about these complex and intelligent animals. Here she chronicles the lives of the members of the T families led by matriarchs Teresia, Slit Ear, Torn Ear, Tania, and Tuskless. With a new afterword catching up on the families and covering current conservation issues, Moss's story will continue to fascinate animal lovers.
"One is soon swept away by this 'Babar' for adults. By the end, one even begins to feel an aversion for people. One wants to curse human civilization and cry out, 'Now God stand up for the elephants!'"—Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times
"Moss speaks to the general reader, with charm as well as scientific authority. . . . [An] elegantly written and ingeniously structured account." —Raymond Sokolov, Wall Street Journal
"Moss tells the story in a style so conversational . . . that I felt like a privileged visitor riding beside her in her rickety Land-Rover as she showed me around the park." —Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, New York Times Book Review
"A prose-poem celebrating a species from which we could learn some moral as well as zoological lessons." —Chicago Tribune
Customer Reviews:
Captivating Elephant Saga.......2006-12-21
Moss takes you on an incredible journey into the lives of African elephants and allows you to take a bird's eye view of the research she has done. The book, while captivating, can seem a little discombobulated to some, however. The book divides itself into the different years Moss is writing about, each chapter being a different year. This set up, however, is a bit confusing as the chapters do not limit themselves to that particular year, but instead discussed a myriad of years all while focusing on a particular topic. That said, you do see progression in the timeline as the book reads on.
The only downside I saw to this book was the fictional retelling of circumstances that she was not witness to. She describes the deaths of a few elephants as well as some mishaps involving the elephants in near poetic detail, though she never actually saw what happened, or she only witnessed the very end of the circumstance. She does not note where the fictionalization begins, and you only understand what parts are ficionalized after reading on and seeing where she says "I don't know what happened." These are merely assumptions made on the part of the author and though they could have very real merit, it can hurt the integrity of the book when read by someone who is looking for a purely factual account of African elephants. While Moss does warn that she does make assumptions, it would have been better if she noted right before each fictionalized story that it was an assumption. That said, the stories do involve true elephant behavior and shows the audience how elephants may react in certain situations.
There is an incredible amount of insight in this book. You become attached to certain elephants, feel joy over new births, celebrate victory over hardship, and mourn the deaths of these creatures. It teaches the reader about their behaviors, environment, and most of all, the conservation of these majestic animals.
HOW WONDERFUL ELEPHANTS ARE.......2006-07-05
IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT MAN DOESNT KNOW OR CHOOSES NOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW INTELLEGENT AND WONDERFUL THESE BEAUTIFUL CREATURES OF GOD ARE AND THIS BOOK MAKES IT REAL CLEAR.
The lives of elephants revealed.......2002-01-18
This is a wonderful book. Cynthia Moss takes the reader deep into the intricate social lives of Africa elephans in Amboseli National Park (Kenya), and leaves a profound impression. How very sensitive these animals are, and how endearing. It is entirely clear how these creatures have suffered at the hands of humans, but also nobody can read this book and not feel the urge to conserve this fantastic species. Also it may inspire some to travel to Amboseli to see the elephants 'in person' - an experience that you will never forget!
Intriguing.......2002-01-05
This is an excellent book. At first, the book seems confusing as the author continuously refers to the individual elephants on a first name basis when one has no idea of who these "people" are. As the names become more familiar and the individual stories develop, the strange names develop into a wonderful, although at times anthropomorphic story on the natural history of these gentle animals. As she warns us, the author takes the liberty of adding unwitnessed, fictional pieces to most stories, which can be confusing and at times blur the objective observations that she makes with subjective, although probably real, assumptions.
But this book is not a hard core technical text, despite glimpses of it being so in the beginning. The book is about remembering the wonderful social and behavioral characteristics of individuals that make up a population. From matriarchs to lonely males, from birth to death during periods of drought or at the hands of Masai warriors, this book gives a comprehensive insight into relevant issues affecting the survival of the African elephant. The author comes across as a human being, with emotions that go beyond the hard-core science. Although her prose is dry at times, this book is very enjoyable and opens a magnificent window into the world of the Amboseli elephants.
Thorough and moving study of elephants!.......2001-01-11
This book covers thirteen years of Cynthia Moss' research on elephants at Amboseli National Park in Kenya. Several of the elephant families residing at Amboseli are featured in this book. Cynthia Moss learned to distinguish each individual elephant by such characteristics as the shape of their ears, ear markings or the size and shape of the tusks. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of elephant life like mating, draught etc. Together with fellow researcher Joyce Poole Cynthia Moss discovered that the bulls like their Asian cousins go into musth too (the period they are the most attractive to the cows). Thus a longstanding mystery was solved. But through it all shines Cynthia Moss' deep love for the elephants, she found with them so much to recommend. Learning from them. She certainly succeeds in sharing the joy of studying and living with elephants. I warmly recommend Ian and Oria Douglas-Hamilton and Joyce Poole's books too. Indeed Cynthia Moss has found new insights but this is still the book to read on elephants in the first place.
Book Description
Wild Orphans tells the emotional tale of eight baby elephants living in the nursery of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage at the Nairobi National Park in Kenya, East Africa. It chronicles their story over two long years, including memorable images of the rescue of abandoned baby elephants, their upbringing by dedicated 24-hour surrogate human "mothers," the lessons they learn, and ultimately, their release back into the wild. The stars of Wild Orphans are the "Orphan 8": eight babies who arrived at the orphanage during the summer of 1999, a time of prolonged drought and increased ivory poaching. They are: Natumi - Rescued froma well at just two months old after her mother was killed by hunters, she is the ringleader of the eight and is very possessive of the smaller babies; Icholta - Rescued at six weeks old after being abandoned by her herd. She is small for her age, with soft fuzz on her head, and is very gentle and friendly; Ilingwezi - Rescued at just one month, she was abandoned by her herd after falling into a deep gully. She is very sweet and playful; Idie - Four months old when rescued from a well, Idie grieved deeply for the family that abandoned her. Idie and Ilingwezi are now best friends; Nyiro - Found in a trench, he is sturdy and tough. As the smallest and most out-going of the group, he is a great favorite among the bigger elephants; Salama - Just three or four months old when abandoned by a herd that was fleeing poachers, Salama is tough, confident, and occasionally pushy; Lolokwe - He was rescued after falling into a well at just one month old. It is possible that he, Salama, and Nyiro all share the same father; Laikipia - She was rescued at four months after falling down a well. While Wild Orphans focuses on the adventures of these elephants, the reader will also be introduced to other orphans living in the nursery, their caregivers, older "graduate" elephants who return to teach the babies, and the greater story of the African elephant's plight. Never before has a photographer been granted this kind of access or spent this length of time photographing these orphans of Nairobi. Never before has their return to the wild been documented. Wild Orphans is certainly a landmark in nature photography and journalism, but it is also, perhaps more importantly, a story: One that will warm the soul and pull at the heart-strings of all animal-lovers.
Customer Reviews:
Captivating Photographic Essay of Orphaned African Elephants.......2004-11-21
Photographer Gerry Ellis spent 2 years with the orphaned elephants of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at the Nairobi National Park in Kenya in order to document the rescues, daily lives and preparation to return to the wild for these young elephants who have fallen victim to natural and unnatural disasters. In the summer of 1999, prolonged drought and increased ivory poaching brought brought more orphaned baby elephants to the Trust in one season that it had seen in the entire previous decade. Gerry Ellis followed, photographed, and got to know 8 of the young elephants who were one month to one year old when they arrived at the Wildlife Trust. Through more than 100 photographs and accompanying text, we meet the "Orphan 8", learn of the challenges of raising them, observe as the youngsters recover from their injuries and fear, adjust to life at the Trust, develop relationships with one another and with their human keepers, and, after 2 years, move to Tsavo National Park, where they will eventually be released into the wild. An essay by Gerry Ellis introduces each of the book's 6 chapters. Detailed explanations accompany all photographs -not as captions, but full-sized text. I've long been a fan of Gerry Ellis' fine art nature photography, but "Wild Orphans" is fantastic photojournalism and more personal work than I have seen from Ellis before. Ellis' love for this project shows. Admirers of elephants and those concerned with their fate -or that of African wildlife in general- won't want to miss "Wild Orphans".
I LOVE THIS BOOK.......2004-09-29
I love this book. The text was written by the photographer. The photographs alone are priceless. I think it is also a very valuable contribution to the ongoing oftentimes contentious debate about human intervention in the animal kingdom. This book makes an eloquent statement that there are times when it is appropriate to intervene, save the lives of the animals and educate humans on the importance of maintaining animal habitat in the process.
What I enjoyed the most was the gradual realization of the author that we are all connected - human and animal. We have created the conditions that are killing these animals through our unsound environmental practices. There is no conscionable way to turn our backs on the animals that are being forced to live in what we have created. We must admit our responsibility for the environmental chaos we have created and help where we need to. To simply look the other way as these elephants die and throw out the excuse that it's "nature", "the law of the land" or worse yet "survival of the fittest" is inhuman.
It is extremely touching. For those of you who can't tolerate another anthropomorphic happy-meal animal book, some die as they are being rescued and some after.
The information on GLOBIO and the work they are doing world wide is a valuable teaching tool for children.
You wont forget it!.......2003-06-10
Bought this for my niece, she loves it. Beautiful photography.
Fantastic.......2002-09-09
The photography is amazing and that alone is worth getting this book. However the stories behind each picture and story of each member of the Orphan 8 are extremely touching, and provide a wonderful insight between humans and elephants. It will leave you in awe of the difference the wonderful people at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust make in this endeavor to help save the African Elephant.
Average customer rating:
- A Lumbering Book on a Lumbering Bear
- Classic Murie
- Classic Murie
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The Grizzlies of Mount McKinley (Scientific Monographs Series)
Adolph Murie
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
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The Wolves of Mount McKinley
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A Naturalist in Alaska
ASIN: 0295962046 |
Book Description
For 25 years, Adolph Murie, one of North America's greatest naturalists, spent his summers in Mount McKinley National Park (since renamed Denali National Park) tracking, recording, and interpreting the lives of grizzlies in one of their few remaining strongholds.
Customer Reviews:
A Lumbering Book on a Lumbering Bear.......2003-06-27
Murie's book (originally a scientific monograph) on Ursus horribilis, the great brown bear, is a 242-page collection of observations of the grizzly's actions and relationships with its habitat. Murie's first-hand observations date from 1922 to the 1960s and were made around Denali (the original native name of Mount McKinley).
Murie's observations are dispassionate and objective, seemingly free of any bias for or against the great bear (although, at the conclusion, his admiration for the beast and his passionate desire that mankind refrain from "managing" wildlife do emerge). His observations include such topics as bears' range and movement, mating, mother-cub interaction, food habits, and relationship with various types of potential prey such as caribou, moose, Dall sheep, squirrels, marmots and mice.
As mentioned, Murie's observations deal only with the grizzlies of interior Alaska around McKinley National Park. He occasionally refers to but does not report on the brown bears of the Alaskan southern coastal areas, although he does accept them as a variety of grizzly (some feel that they are different species or sub-species).
Before buying this book, the reader should understand that it is not a "story book" about bears. There is no connected "story line" throughout the book, nor is it a collection of harrowing tales about grizzly attacks on hapless humans. Readers looking for entertainment or excitement should seek elsewhere. However, the book is quite illuminating as to the normal habits of normal grizzlies in their normal environment, and readers who wish to understand the actions (and, dare I say, the thought processes) of these animals will find the book a realistic, down-to-earth resource. It does not propose any encompassing scientific theories or postulate new hypotheses about grizzlies; it merely reports on how they act, where they roam, and how they live. In the end, this fairly long series of observations is quite effective in painting a very realistic and useful picture of both the grizzlies and, to a lesser extent, of the animals upon which they prey or with which they coexist.
There are a few somewhat grainy, black and white photographs reproduced in the book, indicative of the photographic technology available to Murie. Somehow, though, their quality adds to the overall impression of the book as the product of a keen observer of wildlife half a century and more ago. In brief, I found the book interesting and informative, if not exactly a "page-turner," and it should be useful to those who would become naturalists, who are curious about grizzlies, or who, like me, will always feel somewhat entranced by Alaska, the Last Frontier, and its still-wild creatures.
Classic Murie.......2000-10-19
There are so few grizzly bears left alive in the Lower 48 that grizzlies have become mytholigized as either demonic carnivores or hapless river wading salmon fishers.
Adolph Murie was one of our greatest naturalists. His books on wolves, mammals, and grizzlies all share the same great style of writing; that mix of wonder and research that illuminates the true nature of wildlife and man's place among them.
Classic Murie.......2000-10-19
There are so few grizzly bears left alive in the Lower 48 that grizzlies have become mytholigized as either demonic carnivores or hapless river wading salmon fishers.
Adolph Murie was one of our greatest naturalists. His books on wolves, mammals, and grizzlies all share the same great style of writing; that mix of wonder and research that illuminates the true nature of wildlife and man's place among them.
Amazon.com
Jane Goodall might be a household name for most grownups, thanks to her pioneering work with chimpanzees and more recent efforts at habitat preservation. But many kids don't know the Goodall story and will love this chance to hit the ground in Tanzania and learn about the remarkable scientist and her beloved chimp friends. With dozens of vintage photographs, Goodall recounts her early research in Gombe National Park, including a recap of her childhood and how she came to know Louis Leakey and first enter the bush. With clear and careful prose, Goodall explains her findings about chimp communities and communication, the role of hierarchies, and what sort of threats chimpanzees face today. Best of all, Goodall's account always keeps curious young readers in mind, even relating some of her mistakes, such as when she became too close to her subjects and interfered with her own research.
Young protoscientists will appreciate Goodall's frank descriptions, from kerosene-can-assisted dominance displays to her discovery that chimps engage in hunting and warlike behaviors, and hopefully, such detail will inspire further interest in the future of chimpanzees and other threatened species. Proceeds from the book will go to Roots & Shoots, a "grassroots environmental and humanitarian education program for young people" under the Jane Goodall Institute. Because "hundreds of roots and shoots--young people like you--around the globe can break through and make the world a better place for all living things." (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
As a child, Jane Goodall dreamed of living with the wild animals of Africa. As a young woman, she amazed the world with her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees, which she documented in her acclaimed National Geographic television specials. Ever since, Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee now an endangered species. This moving, personal account will inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.
Customer Reviews:
Jane Goodall tells about her chimpanzees to a new generation.......2004-01-01
My father subscribed to both "National Geographic Magazine" and their related series of books, the most memorable of which was about Jane Goodall's study of chimpanzees in Africa. The story of her work and the photographs of Fifi, Flo, Flint, Gremlin, David Greybeard and the rest were so enthralling. Many of those photographs, such as the one of infant Flint watching his mother Flo fish for termites and showing that man is not the only tool-using animal, are collected in "The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours," which Goodall uses to introduce her exciting work to a new generation of young readers.
When she was a child Jane Goodall decided she wanted to go to the jungles of Africa and study its animals. Today she is one of the most renowned and respected scientists on the planet, having dedicated her life and work to the study of a community of chimpanzees at the Gombe National Park in Tanzania. In this fascinating book Goodall recounts her exciting adventure in making ground-breaking discoveries regarding chimpanzees and their profound similarities to human beings. She also talks about her struggle to protect this endangered species and their vanishing habitats.
Most of "The Chimpanzees I Love" looks at the Goodall's study of the generations of these chimpanzees, where we follow individual chimpanzees from babies to adulthood. Goodall provides simple descriptions of her discoveries, and often points out her own mistakes (naming her subjects was not exactly a scientific practice). Chapters are devoted to how she first made contact with and was accepted by the chimpanzees, how they communicate within their community, the relationship between mothers and babies, what a day in the forest is like, and the mind of the chimpanzees. At that point Goodall gets into the plight of the chimpanzees, including a distressing look at their lives in captivity and how they are being sold in markets in Afrcia. All of the proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to support of Goodall's international grassroots educational program, "Roots & Shoots."
"The Chimpanzees I Love" is both informative and inspirational, which is what you expect from Jane Goodall, who is one of the people who truly defined idealism for a lot of young kids in the Sixties. The idea that Flo's daughter Fifi, who was a little infant when Goodall began her studies, is now around forty years old and has had her eighth infant astounds me. But the one I miss is Flint, the first wild chimpanzee whose development was documented from birth through death, who turned out to be as much a child of the Sixties as the rest of us.
wonderful woman, extraordinary book.......2001-10-31
beautifully design and illustrated work by a woman who has devoted her life to chimpanzee rescue and understanding...(...)--this is for all children
Book Description
October in Canada's Wapusk National Park: a female bear digs a den deep into the snow, a safe haven where she can give birth to her cubs. The tiny white bears emerge from the cozy fastness of the cave in February and make the journey with their mother to hunting grounds on Hudson Bay. Internationally renowned photographer Thorsten Milse captures the baby polar bears' first steps and play-filled days in enchanting pictures that delight and move us.
Customer Reviews:
God's beautiful Polar Bears photographed with great love.......2007-08-08
This gift to my wife, was one of the best ever bought. She loves bears so much her eyes filled with tears at the beauty and love in this book.
She has a dream of holding; even if just for a second a baby bear; this book brought her so close. The pictures left both of us speachless, and made us feel as though we were standing right next to the wonderful photographer.Beautiful,beautiful,huge,full,and beautiful!!!
Customer Reviews:
ECHO of the ELEPHANTS.......2004-10-25
In preparation for my upcoming trip to The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee to take photos for an article that I'm writing about these incredible animals, I purchased this book and others by Cynthia Moss. This one will help to make people aware that elephants were not created for human entertainment. The rich among us saw them as the path to greater wealth, and left dead and abused elephants in their wake. The readers of this wonderful book will see elephants as the sensitive, caring, creatures that they are and always have been. We humans could learn much from reading how they bond together and watch over their young and each other. After reading this book, I hope many do as I did. Toss a check in the mail. These people who are helping these elephants are often doing without, to better serve a cause that they're very dedicated to. The many terrific color pictures made this book come alive.
Rick Magers
author/publisher
www.grizzlybookz.com
ancientguy@alltel.net
An excellent summary of Echo and her family. Ely is great........1999-02-06
I have fallen in love with Echo and the EB family. Ely's traumatic first days are unforgettable. I couldn't wait for The Next Generation to come out. I have definitely become an elephant fan.
Book Description
BOOK SENSE NOTABLE BOOK
"By piquing our imaginations, by sparking in us a sense of wonder, Yellowstone's wolves have done much to invigorate our sense of place, even our sense of generosity, rekindling relationships that allow us to again feel at home in the world."
-- Douglas Smith, Wolf Project Leader
For millions of people around the world, the image of wolves running free through Yellowstone National Park has become the ultimate symbol of the American wilderness. The release of thirty-one Canadian gray wolves in 1995 and 1996-arguably the most controversial feat of conservation in our nation's history-sparked a new-found passion for these remarkable animals and the unbound lands that sustain them.
Few were prepared for the outpouring of emotion sparked by the reintroduction of these wolves, and for the changes that came, both in the land and in the minds of men, with that experiment. For the first time, Douglas Smith and Gary Ferguson recount the first ten years of this historic endeavor. The journey of the wolves themselves and the people who faithfully followed them through the wilds of Yellowstone make for unforgettable reading.
Here are intimate details about the lives of these animals, including wonderful stories about survival and family dynamics. Smith and award-winning nature writer Gary Ferguson weave together never-before-published scientific discoveries with spell-binding tales of the wolves' behaviors. The wolves have not only survived, but completely changed the ecosystem, spilling a fresh measure of wild across the world's first national park. . DECADE OF THE WOLF serves to mark the end of the opening act of this inspired, often tumultuous tale of preservation.
DOUGLAS SMITH, PHD, Wolf Project leader, has studied wolves for twenty-four years and has worked on the reintroduction in Yellowstone since its inception. He lives in Gardiner, Montana.
GARY FERGUSON is an award-winning nature writer whose books include The Great 0 Divide: The Rocky Mountains in the American Mind, Hawks Rest: A Season in the Remote Heart of Yellowstone, and The Yellowstone Wolves. He has written for numerous publications including Vanity Fair, Outside, the Los Angeles Times, and Men's Journal. He lives in Red Lodge, Montana.
Customer Reviews:
A terrific book about wolves & wildlife biology.......2007-10-01
I have read over 40 books about wolves over 35 years and this one stands out as one of the very best.
The book has two main themes -- the life histories of individual wolves brought to Yellowstone and their packs, and what wildlife biologists actually do to accomplish a successful introduction and gather the histories of these wolves. Both these themes are covered very well in exceptionally graceful writing.
Missing intentionally is a blow by blow history of the political controversy surrounding the introduction, and I am glad for that -- the focus remains on the wolves and how they deal with the challenges they face. The political history has been covered in other books and is a fairly depressing story of people shouting at each other.
The authors ability to describe in remarkable detail on the histories of individual wolves and their packs was aided enormously by the radio collars the placed on select individuals and the high visibility of the wolves in Yellowstone. The picture that emerges is of an enormously rich, complex, dynamic and tough world. Surviving is a constant challenge for a wolf, even in this prey-rich environment, and few wolves make it past 4-5 years old, much younger than the lives of wolves in captivity.
Their is so much information about their behavior that the wolves emerge as distinct individuals with dramatically different personalities and styles. Packs develop unique cultures (e.g. hunting bison). The static alpha male - alpha female hierarchy so often described in other books turns out to be far more variable with much greater roles in some packs for the alpha female and non-alpha wolves.
The authors note how frequently the wolves' behavior continues to them, particularly social behavior. There are far more ways to organize and "run" a wolf pack then previously thought, and the complexity of the dynamics described resembles human social interactions to a remarkable degree.
There is a lot that can be learned even by well-read wolf enthusiasts from reading this book. Yet, for those who are just beginning to read about wolves, this book is a superb introduction to these animals that get more fascinating the more we know about them.
Those who enjoyed the insight into the life of a wildlife biologist in this book would no doubt also enjoy Craig Packer's Into Africa, an account of his work with the social histories of African lion prides.
Great Book about the wolves of Yellowstone N.P........2007-08-12
This has to be the best book I have read in years about the Yellowstone National Park's reintroduction of the wolves. Entertaining and very educational. I highly advise anyone that would like to further there education on the history of the Yellowstone Wolves to read this book. It was pure enjoyment.
A good wolf book.......2007-08-06
This book was a great read and, despite the rip-off for the CDN dollar by the publisher, I was very happy to recieve this in the mail. It made a good, informative and sweet read for those who love wildlife and wolves. The narrative isn`t borring or scientific which makes it easy to read. Of course there are a few things that bothered me while reading this.
Firstly, the people didn`t realy explore alternatives to wolves eating livestock, they just kind of shot them and didn`t take the responsibility to practice other non-lethal methods of controling wolves such as the use of guard dgs or deterrents. I was also looking forward to a lot more pictures of wolves, and while the ones in the book were beautiful, they were small and there were few. I really wish that the authors could have elaborated more about the indivdual wolves` that were the founders of Yellowstone`s packs. it seemed that just one peice of each wolf wasn`t enough to capture their intimate lives (and not enough pictures of the wolves themselves). If they ever re-do this book, hopefully more can be placed on pictures and what has happened to the wolves and their packs in yellowstone.
Good for biology of Yellowstone wolves but a disappointment for the larger story.......2007-06-06
This book looks back at the ten years since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. The reintroduction has been a great success, with wolf packs filling up the park and dispersing outside its boundaries.
The authors are well-placed to tell this story. Douglas Smith is a biologist who has been closely involved with the wolf program, and Gary Ferguson is an award-winning journalist who has written on many outdoor topics connected to the American West.
Though it's certainly a good read, the book was nonetheless a bit of a disappointment to me. The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone saw two big pieces of action: the political firestorm before reintroduction, and the animals' success afterwards. The biggest story was probably the former debate, but the book hardly discusses that.
Instead, Smith and Ferguson focus on the wolves since reintroduction. They alternate types of chapters - - a substantive chapter about some aspect of wolves, and then a chapter telling the story about some individual wolf. Intensive radio collaring of wolves in the park makes these histories possible, and it is interesting to see the lives of wolves in this way.
If you want to know how scientific research on Yellowstone's wolves has been carried out, the book is invaluable. If you're interested in the larger human story, especially the political battles, then you should try Martin Nie's _Beyond Wolves_ instead.
Great report for a great project........2006-02-25
I enjoyed "Decade of the Wolf" both for the information given on the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone as for the manner in which it is written. The first-person delivery of the tale is quite engaging and readable. However I would have liked to see more hard data, especially on the dramatic changes brought to Yellowstone ecosystems as a result of the reintroduction of the wolf.
Book Description
Accompanied by a photographer, two scientists, and a few armed rangers, Philip Caputo set out through the forbidding plains Tsavo in search of Africa's most feared and efficient killers—massive maneless lions with a man-eating reputation.
Over the past century, speculation about the ghostlike killers has gone unanswered, although recent studies suggest that the maneless lions may constitute a feline missing link between modern lions and their prehistoric ancestors. Therein lies the quest driving the expedition to find a scientific explanation for these fierce creatures and why they occasionally prey on humans. This vivid narrative of a scientific journey, available for the first time in paperback, is a riveting work from one of America's finest writers.
Customer Reviews:
An interesting work.......2006-08-19
The author tags along on a couple of scientific studies and reports what actually goes on. Very entertaining and enlightening but the theory that proved most promising is discounted in a similar study so we still don't have the answer to why the lions are maneless. But, that's nature...
The blend of science and adventure here makes for a riveting read.......2005-11-07
Philip Caputo's Ghosts Of Tsavo: Stalking The Mystery Lions Of East Africa blends travelogue with nature in telling of the author's journey to Kenya's Tsavo National Park on foot with his guides, then in companionship with two scientists who seek close encounters with the big cats. Are the maneless lions found in Tsavo a subspecies of African lion, and a missing link? These lions are especially fierce, and the blend of science and adventure here makes for a riveting read.
The Outlaw Lions.......2004-03-27
"Tsavo" means "place of slaughter" - the lions there are abnormally large, have maneless males, and are historically known as man-eaters. In 1898 two rogue lions terrorized a railway construction project; these lions were called "Ghost" and "Darkness" and inspired a 1996 film about this event. The Tsavo district is in south Kenya adjacent to Tanzania. This pair of lions would sneak into the construction camp at night, snatch up men from their tents and consume them within hearing distance. The engineer in charge, Lt. Col. John Henry Patterson, was an experienced tiger hunter but was often outwitted by these beasts. The contract laborers from India came to regard them as body-snatching demons. Eventually Patterson shot one lion from a platform. He trailed the second after wounding it (pp.7-8). A century later another man-eating lion appeared (pp.9-21). Note how this implies another form of colonial oppression: the people cannot keep and bear arms. A dozen 12 gauge shotguns could eliminate these wild beasts.
There are other beasts preying on Kenya today (p.33). Muggings, murders, and carjackings are so common that tourism is declining. This is matched by other sub-Sahara African countries. White colonials are safe in their fortresses, like medieval aristocracy (p.34). Tsavo lions are genetically different from common lions. They may be descended from maneless cave lions of the Pleistocene period. Their massive size matches their prey: the large, strong Cape buffalo (p.44). Theory says a crippling wound causes a lion to turn man-eater; the other reason is a loss of natural prey due to disease or over-hunting (p.46). Or they were taught from preying on abandoned bodies! Most man-eaters killed were in good or fair condition (p.47). Page 47 tells how a lion was killed with a knife!
Much of the fossil evidence of early human evolution comes from the bones left by large feline predators. It still happens to bicycle riders and drinkers at pubs (p.132). Predators look for a sign of weakness or injury. Page 256 tells how to hunt a lion. Find a carcass, then track the lion to where it was sleeping. Kill it before it awakes. Males with large, dark manes are preferred by females (p.251). Two myths about man-eaters are disproved on page 266. Man-eaters are not old or injured, or can't catch "normal" prey. Primates, like humans, are the normal prey of big cats for thousands of years. 7,000 people were killed in India by tigers in the mid-1920s. 1,500 humans were killed in southern Tanzania between 1932 and 1947 (p.267). Lions use their strong jaws and powerful limbs to kill. They pull an animal down and break its neck or clamp down on its muzzle to suffocate it (p.268). An area free of wild prey can create man-eating lions, particularly if the colonial rulers ban firearms to the people. Burial practices left dead bodies above ground, which attracted predators and trained them as man-eaters. Epidemics and famine added to the human food supply (p.292).
Almost made it.......2003-11-15
Caputo is pulitzer winner. As such, I expected much more from his book. He seems to pose a basic question, "Are the lions in Tsavo genetically different?" He spends a great deal of time interviewing scientists about this point. He arranges funding for a study to be done. He goes to Africa, to Tsavo with some scientists. Where, according to his own account, he tells them that he doesn't want to know! He doesn't want science to de-mystify his world view.
In the end, he never really gets an answer. He also, seems to find it curious that lions should be man eaters. While in Africa, he is constantly asking professional hunters, long time residents and scientist to explain how this could be. Sorry, I don't understand why the question even has to be asked.
In the end, the book left me frustrated.
Engaging look at unusual lions.......2003-05-10
"Ghosts of Tsavo" is part travelogue, part natural history, part murder mystery, and part mid-life crisis for its author Philip Caputo. What it is as a whole is a fascinating, engaging look at the lions of Tsavo Park in Kenya. Caputo first became interested in these unusual lions as a result of a visit to the Field Museum in Chicago as a young boy. Therein were "Ghost" and "Darkness" two enormous males lions that terrorized constructions workers building a rail line through Tsavo. In fact terrorized may be too weak a word as they are credited with killing at least 120 people and literarily halting construction until they were eventually hunted down and killed by British Lt. Col. Patterson who was heading up the project. He recounted this effort in his famous memoir "The Man Eaters of Tsavo" and kindled a fascination with Kenya's lions that lingered with Caputo for half a century.
What sets the lions of Tsavo apart from the more familiar ones we know from nature documentaries, is that they are much bigger, and the males are either maneless of have very short manes, in either case nothing like the regal mountains of fur on their cousins from the Serengeti. In the first half of the book, Caputo explores reasons as to why this might by the case. It is possible that since Tsavo is much warmer than the Serengeti, manes are too expensive in terms of internal resources to grow. Another possibility is that the thick scrub brush and thorns of the region wear down manes before they ever become truly impressive.
However, it is a more controversial theory that makes for the most entertaining reading. Caputo encounters several scientists who argue that the lions of Tsavo are genetically distinct from the lions on the Serengeti. Moreover, they argue that the lions of Tsavo are in fact a throw back to prehistoric lions, quite literally walking fossils. The point to the lack of manes, the much larger height and girth and the fact that Tsavo lions hunt the enormous Cape Buffalo as justifications for this thesis.
Ultimately, Caputo, in three journeys to Kenya over the course of eighteen months (once as a tourist and twice with scientific expeditions) is never able to definitively state which hypothesis is correct. However, that in no way detracts from his rambling, conversational narrative. Caputo is not a scientist, and he in no way pretends to be one, although he does (and justifiably so) consider himself a well-informed observer. As such, he is not constrained by the rigors of academia, and can therefore transfer his passion for these lions and the mystery surrounding them onto the page. In fact, towards the end he grows weary of the scientific studies as they somehow detract from the powerful aura that surrounds the lions.
If you are interested in lions in general, or if the prospect of some spine-tingling tales of man-eating lions sounds appealing, "Ghost of Tsavo" is well worth reading. However, beyond the surface elements, Caputo has written a book that captures the raw spirituality of nature, and that bemoans modern man's detachment from the primitive. So it is entirely likely that even if you have no interest in lions at all, you may be drawn to Caputo's lament for something we don't even realize we have lost. Either way, "Ghost's of Tsavo" is well worth reading.
Jake Mohlman
Average customer rating:
- Nature boy, this book's for you
- Good general naturalist's info
- Great book, bad citations.
- Plants and Animals at Big Bend
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Naturalist's Big Bend: An Introduction to the Trees and Shrubs, Wildflowers, Cacti, Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fish, and Insects (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series, 33)
Roland H. Wauer , and
C. M. Fleming
Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
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ASIN: 1585441562 |
Customer Reviews:
Nature boy, this book's for you.......2007-07-19
Naturalist's Big Bend is a comprehensive overview of the flora and fauna of the Big Bend National Park region in Texas. Big Bend is unique for a couple of reasons. First, because the US/Mexico border dips south there, many species are found in the US only in this region. Secondly, as the climate changed following the last ice age, other species found themselves islanded in the cooler mountain ecosystems as the plains around them became deserts. These "sky islands" hold unique flora and fauna that has remained isolated for thousands of years.
Authors Wauer and Fleming have comprehensive first-hand knowledge of the park that comes through in every chapter. The book provides the advantage not only of their expertise but of their access to many unpublished Park Service and other reports and surveys of the park. The bibliography is the definitive go-to guide for anyone wishing to research any aspect of Big Bend's ecosystem. However, for a more personal tour of the park, you might prefer For All Seasons: A Big Bend Journal by author Wauer.
The book makes an excellent reference for the knowledgeable biologist or biology buff planning, enjoying, or remembering a visit to Big Bend National Park. Casual tourists will find the detail overwhelming and the illustrations miserly. With a bigger budget, this could have been a stunning illustrated field guide. As it is, most species rely on description alone for identification. There are a few black-and-white plates of plants, a limited number of fascinating black-and-white photos of animals, and a select group of stunning color photos that illustrate the diverse habitats found within the park.
Good general naturalist's info.......2006-03-07
My husband and I both found this useful and interesting for our recent weeklong trip to Big Bend. I would recommend it more as preparatory reading before the trip, or evening reading at your room or campsite while in the park, than as a guide to specific areas or species. Also it is best used with oher books accompanying it rather than relying on it alone, such as hiking, lizard, flower, or birding book too, depending on your interests. The bibiography uses up about the last quarter of this rather slim book. So you may want to get it way ahead of your trip then order more books from the bibliography or elsewhere.
Great book, bad citations........2005-12-14
This is a neat little book summarizing the flora and fauna of Big Bend National Park. It covers plants, birds, mammals, invertebrates, fish, and reptiles and amphibians, and provides a brief history. It is not an identification guide, but a listing of species of interest with some facts about them. There are better resources of information about birds and plants, but the other topics are rarely covered elsewhere aside from checklists available at the park.
My only problem with this guide is that they have provided in-text citations that are not in the bibliography! If you are going to cite sources in the text, please provide complete information *somewhere*. The bibliography lists lots of great sources, just not ALL of the sources used in the book. This lack of attention to detail is the reason I gave this book anything less than 5 stars.
Plants and Animals at Big Bend .......2004-12-27
Big Bend National Park has a variety of habitats for plants and animals. I was surprised to read that Big Bend counts more bird species than any other National Park in the US. Most of the park is desert, but the Rio Grande attracts water-loving species and the higher elevations of the Chisos mountains support trees normally associated with the Rocky Mountains hundreds of miles further north.
This is a fine little book. It has many color illustrations of the rugged terrain of the Big Bend, historical photos, black and white photos of animals and plants, and line drawings of wildflowers for identification purposes.
The book offers a capsule history of the Big Bend and a description of the five ecological zones in the park: floodplain, desert shrub, desert grassland, woodland formation and woodland. A chapter each is devoted to describing trees and shrubs, wildflowers, cacti, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, fish, and insects and other invertebrates. An extensive bibliography will guide a reader who wants more information. The text is competently and clearly written with brief descriptions of each species and comments on its importance, uses, range, and habitat.
Smallchief
Book Description
On the afternoon of October 5, 2003, in Alaska's Katmai National Park, one or more brown bears killed and ate Timothy Treadwell, a well-known wildlife celebrity, and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard. This frightening and chilling story immediately captured worldwide media attention and ignited a firestorm of controversy. Death in the Grizzly Maze is the compelling account of Treadwell's intense life and dramatic death. Author Mike Lapinski chronicles Treadwell's rise from self-described alcoholic loser to popular grizzly-bear advocate, and he delves into the troubling issues raised by a new breed of wildlife celebrities.
Customer Reviews:
Fact, rationalization or apology?.......2006-09-01
Although this book cannot be tagged the Anti-Treadwell story, it represents the viewpoints of many professional biologists employed by Alaska and/or the federal gov. It is important to know both sides, and well worth your while to read this account. It may even explain some of the influences on Treadwell's death, although I am sure no one intended that. It is almost a rationalization offered in place of an apology. Go ahead - read it.
Death in the Grizzly Maze.......2006-08-24
I had watched the film on Timothy Treadwell's life and was very interested in reading more about what happened. I ordered this book hoping to learn more, which I did. I would recommend it to anyone that is interested in both sides of the story. Very well written.
Far Reaching.......2006-06-17
This book is pretty far reaching. Obviously the author came into the book with preconceived judgments. It is less a book about Treadwell and more a book about Lapinski and his views on everything from psychology to hunting. There are great materials out there that provide a balanced account of the Treadwell story, this is not one of them. The author over dramatizes situations to his advantage and repeats his views over and over again as if to convince the reader he is right.
The author tries to be subtle about his distaste for New Age ideas and animal rights activism, but it is evident throughout the book. He portrays the people who loved Treadwell and the way they choose to honor his memory as silly and those who object to Treadwell as enlightened. He tries to illustrate his understanding of Treadwell by comparing the adrenaline rush of killing a wild animal with that of getting close to one that is alive. This kind of lack of insight is evident throughout the book.
Lapinski manages to blame Treadwell for everything except global warming in this book including making Treadwell responsible for bear haters hating bears more and for bear lovers engaging in risky behaviors. He also leans towards making Treadwell responsible for Amie Huguenard's death. She was a 37 year old, well educated outdoor enthusiast. It was not her first time at the park with Treadwell. She had also just left and chose to come right back a few days before she was killed. I think it dishonors her memory to portray her as a love struck girl not capable of making her own decisions or deciding what risks she was willing to take.
The author finds nothing good in Treadwell's legacy and if you are one of the people who were touched by him, then you are just one of those animal-crazy eco people. In the end it is almost amusing to see this author, a hunter who has written books on hunting, taking a dead man to task for getting two bears killed.
Certainly a critical look a Treadwell requires an analysis of his mistakes, but it also requires an objective outlook that this author just does not have.
good read.......2006-03-17
This book is interesting. However, I found it a bit too negative on Treadwell. Also, he never even interviews Jewel Palovak, saying that she would not be interviewed due to his being a bear hunter. The other Maze book however, the Grizzly Maze, does interview Jewel and he is also a former bear hunter. More research, please.
Timothy Treadwell, a gentle man who truely loved and cared for all wild creatures.......2006-02-23
To many humans Timothy Treadwells story may seem "out there and crazy". The fact that Timothy loved the bears and other wild animals so much most probably seems nuts to most humans..I know, as I am a wildlife rehabilitator, I know what many people honestly think of wild animals and those who try to help them. Timothy enjoyed being with the bears and fox and he enjoyed learning about their ways of life as well as educate the public.Timothy protected not only Grizzly Bears but other wild animals. There are people however, who thought that Timothy may have done harm to the Grizzlys by allowing them to trust him.To be imprinted. Timothy felt so close to these animals..he could not help it.
Being a wildlife rehabilitator myself,I know for a fact that the wild animals seem only to imprint on their caretaker and not other humans. So, I am certain that the Grizzly Bears only trusted Timothy. Unfortunaty, the one bear who Timothy could not earn trust from is the one who killed him. But one should understand that the only reason this Grizzly killed Timothy is because this Grizzly was caught and hurt in the past by other humans.
Only those people who truely love animals such as Timothy did can understand Timothy and love this film. They will be able to actually put themselves in Timothy's place. Timothy learned from and taught us all so much about the Grizzly world. Timothy gave us such such wonderful Grizzly Bear footage and photos. Something no other human has done.
Timothy lived the last 13 years of his life loving what he did and frustrated with the system and it's disrespect for all wild animals.
Timothy, as horrible his end was...died doing what he loved and would never ever want to see any harm done to his beloved Grizzly's.
This film is one I can see many times and never tire of.
Timothy's love for animals and his sense of humor shown in the film are priceless.
Thank you for this film and thank you dear Timothy.
Vikki Krupp
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