A photographic identification guide to 92 land and 30 marine mammals represents 90 per cent of all mammals in Sri Lanka, providing a perfect for guide for residents and visitors alike. Over 300 high-quality photographs from Sri Lanka's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habitat and viewing tips. The user-friendly introduction covers climatic zones, topography, top wildlife sites, night safaris and where to watch marine mammals. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the mammals of Sri Lanka encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names.

The surprising, fascinating, and remarkable ways that animals use creativity to thrive in their habitats Most of us view animals through a very narrow lens, seeing only bits and pieces of beings that seem mostly peripheral to our lives. However, whether animals are building a shelter, seducing a mate, or inventing a new game, animals' creative choices affect their social, cultural, and environmental worlds. The Creative Lives of Animals offers readers intimate glimpses of creativity in the lives of animals, from elephants to alligators to ants. Drawing on a growing body of scientific research, Carol Gigliotti unpacks examples of creativity demonstrated by animals through the lens of the creative process, an important component of creative behavior, and offers new thinking on animal intelligence, emotion, and self-awareness. With examples of the elaborate dams built by beavers or the lavishly decorated bowers of bowerbirds, Gigliotti provides a new perspective on animals as agents in their own lives, as valuable contributors to their world and ours, and as guides in understanding how creativity may contribute to conserving the natural world. Presenting a powerful argument for the importance of recognizing animals as individuals and as creators of a healthy, biodiverse world, this book offers insights into both the established and emerging questions about the creativity of animals.

Comprehensively revised, expanded and updated, this compact guide makes the ideal travelling companion on trips to the wildlife areas and nature reserves of East Africa.

It features

- authoritative text describing key identification features;

- full-colour photographs illustrating a range of commonly encountered, rare and beautiful species;

- distribution maps showing the range of each species;

- thumbnail outlines of each family group, enabling quick identification.

Polly Pullar has had a passion for red squirrels since childhood. As a wildlife rehabilitator, she knows the squirrel on a profoundly personal level and has hand-reared numerous litters of orphan kits, eventually returning them to the wild. In this book she shares her experiences and love for the squirrel and explores how our perceptions have changed. Heavily persecuted until the 1960s, it has since become one of the nation's most adored mammals. But we are now racing against time to ensure its long-term survival in an ever-changing world. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Polly's Perthshire farm, where she works continuously to encourage wildlife great and small, she highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if only we give it a chance. In just two decades, her efforts have brought spectacular results, and numerous squirrels and other animals visit her wild farm every day.

Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, "Wildlife of Australia" is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations. Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification. "Wildlife of Australia" is an indispensable and thorough resource for any nature enthusiast interested in this remarkable continent.Easy-to-use pocket guide More than 400 high-quality photographs Accessible text aids identification Habitat guide describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife Coverage includes the 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs most likely to be seen on a trip around Australia

Aesop’s Anthropology is a guide for thinking through the perplexing predicaments and encounters that arise as the line between human and nonhuman shifts in modern life. Recognizing that culture is not unique to humans, John Hartigan Jr. asks what we can learn about culture from other species. He pursues a variety of philosophical and scientific ideas about what it means to be social using cultural dynamics to rethink what we assume makes humans special and different from other forms of life. Through an interlinked series of brief essays, Hartigan explores how we can think differently about being human. Forerunners: Ideas First is a thought-in-process series of breakthrough digital publications. Written between fresh ideas and finished books, Forerunners draws on scholarly work initiated in notable blogs, social media, conference plenaries, journal articles, and the synergy of academic exchange. This is gray literature publishing: where intense thinking, change, and speculation take place in scholarship.

From maulings, close calls, and even humorous encounters, this collection of bear stories is the best! Written by Kalispell author Ben Long. "A must-read for all lovers of wilderness." claims the Missoulian newspaper. "Educates as it entertains" writes The Billings Gazette.

Visiting the mecca of snake watching. Twice a year, spring and fall, numerous species of reptiles and amphibians migrate between the LaRue Pine Hills' towering limestone bluffs and the Big Muddy River's swampy floodplain in southern Illinois. Snakes, especially great numbers of Cottonmouths, give the road that separates these distinct environments its name. Although it is one of the best places in the world to observe snakes throughout the year, spring and fall are the optimal times to see a greater number and variety. Snakes can be seen sunning themselves on rocks, lying in grasses, sheltering under or near fallen tree limbs, or crossing the road. In this engaging guide, author Joshua J. Vossler details what to expect and how to make the most of a visit to what is known around the world as Snake Road. Vossler catalogs twenty-three native snake species by both common and scientific names, lists identifying features, and estimates the probability of spotting them. Throughout this book, stunning color photographs of each species' distinctive physical characteristics enable identification by sight only, an important feature, since Illinois law prohibits the handling, harming, or removal of reptiles and other wildlife on and around the road. Since snakes are visually variable-individual snakes of the same species can differ tremendously in size, color, and pattern-photographs of as many variations as possible are included. To aid in identification, eleven sets of photographs contrast the features of similar species and point out how and why these snakes may be easily confused. Visitors can keep track of the snakes they have identified by using the checklist in the back of the book. A list of recommended reading provides sources of additional information about snakes in southern Illinois and beyond.

Hailed as a "nonfiction epic . . . in the tradition of Jared Diamond's best-seller Collapse, and Simon Winchester's Atlantic" (Dallas Morning News), Jack E. Davis's The Gulf is "by turns informative, lyrical, inspiring and chilling for anyone who cares about the future of 'America's Sea' " (Wall Street Journal). Illuminating America's political and economic relationship with the environment from the age of the conquistadors to the present, Davis demonstrates how the Gulf's fruitful ecosystems and exceptional beauty empowered a growing nation. Filled with vivid, untold stories from the sportfish that launched Gulfside vacationing to Hollywood's role in the country's first offshore oil wells, this "vast and welltold story shows how we made the Gulf . . . [into] a 'national sacrifice zone' " (Bill McKibben). The first and only study of its kind, The Gulf offers "a unique and illuminating history of the American Southern coast and sea as it should be written" (Edward O. Wilson).

This new, thoroughly revised edition of Bradt's Southern Africa Wildlife guide provides an overview of all southern African wildlife - not only 'big game' and other large mammals, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Excellent for independent travellers, it is reliable as a standalone guide combining both wildlife and visitor information, and is also a perfect complement to traditional field guides. Countries covered include Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Eswatini and Zimbabwe, with Malawi and Zambia both added to this new edition. Colour photographs illustrate all key species and the engaging text extends beyond basic identification features to illuminate the natural history and ecology of the wildlife that visitors will encounter. Text has been updated throughout to reflect the latest conservation initiatives and wildlife population figures. Included are a practical guide to tracks and signs, plus top tips for optimising your wildlife experience, as well as a 'where to go' overview which outlines the key wildlife attractions of each country and, together with a seasonal highlights calendar, enables visitors to plan a safari that suits their interests.

In countless fascinating ways, our relationship with animals is an essential part of the human experience. Now, one of the world's leading champions of animal welfare offers a dramatic examination of our age-old bond to all creatures. Wayne Pacelle explores the many ways animals contribute to our happiness and well-being, and he reveals scientists' newfound understanding of their remarkable emotional and cognitive capacities. Pacelle also takes on animal cruelty in its many varieties, as well as stubborn opponents of animal protection--from multinational agribusiness corporations to the National Rifle Association and even our own government. An instant classic, The Bond reminds us that animals are at the center of our lives, not just a backdrop, and how we treat them is one of the great themes of the human story.

Mahatma Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Since civil societies are ruled by law, they can be evaluated, both figuratively and literally, by how animals are treated in the criminal justice system. This book depicts animals' roles within society and the laws that govern how humans treat them. Carmen M. Cusack focuses on current issues in human-animal relationships and how these are affected by the criminal justice system. Her analysis, while objective, is rooted in first-hand activist, professional, legal, and criminal justice experience. She presents a comprehensive overview of the place of animals and the law, including pets in prison, K-9 units, constitutional rights, animal sacrifice, wild animals, entertainment, domestic violence, rehabilitation, history, and religion. She includes information about law, behavioural and social science, systemic responses and procedure, anecdotal evidence, current events, and theoretical considerations. Animals and Criminal Justice is a useful handbook and a thorough textbook, as well as a practical guide to animals' relationships with the criminal justice system. Professionals, including police, child protective services, judges, animal control officers, and corrections staff, as well as scholars in the fields of criminal justice and criminology will find this book invaluable.

A heartfelt narrative on the many ways animals touch our lives From wild Asian elephants to chimpanzees in a research laboratory to "lowly" field mice, this beautifully written narrative tells the stories of all kinds of animals and the many profound ways they have touched the life of longtime veterinarian James Mahoney. From Elephants to Mice is a collection of stories about the animals Dr. Mahoney has treated throughout his career as a veterinarian and observed throughout his life as an animal lover. He thoughtfully explores such issues as whether animals experience the same types of emotions as humans do, whether it is right to use animals in medical research, and whether animals might have a sense of humor. * Each stand-alone story introduces a unique character or cast of characters who are sure to touch the heart * The book is not just a sentimental memoir, but raises thought-provoking ideas and profound ethical issues relating to the interactions between animals and people* Stories show animals in many relatable situations, such as struggling to maintain their dignity, expressing love for one another, and striving to remain free against the odds Whether you're a dedicated animal activist or just a compassionate animal lover, From Elephants to Mice will leave you affected. This revolutionary book gives voice to the animals who touch our hearts and souls.

This commemorative portfolio displays the gallery of all the 100 pictures awarded in the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, together with the stories of what they reveal and how they were created. Representing the work of photographers worldwide, they illustrate both the beauty and drama of the natural world and our conflicted relationship with it. Chosen by an international panel of judges from around 50,000 entries, the images are the work of photographers from dozens of countries and represent a worldwide range of styles and ways of seeing nature. You will find a rich variety of subjects, from wild regions, remarkable behaviour and portraits of creatures you may never have seen before, to reportage of vitally important ethical and environmental issues. Adding depth are the background stories - not just about how the pictures were made and the equipment used but also information about the subjects and why the photographers chose them.

Falcon Field Guides are full-color, visually appealing, easily packable guides for identifying animals and learning about nature.

In the late 1980s, a female baby elephant was born on the plains of Southern Africa. In a "cull," her family was slaughtered. Only the newborn female's life was spared. Terrified and bewildered the young elephant was transported to America to be sold.

Bob Norris is a cowboy with an enormous empathy for animals. Handsome as a movie star, he was the Marlboro Man, with his face appearing on billboards around the world. But something was missing. When the hurt, vulnerable little elephant, Amy, came into his life, an incredible bond between the most unlikely of friends was forged.

Bob adopted Amy and through close observation, gentle training, humor, and endless perseverance, this accomplished horseman gradually coaxed Amy into overcoming her mistrust of humans, and her fear of the world. Amy became a beloved member of the Norris family, and partner to the ranch hands, but Bob knew from the start that the ultimate goal was for Amy to regain her confidence and her independence - even, if it were possible, to go back to the savannahs of Africa.

Amy may have left the cowboy's life, but she never left his heart. This is a story of mutual friendship, of genuine love and compassion, and foremost, this is an American story with roots that run deep in the values and traditions of the American West.

Shelter, fire and water are the three keys to survival and maintaining your "core temperature control" (CTC). This indispensable guide shows how to create and use each of these elements most effectively and economically, while keeping the next stage or steps clearly in focus, a forgotten -- yet critical -- component of many scenarios. Co-authored by noted survival expert and woodsman Dave Canterbury, this is one of a 10-part series on survival skills.

Despite their humble appearance, beavers have a remarkable history. Ancient Greeks regarded beavers as models of chastity and prudence. Beaver fur drove the exploration of North America, and beavers are heralded as heroes, able to survive climate change by creating wetland habitats. This book explores our long infatuation with the beaver from North American mythology and Aesop's Fables to contemporary environmental politics. It also examines the facts and fictions of beaver democracies, beaver architecture and even, surprisingly, beaver-flavoured ice-cream. Beaver is a beautifully illustrated book, which will appeal to anyone interested in animal lore and in discovering extraordinary insights into animal biology.

A lavishly illustrated look at how evolution plays out in selective breeding Unnatural Selection is a stunningly illustrated book about selective breeding-the ongoing transformation of animals at the hand of man. More important, it's a book about selective breeding on a far, far grander scale-a scale that encompasses all life on Earth. We'd call it evolution. A unique fusion of art, science, and history, this book is intended as a tribute to what Charles Darwin might have achieved had he possessed that elusive missing piece to the evolutionary puzzle-the knowledge of how individual traits are passed from one generation to the next. With the benefit of a century and a half of hindsight, Katrina van Grouw explains evolution by building on the analogy that Darwin himself used-comparing the selective breeding process with natural selection in the wild, and, like Darwin, featuring a multitude of fascinating examples. This is more than just a book about pets and livestock, however. The revelation of Unnatural Selection is that identical traits can occur in all animals, wild and domesticated, and both are governed by the same evolutionary principles. As van Grouw shows, animals are plastic things, constantly changing. In wild animals, the changes are usually too slow to see-species appear to stay the same. When it comes to domesticated animals, however, change happens fast, making them the perfect model of evolution in action. Featuring more than four hundred breathtaking illustrations of living animals, skeletons, and historical specimens, Unnatural Selection will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in natural history and the history of evolutionary thinking.

This entirely new book takes us deep into the world of moles. In the lonely darkness of their tunnels hunger forces moles on a cycle of digging, patrolling and eating, broken in spring as males drive themselves to exhaustion on mating forays, and females raise babies in warm nests. When their time comes young moles make dangerous journeys above ground-just the start of the perils that lie ahead. Sadly, we humans add to their woes, holding moles' representatives in literature in far more affection than we do the real animal.The book is beautifully illustrated throughout by Belinda Atkinson.