Meet Greg. He's a stocky guy with an outsized swagger. He's been the intimidating yet sociable don of his posse of friends--including Abe, Keith, Mike, Kevin, Torn Trunk, and Willie. But one arid summer the tide begins to shift and the third-ranking Kevin starts to get ambitious, seeking a higher position within this social club. But this is no ordinary tale of gangland betrayal--Greg and his entourage are bull elephants in Etosha National Park, Namibia, where, for the last twenty-three years, Caitlin O'Connell has been a keen observer of their complicated friendships. In Elephant Don, O'Connell, one of the leading experts on elephant communication and social behavior, offers a rare inside look at the social world of African male elephants. Elephant Don tracks Greg and his group of bulls as O'Connell tries to understand the vicissitudes of male friendship, power struggles, and play. A frequently heart-wrenching portrayal of commitment, loyalty, and affection between individuals yearning for companionship, it vividly captures an incredible repertoire of elephant behavior and communication. Greg, O'Connell shows, is sometimes a tyrant and other times a benevolent dictator as he attempts to hold onto his position at the top. Though Elephant Don is Greg's story, it is also the story of O'Connell and the challenges and triumphs of field research in environs more hospitable to lions and snakes than scientists. Readers will be drawn into dramatic tales of an elephant society at once exotic and surprisingly familiar, as O'Connell's decades of close research reveal extraordinary discoveries about a male society not wholly unlike our own. Surely we've all known a Greg or two, and through this book we may come to know them in a whole new light.

Aristotle characterized the elephant as 'the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind', and the animal has long figured in cultural artefacts, even on continents it has never inhabited. The elephant's countless manifestations in human history have made it one of the most charismatic animals, and "Elephant" provides a richly illustrated, engaging look at that legacy. The image of the elephant can be found throughout world religions and cultures as a symbol of intelligence, strength and loyalty. Wylie draws on a rich array of cultural examples to document that symbolic power, ranging from religious iconography for the Hindu god of wisdom, Ganesh, to beloved children's works such as "Dumbo", "Babar the Elephant" and "Horton Hears a Who!". "Elephant" also considers the recurrent role of the animal in myths, paintings and sculptures. Turning to the elephant's biological history, Wylie describes the three remaining species - the African Bush Elephant, the African Forest Elephant and the Asian Elephant - and the controversial international efforts for elephant conservation.With ivory poaching and human encroachment into the animal's natural habitats, Wylie argues that we face a uniquely poignant conservation crisis in which elephants and humans both consume limited natural resources unsustainably. A compelling new entry in the "Animal" series, "Elephant" will be a necessary addition to every animal lover's bookshelf.

Each year the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is seen by millions through a global tour and international media coverage. Portfolio 29 displays the full collection of 100 images awarded in the 2018 competition. Selected by an international jury for their artistic merit and originality from more than 40,000 entries, they represent the work of almost 100 nationalities. Displaying different styles, techniques, and ways of seeing, the collection is both a showcase for photographers who specialize in documenting the natural world and a celebration of nature.

Published In Aid of BBC Children in Need * The Countryfile Calendar has brought nature into our homes for nearly three decades, and now this comprehensive collection captures the essence of each season, bringing together viewers' photographs of the British countryside throughout the year. The Countryfile Calendar is an institution, raising millions for BBC Children in Need and celebrating the glorious range of British nature photography. Now nearly three decades of stunning images taken by Countryfile viewers have been brought together for the first time in a unique, all-encompassing view of rural Britain, offering a month-by-month guide to the natural world around us. John Craven, who has chaired the judging panel from the start, introduces this treasury of images, and he is joined by Matt Baker in picking out their personal favourites, as well as describing what is going on in each month. Illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, this book brings the beauty of the countryside to you - whether you are at the southern tip of the Scilly Isles or in the far north of the Shetland Islands, and everywhere in between. * At least GBP30,000 from the sales of this book will go to BBC Children in Need (charity number 802052 in England & Wales and SC039557 in Scotland)

Amphibians and reptiles is a comprehensive guide to the native and non-native species of amphibian and reptile found in the British Isles. Professor Trevor Beebee covers the biology, ecology, conservation and identification of the British herpetofauna, and provides keys for the identification of adult and immature newts and newt eggs, larvae and metamorphs; frog and toad adults and metamorphs, spawn and larvae; adult and hatchling limbed lizards; and adult snakes. Distribution maps are included for all species, and the book is illustrated throughout with colour photographs and figures. The goal of this book is to encourage readers to develop their own ecological studies, to this end, the author summarises the current state of knowledge of reptile and amphibian biology, including behaviour, breeding, habitat selection, migration and development, and offers ideas for research projects that could be undertaken to further what is known. A chapter is devoted to the practicalities of professional work with amphibians and reptiles, including licensing requirements. Research techniques, including survey methods such as night searches for newts and bottle trapping, are discussed in detail, and consideration is given to methods of data analysis. Author royalties from this book have been donated to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.

Hidden away within living tissues, parasites are all around us - and inside us. Yet, despite their unsavory characteristics, as we find in this compulsively readable book, parasites have played an enormous role in civilizations through time and around the globe. "Parasites: Tales of Humanity's Most Unwelcome Guests" puts amoebae, roundworms, tapeworms, mites, and others at the center of the action as human cultures have evolved and declined. It shows their role in exploration, war, and even terrorist plots, often through an unpredictable ripple effect. It reveals them as invisible threats in our food, water, and luggage; as invaders that have shaped behaviors and taboos; and, as unexpected partners in such venues as crime scene investigations. "Parasites" also describes their evolution and life histories and considers their significant benefits. Deftly blending the sociological with the scientific, this natural and social history of parasites looks closely at a fascinating, often disgusting group of organisms and discovers that they are in fact an integral thread in the web of life.

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.

Find out about snakes from all over the world in this best-selling visual guide, with information about snake evolution, habitats, reproductive behaviour, feeding, defence, and much more. Snake is the essential guide to the world of serpents, featuring more than 3,000 species. With a clean fresh look, classifications, stunning photography, and amazing artworks, this is a must-have reference for all herpetologists. Packed with fascinating facts such as physical and behavioural characteristics, this guide also includes focused profiles of 60 snakes, from the Rainbow Boa to the Tropical Rattlesnake. Each profile includes a stunning full-page photograph of the snake, supporting images to highlight important features, and a 'Fact File' sidebar to give at-a-glance information. Plus, a complete directory lists all known species of these fascinating reptiles, including venomous snakes such as cobras. Snake is a beautiful and comprehensive guide to some of nature's most compelling animals.

Nature Tales is a charming collection of encounters with the natural world from historic greats to modern household names, from Wildlife Trusts supporters to leading naturalists, such as: Roger Deakin, Richard Mabey, Simon Barnes, Gilbert White, John Clare, Joseph Banks, William Cobbett, Simon King, Nick Baker. Including beautifully drawn illustrations and a foreword from Sir David Attenborough, Nature Tales is a charming celebration of Britain's wildlife and countryside.

In this fully revised edition of A Guide to Dragonfl ies & Damselfl ies of South Africa, all164 species known to occur in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland are described and illustrated, grouped according to family (six dragonfl y and six damselfl y families). The species entries feature scans of live insects (close-up and side-view images) and photographs of specimens in their natural environment and showing key behaviours. Detailed descriptions focus on size, identifying features and occurrence. An introductory chapter unpacks the life cycle, behaviour, biology and breeding of this fascinating group of insects. Presented in a classic field guide format, this revised edition now also features:

- Expanded annotations to all illustrations, highlighting diagnostic features to ensure accurate identifi cation

- New distribution maps

- Additional colour plates and photographs

Beautifully presented, informative and authoritative, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in South Africa’s insect life, and to nature lovers in general.

From yaks and vultures to whales and platypuses, animals have played central roles in the history of British imperial control. The contributors to Animalia analyze twenty-six animals-domestic, feral, predatory, and mythical-whose relationship to imperial authorities and settler colonists reveals how the presumed racial supremacy of Europeans underwrote the history of Western imperialism. Victorian imperial authorities, adventurers, and colonists used animals as companions, military transportation, agricultural laborers, food sources, and status symbols. They also overhunted and destroyed ecosystems, laying the groundwork for what has come to be known as climate change. At the same time, animals such as lions, tigers, and mosquitoes interfered in the empire's racial, gendered, and political aspirations by challenging the imperial project's sense of inevitability. Unconventional and innovative in form and approach, Animalia invites new ways to consider the consequences of imperial power by demonstrating how the politics of empire-in its racial, gendered, and sexualized forms-played out in multispecies relations across jurisdictions under British imperial control. Contributors. Neel Ahuja, Tony Ballantyne, Antoinette Burton, Utathya Chattopadhyaya, Jonathan Goldberg-Hiller, Peter Hansen, Isabel Hofmeyr, Anna Jacobs, Daniel Heath Justice, Dane Kennedy, Jagjeet Lally, Krista Maglen, Amy E. Martin, Renisa Mawani, Heidi J. Nast, Michael A. Osborne, Harriet Ritvo, George Robb, Jonathan Saha, Sandra Swart, Angela Thompsell

Could a porcupine make a good pet? Do they ever stick themselves or other porcupines with their quills? In this latest addition to the Animal Answer Guide series, we learn about these mysterious animals' "pincushion defense," along with the following facts:

- Porcupines survive on a diet of leaves, bark, and fruit- Quills are actually modified hairs- There are 26 species of porcupines (and counting)- Old World and New World porcupines have a common ancestor but evolved independently- New World males will gather to fight ferociously over a single female

"Porcupines: The Animal Answer Guide" presents solid, current science in the field of porcupine biology. Uldis Roze compares and contrasts porcupines in terms of body plan, behavior, ecology, reproduction, and evolutionary relationships. He examines the diversity of porcupines from around the world--from North and South America to Africa and Asia.

This guide explores the interactions between humans and porcupines, including hunting, use of quills by aboriginal societies, efforts to poison porcupines, and human and pet injuries (and deaths) caused by porcupines. Roze also highlights the conservation issues that surround some porcupine species, such as the thin-spine porcupine of Brazil, which is so rare that it was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in the 1980s.

From Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener, an insightful and personal exploration of the vibrant web of nature outside our back door-where animals and plants perceive and communicate using marvelous sensory capabilities we are only beginning to understand. In The World Through Their Eyes, master naturalist Nancy Lawson takes readers on a fascinating visual tour of the secret life of animals and plants. Organized into chapters investigating each of their five senses, Lawson's exploration reveals a remarkable world of interdependent creatures with amazing capabilities. You'll learn of ultrasound clicks humans can't hear, and ultraviolet colors humans can't see. You'll cross paths with foraging American bumblebees drawn to the scent of wild bergamot, urban sparrows who adapt their mating song in response to human clamor, beech trees whose proximity provides protection and sugary sustenance to salamanders and nearby flora, and a chipmunk behaving like the world's smallest pole vaulter to nab juicy red berries hanging from the lowest parts of a coral honeysuckle vine. Synthesizing cutting-edge scientific research, original interviews with animal and plant researchers, and poetic observations made in her own garden, Lawson shows us how to appreciate the natural environment from the sensory perspective of our wild neighbors right outside our door and beyond, and how to respect and nurture the full range of their vibrancy and diversity. door-where animals and plants perceive and communicate using marvelous sensory capabilities we are only beginning to understand.

When you're out and about, keep this tabbed booklet by Jonathan Poppele close at hand. Featuring only Northwestern mammals of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and northern California, the booklet is organized by group for quick and easy identification. Narrow your choices by group, and view just a few animal tracks at a time--created to look just as they appear in nature! The pocket-sized format is much easier to use than laminated foldouts, and the tear-resistant pages help to make the book durable in the field. Animal Tracks of the Northwest features: Pocket-sized format--easier than laminated foldouts Realistic track illustrations with size information More than 150 species found in the Northwest Step-by-step guide to track identification Track information chart and sample gait patterns

Celebrate the kings of the canine world with this collection of photographs and information by award-winning author and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela. Their beauty strikes us. Their mystique enchants us. Wolves, coyotes, and foxes are beloved, appreciated, and misunderstood. A sighting in nature is rare, which serves to enhance our fascination with these magnificent animals. Award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela believes that wolves, coyotes, and foxes are mystical and elusive. He spent more than 20 years traveling across the United States and Canada to observe and photograph the various species, from Gray Wolves and Arctic Foxes to Coyotes and Red Wolves. He documented every aspect of the canines' secret lives: major events such as mating, as well as everyday activities including hunting, playing, and socializing. The result is a striking portrayal of these mammals in Wolves, Coyotes & Foxes. Stan's extraordinary photographs depict the creatures in a new, unique fashion. His fascinating text, drawn from detailed research and personal observations, provides information about every aspect of their lives. Presented with headings and short paragraphs, the coffee-table book is pleasurable to browse and easy to read. "Their presence commands respect and attention," says Stan. "They are nature's perfect model of a family." Unmatched by any other book on the market, Wolves, Coyotes & Foxes is a must-have for lovers of wildlife and nature.

This fully revised and updated edition of A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia is the only comprehensive guide to identifying all 382 species of mammals known in Australia. This book provides concise and accurate details of the appearance, diagnostic features, distribution, habitat, and key behavioral characteristics of all mammals known to have occurred in Australia or its waters since the time of European settlement. Each double-page spread provides all the information needed to identify an animal, a full-color illustration of the entire animal, a smaller diagram of diagnostic features, a distribution map, and species description and measurements, including details of how to differentiate between similar species.
Identification keys are provided for groups that are difficult to identify to species level, including keys to the genera of small marsupials, rodents, and bats, and all marine mammals likely to be washed on to an Australian beach: whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and the Dugong.

The ideal gift for everyone who loves nature and the outdoors. 60 of Britain's unmissable wildlife wonders and where you can see them. This book shows you 60 of Britain's unmissable, world-class wonders of nature and tells you where you can find them. From starling murmurations in Somerset to otters in Shetland, from glowworms in Dorset to golden eagles in the Cairngorms. Along the way you'll also discover natural wonders that are right under your nose in your garden or even in the centre of a town - like hearing the dawn chorus and glimpsing a charm of goldfinches. A sequel to the very successful Great British Bucket List.

Discover over 1,200 species of animals and plants found in the coastal regions of Britain and make the most of your surroundings, whether you are on a holiday browse or serious quest. This is the definitive photographic reference guide for nature enthusiasts. This informative photographic guide will help nature enthusiasts visiting the seashore to discover and quickly and accurately identify the animals and plants commonly found in the coastal areas of Britain. The book is illustrated with beautiful photographs throughout, the perfect seashore companion for 'staycation' travelling nature enthusiasts as well as general natural history buffs. Young and old alike keen to discover the wildlife of Britain's coastal areas will delight in this beautifully practical guide.

At last, one of the most popular books on the American West is available once again in hardcover. In celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the publication of "Desert Solitaire, " the University of Arizona Press is pleased to publish a new edition featuring a new introduction by the author, his definitive corrections to the text, and new illustrations commissioned exclusively for this volume. Edward Abbey's account of two summers spent in southeastern Utah's canyonlands is surely one of the most enduring works of contemporary American nature writing. In it he tells of his stint as a park ranger at Arches National Monument, of his love for the natural beauty that surrounded him, and of his distaste for the modernizing improvements designed to increase visitation to the park. "I confess to being a nature lover," admits Abbey more than thirty years after his sojourn in the wilderness. "But I did not mean to be mistaken for a nature writer. I never wanted to be anything but a writer, period." First published in 1968 to "a few brief but not hostile notices," "Desert Solitaire" quietly sold out of its first printing but eventually developed a loyal enough following in paperback to earn Abbey the "nature writer" label he claims never to have wanted. "Desert Solitaire" lives on because it is a work that reflects profound love of nature and a bitter abhorrence of all that would desecrate it. "Abbey is one of our very best writers about wilderness country," observed Wallace Stegner in the "Los Angeles Times Book Review"; "he is also a gadfly with a stinger like a scorpion." "This book may well seem like a ride on a bucking bronco," added Edwin Way Teale in the "New York Times." "It is rough, tough, combative...passionately felt, deeply poetic." But perhaps the spirit of the man, the work, and the circumstances of its writing were best summarized by Larry McMurtry in his review for the "Washington Post" "Edward Abbey is the Thoreau of the American West."