This update to the bestselling 50 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year features 20 stunning new images which have come from the last 5 years of the competition. They showcase the advances that continue to be made in approach and technique. Featuring many of the greatest nature photographs of all time, this book charts the development of nature photography, from the first hand-held cameras and the colour film revolution of the 1960s, to the increasingly sophisticated photographs of wild animals and unexplored places that are taken today. The prize-winning images include ground-breaking portraits, breathtaking aerial shots, underwater photography, close-up imagery and much more. They are accompanied by captions that put the photographs in context, explaining their importance, and revealing the vision, talent, passion and technique of the world's leading wildlife photographers. All those who are passionate about photography and who have followed this compelling competition since its inception 55 years ago will treasure this magnificent volume.

Most wildlife books are designed to help you identify the animals you have seen. This book is different. In this new, user-friendly guide one British species is highlighted per page, and each account explains in accessible text how to find it, where to find it and how to ensure you have the most rewarding wildlife-watching experiences. Within the 'How to Find' section, author Marianne Taylor explains the best time to look for each species, its preferred habitat, and offers tips to help make your search easier or more productive. In 'Watching Tips' she advises on how to get the most from your encounter, how to observe the species at length and with luck witness its most fascinating behaviour. A colour panel indicates each species' geographical distribution on a map, including 'Super Sites' where the species is particularly abundant or regular. A calendar shows when each species is present or active in the UK to help you plan your visits to nature reserves. Colour photos serve as a reminder of each species' key identification features. In total, RSPB British Naturefinder features nearly 300 species, and it includes all British mammals, reptiles and amphibians, along with a carefully chosen selection of other British animals of interest, such as butterflies, moths, dragonflies, spiders and fishes.

RSPB Spotlight: Bats is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photographs and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist Thanks to their speed, size and nocturnal habitats, bats are among the most interesting, and least understood, mammals that frequent our homes and gardens. From their ability to make sounds that are above the range of human hearing, to their reliance on echolocation to navigate objects and find prey, their unique behaviour means that bats are seldom seen or heard. With nearly 1,400 species worldwide, bats make up around 25 per cent of all mammal species. Spotlight Bats features all 17 species that live and breed in the British Isles, as well as an array of the most fascinating bats from around the world, including some of the more charismatic species such as vampire bats and fishing bats. Nancy Jennings uses up-to-date research to provide insights intothe lives of these elusive mammals, covering the biology, diversity, evolution and ecology of bats, as well as their interactions with humans and folklore. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviours of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photography and informative expert text.

Aurochs and Auks is a deeply moving and intelligent meditation on the natural processes of death and extinction, renewal and continuity. Prompted by his own near-death in a time of pandemic, John Burnside explores the history of the auroch (Bos primigenius), the wild cattle that has become the source of so much sacred and cultural imagery across Europe, from the Minotaur and the Cretan bull dances to Spanish corrida traditions. He then tells the story of the Great Auk, a curious bird whose extinction in the mid-nineteenth century was caused by human persecution and before stepping into multiple extinctions of the outer and inner world.

'Packed with beautiful images, recipes, remedies, meditations, fascinating ideas'. The Telegraph A beautiful, illustrated modern guide to nature for a new generation (including city-dwellers) and how it can impact our mental and physical wellbeing. Reconnect with nature and learn everything about the wonderful wild. Curator of the Thorp Perrow arboretum, Faith Douglas takes us on an adventure, and spans across all areas of nature to show how trees, birds, insects, seasons, the weather can impact us for the better, how they can heal and improve our mental and physical wellbeing. Modern day life puts pressures on us all. For city dwellers, getting to the great outdoors is never an easy feat. Faith shows you how to embrace it from right where you are, whether it's making the most of your garden or creating your own inner sanctum in a tiny flat. From foraging for herbs and nutritious pick-me-ups, outdoor meditation, growing your own therapeutic urban garden to making simple remedies and recipes, this practical and inspiring guide will take you back to nature wherever you are. Filled with beautiful photography and line drawings, this is a book for those who want to discover more about the natural world and want to bring a little piece of the outdoors into their own home.

The perfect hilarious and heartwarming gift for the festive season! When the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards announced a contest for the funniest animal photo, they received entries from all over the world. Now authors and the original Award founders Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam showcase the best of the best - as well as some never before seen - to present the most joyful photographs of wildlife ever printed. A pelican losing its lunch; a three-headed giraffe; a meerkat having a rough day... this is the must-have book that is perfect for animal lovers of all stripes!

QI The Pocket Book of Animals is John Lloyd and John Mitchinson's funny, eccentric and confounding handbook filled with interesting animal facts and figures. Join the QI team for an off-road safari into the wildlife, past one hundred of the most unusual members of the animal kingdom, armed with illuminating illustrations and diagrams by award-winning artist Ted Dewan. Amongst the weird, wonderful and really quite interesting animal facts, meet albatrosses that fly non-stop for ten years, leeches with 34 brains, koalas that don't drink, geese that mourn their dead and lobsters that live for a century. marvel at elephants that walk on tiptoe, pigs that shine in the dark, and woodpeckers that have ears on the end of their tongues. Collected by the writers of the hit BBC show, QI, and authors of the international bestsellers The Book of General Ignorance and 1,227 QI Facts To Blow Your Socks Off, QI The Pocket Book of Animals is an animal encyclopedia that even David Attenborough would learn something from. And remember - everything you think you know is wrong.

'A delight' Hugh Warwick, ecologist and author of A Prickly Affair 'Hilarious and heartbreaking' Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell 'A necessary nature book.' John Lewis-Stempel 'A triumph' Charles Foster, author of Cry of the Wild, Being a Human and A Little Brown Sea Hedgehogs are disappearing. Their numbers are estimated to have halved in less than twenty years. Why? Who could possibly have it in for the hedgehog when in poll after poll they come out top as our favourite mammal. Is it the car driver, the badger, the farmer, or the gardener? Magnifying glass in hand, Tom Moorhouse investigates the evidence. On a vital mission to bring those responsible to justice, prevent further murder and save a species, he uncovers a story full of twists, turns and uncomfortable truths about the trade-offs that exist between humans and wildlife. And then thankfully he provides solutions. A final chapter equips the reader with the toolkit required to try and coax our beloved hedgehogs back.

Year after year the family returns to the lake. The children, barefoot and free, explore its sun-drenched wilderness... The summer Bruce turns ten seems, at first, like any other: swimming out to the raft, watching the gulls, frogs and herons, catching crayfish. But just when he thinks that life is perfect, everything begins to change, and over the course of two months both the harshness of the adult world and the patterns of the natural reveal themselves.Barefoot at the Lake is not only a beautifully written boy's-eye view of the animals, humans and landscape of his youth, it is also delightfully funny, with a moving wisdom at its heart.

'A terrific read . . . an outstanding book!' Gary Player and Vivienne Player 'A truly heart-wrenching story, but a must-read for all who value our wild animals and their right to roam free. Grant Fowlds is a Zulu in a white skin and loves the people who hold the key to animal conservation. This is an intriguing true story that sends a clear message to the rest of the world.' Phil Liggett 'Exceptionally readable - a fluid and captivating story . . . a swashbuckling tale.' Dr Dave Cooper, Rhinos Without Borders veterinarian, and Debbie Cooper of iSimangaliso Wetland Park 'A rollicking true-life adventure that celebrates rhinos and people' Guy Rogers, Daily Herald 'Truly awe-inspiring . . . Read this book. You will get a sense of Africa like never before, from a true African soul.' David S. Lee, Limbani in the blockbuster movie Black Panther 'An excellent read . . . both sobering and uplifting' Moira Smith, General Manager Africa & Middle East, Goway Travel What would drive a man to 'smuggle' rhino horn back into Africa at great risk to himself? This is just one of the situations Grant Fowlds has put himself in as part of his ongoing fight against poaching, in order to prove a link between southern Africa and the illicit, lucrative trade in rhino horn in Vietnam. Shavings of rhino horn are sold as a snake-oil 'cure' for colds or impotence, but a rhino's horn has no magical, medicinal properties. It is for this that rhinoceroses are being killed at an escalating rate that puts the survival of the species in jeopardy. This corrupt, illegal war on wildlife has brought an iconic animal to the brink of extinction. Growing up on a farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, Grant developed a deep love of nature, turning his back on hunting to focus on saving wildlife of all kinds and the environment that sustains both them and us. He is a passionate conservationist who puts himself on the front line of protecting rhinos in the wild - right now, against armed poachers; but in the longer term, too, through his work with schoolchildren, communities and policymakers. We are most grateful to photographer Gerhard van der Westhuizen for the use of his stunning photograph on the cover of the book.

A Project of the Center for Great Plains Studies and the School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Great Plains Bison traces the history and ecology of this American symbol from the origins of the great herds that once dominated the prairie to its near extinction in the late nineteenth century and the subsequent efforts to restore the bison population. A longtime wildlife biologist and one of the most powerful literary voices on the Great Plains, Dan O'Brien has managed his own ethically run buffalo ranch since 1997. Drawing on both extensive research and decades of personal experience, he details not only the natural history of the bison but also its prominent symbolism in Native American culture and its rise as an icon of the Great Plains. Great Plains Bison is a tribute to the bison's essential place at the heart of the North American prairie and its ability to inspire naturalists and wildlife advocates in the fight to preserve American biodiversity.

With this multispecies study of animals as instrumentalities of the colonial state in Nigeria, Saheed Aderinto argues that animals, like humans, were colonial subjects in Africa. Animality and Colonial Subjecthood in Africa broadens the historiography of animal studies by putting a diverse array of species (dogs, horses, livestock, and wildlife) into a single analytical framework for understanding colonialism in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. From his study of animals with unequal political, economic, social, and intellectual capabilities, Aderinto establishes that the core dichotomies of human colonial subjecthood--indispensable yet disposable, good and bad, violent but peaceful, saintly and lawless--were also embedded in the identities of Nigeria's animal inhabitants. If class, religion, ethnicity, location, and attitude toward imperialism determined the pattern of relations between human Nigerians and the colonial government, then species, habitat, material value, threat, and biological and psychological characteristics (among other traits) shaped imperial perspectives on animal Nigerians. Conceptually sophisticated and intellectually engaging, Aderinto's thesis challenges readers to rethink what constitutes history and to recognize that human agency and narrative are not the only makers of the past.

'Lyrical and beautiful and feels like a haven in a cynical world - exactly the book we all need to read right now' Catherine Simpson, author of One Body: A Retrospective, When I Had A Little Sister and Truestory 'A book of passionate resistance to everything in modern life that wants us to stay neat and small and fearful' Tanya Shadrick, author of The Cure For Sleep An intimate weaving of memoir and herbal folklore, All My Wild Mothers is a story of rewilding our wastelands and the transformation that can happen when we do. At seven months pregnant, Victoria Bennett was looking forward to new motherhood and all that was to come. But when the telephone rang, the news she received changed everything. Her eldest sister had died in a canoeing accident. Five years later, struggling with grief, the demands of being a parent-carer for her young son, and the impact of deeper austerity, life feels very different to the future she had imagined. A move to a new social housing estate in rural Cumbria offers Victoria and her family a chance to rebuild their lives. Constructed over an industrial site, at first the barren ground seems an unlikely place to sow the seeds of a new life. She and her son set about transforming the rubble around them into a wild apothecary garden. Daisy, for resilience. Dandelion, for strength against adversity. Red campion, to ward off loneliness. Sow thistle, to lift melancholy. Borage, to bring hope in dark and difficult times. Stone by stone, seed by seed, All My Wild Mothers is the story of how sometimes life grows, not in spite of what is broken, but because of it. 'An exciting new voice in nature writing' Cal Flyn, Sunday Times Writer of the Year, and author of Islands of Abandonment and Thicker Than Water

The best-selling animal advocate Temple Grandin offers the most exciting exploration of how animals feel since The Hidden Life of Dogs.
In her groundbreaking and best-selling book Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think, act, and feel. Now she builds on those insights to show us how to give our animals the best and happiest life--on their terms, not ours.
It's usually easy to pinpoint the cause of physical pain in animals, but to know what is causing them emotional distress is much harder. rawing on the latest research and her own work, Grandin identifies the core emotional needs of animals. Then she explains how to fulfill them for dogs and cats, horses, farm animals, and zoo animals.Whether it's how to make the healthiest environment for the dog you must leave alone most of the day, how to keep pigs from being bored, or how to know if the lion pacing in the zoo is miserable or just exercising, Grandin teaches us to challenge our assumptions about animal contentment and honor our bond with our fellow creatures.
Animals Make Us Human is the culmination of almost thirty years of research, experimentation, and experience.
This is essential reading for anyone who's ever owned, cared for, or simply cared about an animal.

Science is now providing some remarkable insights into animal behavior, with crocodiles, for example, emerging as devoted parents, and elephants - like whales - able to communicate with each other across long distances by ultrasound, which is inaudible to our ears. There seems little doubt that animals experience a range of emotions, just as we do; but can they grieve, too? David Alderton - award-winning, multi-million specialist animal author - contends that emotions - including grief - can potentially have a survival value for a species. The authoritative, rational text is superbly supported by interesting, sensitive photographs carefully chosen to be reflective of the subject matter. Unique subject matter, drawing on the latest research - Covers both domestic and wild animals - A subject that has intrigued pet owners for many years - Fascinating insights into the natural world - Insights into how grieving may help wild animals to survive - How this could affect conservation planning - Sensitive, rational approach to the subject - The impact on pet owners and their animals - Written by an award-winning, multi-million selling specialist animal author - A book with widespread appeal for anyone with an interest in the natural world

One of the greatest attractions of a trip to Kenya is the chance to see animals such as lions, cheetah, leopards, zebra, and giraffe up close and in their natural habitats. Animals of the Masai Mara is a lavish photographic guide that explores the charismatic wildlife most likely to be encountered by a safari visitor to the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya. More than 140 stunning photographs showcase 65 mammals and 17 reptile species, including 6 snakes. Designed to be informative and locally accurate, rather than purely identification-based, this easy-to-use book pays particular attention to wildlife behavior and is written from the firsthand experiences of the authors and the knowledge of local safari guides. Numerous "Top Tips" throughout show readers how and where to locate specific species. The only field guide to focus solely on the wildlife of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Animals of the Masai Mara will be indispensable to visitors to this famous park and all nature enthusiasts with an interest in this area of the world. * The only photographic guide specific to the animals of the Masai Mara National Reserve * More than 140 remarkable photographs covering 65 mammals and 17 reptile species, including 6 snakes * Accessible text explores animal behavior and other interesting facts * A brief and informative introduction to the habitats of the Masai Mara

Back from the brink of extinction, the otter is making a come-back in Britain today. Here, author James Williams, a life-long enthusiast of this enigmatic creature, dispells some of the mysteries of the otter.

This beautifully illustrated book on camouflaged animals includes some of nature's greatest designs and is one of the most remarkable compilations of pictures on the subject ever published. These images have to be seen to be believed in terms of the subjects' remarkable imitations of their natural backgrounds which often aid them in their roles as hunting predator or prey attempting to avoid capture. Types of animal covered include invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds and all kinds of marine wildlife. The text, written by the expert authors and photographers, explains what is shown in each picture, giving insight from the actual observations. Subjects include colour-changing chameleons and fish, birds which look like tree branches, eggs which blend with their sand or gravel background, butterflies which perfectly imitate leaves, crab spiders which mimic the bright petals of their chosen bloom and Snow Leopards which merge seamlessly with the slopes on which they stalk their prey. Decades of work by the award-winning photographers are distilled down into this remarkable and eye-caching book.

**WINNER OF THE BEST FIELD GUIDE AT THE WHITLEY AWARDS 2019** Packed with extraordinary photographs, this ground-breaking book represents the first accessible field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of New Zealand, covering all 123 species. From the ancient tuatara to the world's largest collection of long-lived and live-bearing lizards, every species account includes an accurate distribution map and information on appearance, habitat, similar species and natural history. This definitive guide also features a comprehensive introduction to evolution, conservation, ecosystems and geographic history. This is the ultimate photographic field guide to New Zealand's herpetofauna, and is a gateway into the world of these fascinating tetrapods for amateur and expert herpetologists alike.