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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals > General
'Somehow, the elephants got into my soul, and it became my life's
work to see them safe and happy. There was no giving up on that
vision, no matter how hard the road was at times.' Francoise
Malby-Anthony is the owner of a game reserve in South Africa with a
remarkable family of elephants whose adventures have touched hearts
around the world. The herd's feisty matriarch Frankie knows who's
in charge at Thula Thula, and it's not Francoise. But when Frankie
becomes ill, and the authorities threaten to remove or cull some of
the herd if the reserve doesn't expand, Francoise is in a race
against time to save her beloved elephants . . . The joys and
challenges of a life dedicated to conservation are vividly
described in The Elephants of Thula Thula. The search is on to get
a girlfriend for orphaned rhino Thabo - and then, as his behaviour
becomes increasingly boisterous, a big brother to teach him
manners. Francoise realizes a dream with the arrival of Savannah
the cheetah - an endangered species not seen in the area since the
1940s - and finds herself rescuing meerkats kept as pets. But will
Thula Thula survive the pandemic, an invasion from poachers and the
threat from a mining company wanting access to its land? As
Francoise faces her toughest years yet, she realizes once again
that with their wisdom, resilience and communal bonds, the
elephants have much to teach us. 'Enthralling' - Daily Mail
The heart-wrenching and adventure-filled stories of a South African
wild animal vet and his colleagues When do you watch a wild animal
suffer and let nature take its course, and when do you intervene?
In his more than twenty-five years as an African vet, Dr. Roy
Aronson has seen and done some remarkable things. He has tracked
lions and cheetahs, anesthetized rhinoceroses and king cobras,
collared rogue elephants, performed eye surgery on a lion out in
the bush, been attacked by a puff adder, come face to face with an
angry hybrid wolf, and nearly lost a foot to a crocodile. Dr.
Aronson has also worked with some of Africa's most dedicated
conservationists and wildlife veterinarians. He has witnessed their
passion and bravery and been with them when hard decisions had to
be made. "Tales of an African Vet" brings together Dr. Aronson's
adventures in a rare behind-the-scenes look at those who treat wild
animals in their natural habitat. For those drawn to outdoor
adventure stories, African wildlife, or the veterinarian's trade,
it is a riveting book replete with rich insights into both the
animal and human cultures of Africa.
By 1930, no place in the world was less well explored than
Greenland. The native Inuit had occupied the relatively accessible
west coast for centuries. The east coast, however, was another
story. In August 1930, Henry George Watkins (nicknamed Gino), a
23-year-old explorer, led thirteen scientists and explorers on an
ambitious journey to the east coast of Greenland and its vast and
forbidding interior. Their mission: chart and survey the region and
establish a permanent meteorological base 8,000 feet high on the
ice cap. That plan turned into an epic survival ordeal when August
Courtauld, manning the station solo through the winter, became
entombed by drifting snow. David Roberts, "veteran mountain climber
and chronicler of adventures" (Washington Post), draws on firsthand
accounts and rich archival materials to tell the story of this
daring expedition and of the ingenious young explorer at its helm.
This excellent book’s size belies its incredible utility. The perfect
companion to any foray into the savannah, Kruger Wildlife includes not
only beautiful photographs of a wide array of birds, mammals and
reptiles, but informative text which is both extremely compact and
highly comprehensive. All statistics that could conceivably help a
viewer to identify, catalogue and learn about each animal are provided
in concise and clear format. The Latin and colloquial names for each
animal are included, along with the Afrikaans, French, German and Zulu
names. The listings are given ratings for rarity of sightings, and each
animal a tick box for viewers to mark upon sighting.
The region colloquially known as Greater Kruger is the most famous
wildlife conservation area in southern Africa. The area includes the
world-renowned Kruger National Park; several privately owned game
reserves; and a contractual park. This region also forms part of the
much larger Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, which spans international
boundaries and includes neighbouring game reserves in Zimbabwe and
Mozambique.
Kruger Wildlife will help you make the best of your guided game drives
in this region.
"This is, indeed, an "Alaskan adventure." For two years this
resourceful couple experienced intense and dangerous situations,
yet they persevered and learned a tremendous amount about sea
otters."
-Ancel M. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea Otter
Biologist, retired
A white-headed male sea otter paddles on his back, patrolling
his territory, while he rubs his round fuzzy face with his
dexterous forepaws. Suddenly, he notices a young couple on shore
and pops straight up in the water to have a better look. As two
people stare back at him through a high-powered telescope, these
three have one thing in common-curiosity.
"The Otter Spotters" chronicles the incredible journey of
Minnesotans Dave and Judy Garshelis, who spent over a year in the
wilderness of Prince William Sound, Alaska, studying sea otters.
While working from remote field locations and traveling by open
skiff, they faced relentless rain, rough seas, bears, mechanical
failures, and perilous mishaps, all while completing one of the
most comprehensive studies of this fascinating species. This
captivating story includes unforgettable adventures, as well as
detailed documentation of the otters' social relationships,
feeding, activity patterns, and breeding behaviors. Here is a rare
insider's view of the true essence of wildlife research: from the
day-to-day drudgery of checking capture nets at 4:00 AM to evening
brainstorming sessions under the warm glow of a Coleman lantern,
interspersed with the occasional "Eureka " moments that make it all
worthwhile.
This single volume describes the animals that are most injurious
and costly to humans, examining the important roles of these pests
throughout history and the implications of the never-ending wars we
wage against the natural world. From mosquitoes to nematodes to
mice, there are a multitude of organisms and animals that pose
major health risks, cause economic burdens, and even threaten
famine conditions for human civilization. Addressing these problems
is often extremely costly and only partially effective. Pests: A
Guide to the World's Most Maligned, Yet Misunderstood Creatures
presents an overview of the animals that have the greatest impact
on our lives, from the creatures that eat our crops through the
ones that invade our homes and those that transmit diseases. Each
entry provides a brief history of our interactions with the
specific pest, methods of management or eradication for the pest
being discussed, and an extensive Further Reading list that
includes resources on both the biology of the pest and methods of
control. The author explains the complexity of the worldwide pest
problem and demonstrates how some of these issues are a result of
human over-population and shortsightedness, inviting readers to
consider our place in nature and how other animals have adapted to
and benefited from the growing human population. Includes more than
60 photographs of the pests in question as well as illustrations
that highlight topics discussed throughout the book Contains more
than 50 sidebars that provide greater detail and showcase the role
pests play in history and current events to promote critical
thinking A substantial bibliography provides readers with starting
points for further reading A glossary defines specialist
terminology
"Plans are usually only good for one thing - laughing at in
hindsight. So, armed with rudimentary Spanish, dangerous levels of
curiosity and a record of poor judgement, I set off to tackle
whatever South America could throw at me." On his nineteenth
birthday, Peter Allison flipped a coin. One side would take him to
Africa and the other to South America. He recounted his time spent
as a safari guide in Africa to much acclaim in Don't Run, Whatever
You do and Don't Look Behind You. Sixteen years later he makes his
way to Chile, ready to seek out the continent's best, weirdest and
wildest adventures - and to chase the elusive jaguar. From learning
to walk a puma (or rather be bitten and dragged along by it) in
Bolivia, to finding love in Patagonia and hunting naked with the
remote Huaorani people in Ecuador, How to Walk a Puma is Peter's
fascinating and often hilarious account of misadventures in South
America. Ever the gifted storyteller and cultural observer, Allison
makes many observations about life in humid climes, the nature of
nomadism, and exactly what it is like to be nearly blasted off a
mountain by the famous Patagonia wind. His self-deprecating humour
is as delightful as his crazy stunts, and his love for animals -
even when they bite - is infectious.
An Inspiring Memoir, for Fans of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Frans
De Waal.
In her enchanting memoir, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first
wildlife veterinarian, tells the remarkable story from her
animal-loving childhood to her career protecting endangered mountain
gorillas and other wild animals. She is also the defender of people as
a groundbreaking promoter of human public health and an advocate for
revolutionary integrated approaches to saving our planet. In an
increasingly interconnected world, animal and human health alike depend
on sustainable solutions and Dr. Gladys has developed an innovative
approach to conservation among the endangered Mountain Gorillas of
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and their human neighbors.
Walking with Gorillas takes the reader on an incredible personal
journey with Dr. Gladys, from her early days as a student in Uganda,
enduring the assassination of her father during civil war, to her
veterinarian education in England to establishing the first veterinary
department for the Ugandan government to founding one of the first
organizations in the world that enables people to coexist with wildlife
through improving the health and wellbeing of both. Her award-winning
approach reduced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on critically
endangered mountain gorillas.
In the face of discrimination and a male dominated world, one woman’s
passion and determination to build a brighter future for the local
wildlife and human community offers inspiration and insights into what
is truly possible for our planet when we come together.
Myths and facts about the alligator and its relatives.
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