Through many delightful anecdotes, he demonstrates the majestic yet fragile reality which is Africa. Documenting his observations and often humorous interactions with his Zulu cohorts, Connell transports the reader to the timelessness of the tawny land he is so passionate about. Set in a time and a place of racial tension, the characters are united by a common goal and respect for each other.Having embarked on the road less travelled, Connell eloquently and enthusiastically describes his adventures in breath taking detail. His tales of the animal kingdom are wonderfully entertaining and informative. A must read for Africans and non-Africans alike, Msomi and Me will delight, amuse and inform from the beginning of the dream to the poignant ending.

    Delve into Jim and Jamie Dutcher's amazing wolf photography documenting a pack of wolves at the edge of Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness, illuminating their complex social hierarchy. Here is the alpha pair, leaders of the pack, often the only couple that mate. Here are the pups, born with eyes shut in the spring, tousled by their mother through the first six weeks of life. Here is the omega wolf, lowest ranking wolf in the pack, whose subservience, often playful, alleviates pack tension. Here are moments of cooperation and moments of snarling dominance, moments of communication and affection. Here, too, are heartwarming moments of connection between the Dutchers and the wolves, caught in pictures that remind us how close the links are between wolves in the wild and the beloved family dog. Short chapters introduce the wolves as individuals, describe the Dutchers' years of coming to know them, and address the complex conservation issues surrounding the near-extinction and now replenishment of the species in the wild. Sidebars explore myths about wolves, including Native American spirit stories, European fairy tales, and modern ranching hearsay.

    With the intellectual rigor of a scientist and the heart of a poet, Saulitis gives voice to these vital yet vanishing survivors and the place they are so loyal to. Both an elegy for one orca family and a celebration of the entire species, Into Great Silence is a moving portrait of the interconnectedness of humans with animals and place—and of the responsibility we have to protect them.

    When Rick Lamplugh arrives at the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch on New Year’s Eve, he has one goal: to learn as much as possible about the ecology of the Lamar Valley. All winter he will work and live in this remote corner of Yellowstone National Park, home to some of the best wildlife watching in the world. Winter-hungry elk and bison migrate there to graze. Wolves, coyotes, and mountain lions stalk the grazers while eagles, ravens, and magpies wait to scavenge. The snowy backdrop makes the saga of death and life easy to spot. He has three frigid months to explore on skis and snowshoes, observe with all his senses, listen to and talk with experts. A literary blend of facts and feelings, In the Temple of Wolves celebrates nature’s stark beauty and treacherous cruelty, while revealing Lamplugh’s inner battles with his own human nature.

    It comprises all the winning and commended photographs from the Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2013 competition, the most prestigious event of its kind in the world. The photographs are chosen by an international jury for their artistic merit and originality from categories that together represent a diversity of natural subjects. The range of styles is also diverse, as is the genre of photography, whether action, macro, underwater, landscape, or environmental reportage. Together this outstanding collection is a reminder of the splendor, drama, and variety of life on Earth. Each stunning photograph is accompanied by an extended caption and there is an introduction by one of the world's most respected nature photographers.

    Featuring Austin’s intimate images—some as detailed as a single haunting eye—that result from encounters based on mutual trust, Beautiful Whale captures the grace and intelligence of these magnificent creatures. Austin spent days at a time submerged, motionless, in the waters of remote spawning grounds waiting for humpback, sperm, and minke whales to seek him out. As oceanographer Sylvia A. Earle says in her foreword to the book, “As an ambassador from the ocean—and to the ocean—Bryant Austin is not only a source of inspiration. He is cause for hope.”Praise for Beautiful Whale:“You can’t help thinking, with every passing page, that this is what’s it’s like to swim with the whales.” —The Wall Street Journal

    Inciting both allure and alarm, shining pastel pythons and vibrant green vipers slither across the pages. An illuminating essay by William T. Vollmann accompanies the images, delving into the associations with snakes that haunt our collective imagination.From the iridescent blue Malaysian coral snake to the candy-cane-striped albino Honduran milk snake, the aptly named beautiful pit viper, and the gleaming black mamba, the world’s most dangerous and gorgeous snakes are pictured in Serpentine, showing off their fascinating colors and textures—as well as the sensual forms their movement creates. Through Laita’s lens, there is nothing they can do, no position they can take, that fails to be anything but mesmerizing.

     The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition comes from two venerable institutions of the United Kingdom: the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide. For 49 years, this prestigious exhibition has drawn submissions from around the world. Being shortlisted is something to which nature photographers around the world aspire and every year new talent competes with established names for a chance to become Wildlife Photographer of the Year. The Masters of Nature Photography features ten breathtaking portfolios from ten of the world's top nature photographers: 120 stunning photographs in all. Selected specifically for this book, the images reflect the photographers' unique talents and perspectives and showcase an incredible variety of subjects and styles, from striking animal portraits and arresting landscapes to underwater photography.The Wildlife Photographers of the Year featured in this stunning book are: Jim Brandenburg David Doubilet Pal Hermansen Frans Lanting Thomas E. Mangelsen Vincent Munier Michael 'Nick' Nichols Paul Nicklen Anup Shah Christian Ziegler. Running twenty pages each, the 10 portfolios includes a profile of the photographer, describing the style of his photography as well as his influences and aims. Captions describe why the pictures are special to the photographer as well as telling the stories behind them. Also including details of the equipment used, this is a sumptuous gift for nature lovers and professional and amateur photographers.The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international showcase for the very best photography featuring natural subjects. It has been the leading event of its kind for nature photographers since it was founded in 1965 with three categories and about 500 entries. Since then, there have been more than 48,000 entries from over 98 countries. The photographs are judged by a panel of experts and the winning and commended selections are exhibited at the Natural History Museum, where over the next year, millions of people will view them. The exhibition tours worldwide, attracting more than a million visitors.

    Evocative storytelling combines with Nicklen's landmark photographs to reveal the truths and myths about these amazing creatures, and sheds light on their threatened ecosystems. Years of photographing bears in their habitat have given Nicklen a special understanding of these majestic mammals: the polar bear, ranked most popular species on Earth; the grizzly, feared and misunderstood; and the black bear, as well as its precious white counterpart, the spirit bear. Nicklen believes that sharing knowledge and stories about bears will impact the way we think of them, and thus ensure their future. Well-known environmentalists such as Wade Davis, Sylvia Earle, Werner Herzog, and Nicklen himself contribute essays to enhance the message of Nicklen's photographs. Quotes from literary figures punctuate the pages, offering insight into the magnificence of these impressive mammals. An epilogue takes a global look at the future of bears.

    Passionate, tenacious, and occasionally brash, Haber, a former hockey player and park ranger, devoted his life to Denali’s wolves.He weathered brutal temperatures in the wild to document the wolves and provided exceptional insights into wolf behavior. Haber’s writings and photographs reveal an astonishing degree of cooperation between wolf family members as they hunt, raise pups, and play, social behaviors and traditions previously unknown. With the wolves at risk of being destroyed by hunting and trapping, his studies advocated for a balanced approach to wolf management. His fieldwork registered as one of the longest studies in wildlife science and had a lasting impact on wolf policies.Haber’s field notes, his extensive journals, and stories from friends all come together in Among Wolves to reveal much about both the wolves he studied and the researcher himself. Wolves continue to fascinate and polarize people, and Haber’s work continues to resonate.

    In their new book, Tigers Forever, they combine a decade's worth of Winter's stunning images with Guynup’s eloquent prose to describe the tiger’s fight for survival, the threats it faces, and the few effective programs that are stemming its slaughter. They also reveal the elusive, ferocious majesty of this cat--and note that with just 3,200 left in the wild scattered in small pockets across Asia, they are in desperate need of our help to survive, that tigers could disappear within our lifetimes, and the time to act is now.

    We also trap and consume birds of every kind.Yet birds have not just been good to eat. Their feathers, which keep us warm or adorn our costumes, give birds unique mastery over the heavens. Throughout history their flight has inspired the human imagination so that birds are embedded in our religions, folklore, music and arts.Vast in both scope and scale, Birds and People explores and celebrates this relationship and draws upon Mark Cocker’s 40 years of observing and thinking about birds. Part natural history and part cultural study, it describes and maps the entire spectrum of our engagements with birds, drawing in themes of history, literature, art, cuisine, language, lore, politics and the environment. In the end, this is a book as much about us as it is about birds.Birds and People has been stunningly illustrated by one of Europe’s best wildlife photographers, David Tipling, who has travelled in 39 countries on seven continents to produce a breathtaking and unique collection of photographs. The book is as important for its visual riches as it is for its groundbreaking content.Birds and People is also exceptional in that the author has solicited contributions from people worldwide. Personal anecdotes and stories have come from more than 650 individuals in 81 different countries. They range from university academics to Mongolian eagle hunters, and from Amerindian shamans to some of the most celebrated writers of our age. The sheer multitude of voices in this global chorus means that Birds and People is both a source book on why we cherish birds and a powerful testament to their importance for all humanity.

    But Yellowstone is constantly changing. How we understand and respond to events that are putting species under stress, say the authors of Yellowstone's Wildlife in Transition, will determine the future of ecosystems that were millions of years in the making. With a foreword by the renowned naturalist E. O. Wilson, this is the most comprehensive survey of research on North America's flagship national park available today.Marshaling the expertise of over thirty contributors, Yellowstone's Wildlife in Transition examines the diverse changes to the park's ecology in recent decades. Since its creation in the 1870s, the priorities governing Yellowstone have evolved, from intensive management designed to protect and propagate depleted large-bodied mammals to an approach focused on restoration and preservation of ecological processes. Recognizing the importance of natural occurrences such as fires and predation, this more ecologically informed oversight has achieved notable successes, including the recovery of threatened native species of wolves, bald eagles, and grizzly bears.Nevertheless, these experts detect worrying signs of a system under strain. They identify three overriding stressors: invasive species, private-sector development of unprotected lands, and a warming climate. Their concluding recommendations will shape the twenty-first-century discussion over how to confront these challenges, not only in American parks but for conservation areas worldwide. Highly readable and fully illustrated, Yellowstone's Wildlife in Transition will be welcomed by ecologists and nature enthusiasts alike.

    Animal Earth is an unbiased tour of this still largely undiscovered world, illuminating the bizarre appearances and hidden lives of the creatures that share our planet, but which we’ve rarely, if ever, seen.What is perhaps more surprising is that this bewildering range of animal species can be traced to a small number of lineages, sharing a common body plan and evolutionary history. Animal Earth not only provides an evenhanded summary of each but also reflects the latest research on the evolutionary relationships between species. How they all fit in the tree of life is a topic that has been debated for decades, not least because new species are being discovered all the time; some lesser-known lineages, such as the Chaetognatha (arrow worms) and Xenoturbellida (strange worms) continue to defy classification.Given our technological achievements, humans are in a uniquely privileged position to protect animal diversity. As Ross Piper makes clear, each species is an integral component of the ecosystem we live in, and we protect animal diversity not only for its own sake but to maintain the natural systems that keep us alive.

    Humans are the adult wolf’s only true natural predator; its return to the old-growth forests and wild coastlines of the Pacific Northwest renews age-old questions about the value of wildlands and wildlife.      As the vivid stories unfold in this riveting and timely book, wolves emerge as smart, complex players uniquely adapted to the vast interdependent ecosystem of this stunning region. Observing them at close range, David Moskowitz explores how they live, hunt, and communicate, tracing their biology and ecology through firsthand encounters in the wildlands of the Northwest. In the process he challenges assumptions about their role and the impact of even well-meaning human interventions.

    This easy-to-use guide features 636 North American bird species and more than 2,000 stunning color photographs. And yet it's portable enough to fit in your pocket! The guide includes: The newest scientific and common names and phylogenetic order special help for identifying birds in flight through important clues of behavior, plumage, and shape detailed descriptions of songs and calls important behavioral information and key habitat preferences The newest range maps, detailing species' winter, summer, year-round ranges, and migration routes. Whether you are a novice or experienced birder, this new Stokes guide will take your birding to the next level.

    The story starts in Botswana, and continues in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where it becomes that of her family; with the addition of a conservationist husband, and later their young son Martin. When the changing political landscape threatens their blissful lifestyle, their roles and goals shift, and returning to the bush becomes more of a necessity than a luxury.

    Most of it is an identification guide to 700 plant species selected as those which are common, conspicuous or useful ecological indicators; species which collectively make up most of the vegetation in Britain and Ireland. There is also a separate Habitats section describing the flora, ecology and management of habitats. With this combination of approaches Plants and Habitats aims to help people understand our vegetation at all scales, from individual plants to whole landscapes. The structure and plain English writing style are designed to help with species identification by non-specialists.Plants and Habitats is illustrated throughout with colour photos and some line drawings. For those working with habitat classifications, National Vegetation Classification (NVC) codes are incorporated throughout and there are summary tables cross-referencing various classifications. The book is written for a wide readership including those working or training in subjects connected with ecology, conservation, land management, and other environmental matters.

    Life is governed by the seasons: each month bringing extraordinary transformations to the land and its inhabitants. This lavish companion to the BBC One series brings Britain to life, celebrating the vibrancy of the changing year through stunning photography and mesmerizing time-lapse sequences, revealing unmissable drama and beauty.

    Featuring full-color photos and illustrations throughout, it will be just creepy enough to appeal to kids without being scary. From tiny animals like bats to large animals like lions, kids will discover what lies beneath their favorite animal's skin.

    Just looking at this distinct animal raises many scientific questions. With regard to evolution, how did such an animal come to be? How does asnake move, and how do its sense organs differ from that of other reptiles? How does it eat, and how does it reproduce? Essentially, how does a snake work? In How Snakes Work: The Structure, Function and Behavior of the World's Snakes, leading zoologist Harvey B. Lillywhite has written thedefinitive scientific guide to the functional biology of snakes. Written for both herpetologists and a more general audience with an interest in the field, How Snakes Work features nearly two hundred color images of various species of snakes, used to provide visual examples of biological featuresexplained in the text.Chapter topics include the evolutionary history of the snake, feeding, locomotion, the structure and function of skin, circulation and respiration, sense organs, sound production, temperature and thermoregulation, and reproduction. Containing all the latest research and advances in our biologicalknowledge of the snake, How Snakes Work is an indispensable asset to professional zoologists and enthusiasts alike.

    

    Their tracks are once again making trails throughout western Alberta, southern British Columbia and the northwestern United States, and the lonesome howls of the legendary predator are no longer mere echoes from our frontier past: they are prophetic voices emerging from the hills of our contemporary reality.Kevin Van Tighem's first RMB Manifesto explores the history of wolf eradication in western North America and the species' recent return to the places where humans live and play. Rich with personal anecdotes and the stories of individual wolves whose fates reflect the complexity of our relationship with these animals, The Homeward Wolf neither romanticizes nor demonizes this wide-ranging carnivore with whom we once again share our Western spaces. Instead, it argues that wolves are coming back to stay, that conflicts will continue to arise and that we will need to find new ways to manage our relationship with this formidable predator in our ever-changing world.

    Walidah Imarisha’s first poetic collection invokes this same process of alchemy, transforming both individual and collective scars into North Stars, guideposts that center us and keep us moving in the right direction. Scars/Stars reminds us that even in ravaged earth, something beautiful can still grow.

    Recent years have seen much-needed new research undertaken to improve our understanding of this unique animal. Drawing together the latest research into one resource, this is a detailed exploration of current knowledge on the biology, behaviour and conservation needs of giraffe. Dagg highlights striking new data, covering topics such as species classification, the role of infrasound in communication, biological responses to external temperature changes and motherly behaviour and grief. The book discusses research into behaviour alongside practical information on captive giraffe, including diet, stereotypical behaviour, ailments and parasites, covering both problems and potential solutions associated with zoo giraffe. With giraffe becoming endangered species in Africa, the book ultimately focuses on efforts to halt population decline and the outlook for conservation measures.

    After a narrow escape from the life of a pampered lapdog, as safari operator Peter Comley’s faithful companion he had the Okavango Delta at his feet, though he was equally happy to view life from a seat at the bar of the Duck Inn. Django travelled southern Africa’s wildest and most picturesque areas, nose to the ground, head out of the car window, or sometimes tactfully concealed from head to tail in the handbag of Peter’s wife Salome. To this pint-sized but charismatic character elephants were equals: his courage and understanding of the wild saved the lives of a number of his human companions, sometimes more than once.Django is an entertaining safari from Botswana to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, crossing the Okavango Delta, going hunting with Kalahari Bushmen, and exploring the Namib Desert, Victoria Falls and the wilds of the Zambezi.Ever since Jock of the Bushveld was first published, stories about man’s best friend in the wild have entranced and entertained both locals and international visitors alike. Django promises to do the same. Peter Comley’s thirty years as a professional guide has led to many humorous and sometimes startlingly perilous incidents in some of the remotest places in Africa. Acknowledged as one of the Dark Continent’s leading guides, Peter, when he is not leading safaris, can generally be found in one or other secluded paradise, writing books and articles on travel and wildlife.

    "25 Desert Animals" Amazing facts, photos and video links looking at some of the animals that live in the world's deserts. Aimed mainly at the 8+ age range, it's a fun and exciting way for newly and not so newly independent readers to find out more about animals. Books by IP Factly have been #1 kindle bestsellers because they present animals in a fun and entertaining way - mixing facts, photos and video clips. IP Factly's Amazing Animal series has been designed to encourage and bolster independent reading. Accompanying webpages with video clips This book provides fact after fact for information hungry children to tell family and friends, and even has accompanying webpages with video clips of all the desert animals in the book. It makes learning fun and gives a real reason for children to want to read by themselves. Kids will love discovering animal facts to share and enjoy. The Amazing Animals range encourages children along the path to truly independent reading and learning. See for yourself by clicking on the front cover to look inside the book. This book is great for newly independent readers and not-so-newly independent readers alike. Difficult words are explained and fascinating facts are explored. Video Links The animals are accompanied by pictures and facts plus video links so children can learn more about the animals and how they behave. The video links mean children come back again and again, naturally developing their reading and learning skills. Reviews for other IP Factly books 5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Little Book By Spudman (Pasadena, MD United States) (VINE VOICE) (TOP 100 REVIEWER) This review is from: The 25 Weirdest Animals in the World! I downloaded this book on a whim and am glad I did. The animals featured are fascinating, as are the accompanying photos. I really like the links to videos at the end of each segment. Readers learn the habitat, diet and description of each creature. Young readers will certainly enjoy this book. Even this older reader was entertained by it. 5.0 out of 5 stars My son loves this book! By K. Smith "Taaa!" (St. Louis, MO) This review is from: 25 of the Most Poisonous Animals in the World! This book is really cool. It is part of a series of books 25 of the most _______ in the world. It gives a great description of the animal, what it does, lives, eats, ect. But at the end of each animal, there is a link to click on and it will take you to a webpage with videos of the animal. My son will read this book and watch the videos for hours on end. This is a really great education tool. The concept is fabulous! I highly suggest buying this book for your kiddo. My son and I have so much fun watching and reading this together. You or your kid will not be dissapointed. Desert Creatures Included: Addax Arizona Blond Tarantula Burrowing Owl Cougar Deathstalker Desert Bighorn Sheep Desert Crocodile Desert Iguana Desert Tortoise Dingo Dorcas Gazelle Dromedary Elf Owl Gila Monster Greater Roadrunner Ostrich Perentie Red Kangaroo Red-Tailed Hawk Rock Hyrax Sidewinder Texas Horned Lizard Turkey Vulture Water-Holding Frog Scroll up and Buy this book now - your child will love going bac

    Gardening for the Birds shows you how.With the right native plants, arranged to mimic natural ecosystems, you will provide birds with food, water, shelter, and nesting places. Instead of just visiting your garden to snack, birds will call it home.With hundreds of native plants, extensive seasonal bloom and fruiting charts, and the techniques for creating a balanced ecosystem, this book helps you turn any space—from a small, urban terrace to a large suburban yard—into a home for a fascinating variety of birds. Close-up profiles of birds from across all regions of North America teach you their nesting, breeding, and feeding habits.Birding and gardening are natural companions: let this rich compendium help you make your garden a sanctuary for the local bird population and yourself!

    The park has a rich history of human and ecological stories that continue to unfold. When Yellowstone was established as the world’s first national park in 1872, it sparked an idea that influenced the creation of the National Park Service and the nearly 400 sites across the United States it protects today. Yellowstone National Park also forms the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. At 28,000 square miles, it is one of the largest intact temperate-zone ecosystems on Earth. The park continues to influence preservation and science, and we are pleased to share its stories with you.Many people have dedicated their lives and careers to studying Yellowstone and the park has a long history of study and public interest. This compendium is intended to help you understand the important concepts about its many resources and contains information about the park’s history, natural and cultural resources, and issues. Each chapter is edited and carefully reviewed for accuracy and relevance.