Now 'the greatest living advocate of the global ecosystem' this is the story of the voyages that started it all. Staying with local tribes while trekking in search of giant anteaters in Guyana, Komodo dragons in Indonesia and armadillos in Paraguay, he and the rest of the team battled with cannibal fish, aggressive tree porcupines and escape-artist wild pigs, as well as treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather, to record the incredible beauty and biodiversity of these regions. The methods may be outdated now, but the fascination and respect for the wildlife, the people and the environment - and the importance of protecting these wild places - is not.Written with his trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalist is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today.

    To the Indigenous people of the Guugu Yimithirr nation, it was 'nguman'; to the whites it was the taipan, an eight foot, lightning fast venomous snake whose bite meant certain death.Venom is an examination of European settlers’ troubled and often antagonistic relationship with the land, seen through the lens of the desperate scramble for an antivenom, and highlighted by the story of George Rosendale, a taipan bite victim of the Guugu Yimithirr nation.By one of Australia’s best and brightest young authors, this is a gripping tale of heroism and tragedy, offering the glimmering possibility of reconciliation

    Can a populous country like India 'afford' to protect wildlife? Is there space for wildlife in a land-scarce, densely populated country, and can wild animals and people coexist, or is the relationship inevitably confrontational? Is conservation and protecting the flora and fauna a hindrance to the growth agenda? Is development inimical to ecological security? The Vanishing explores such burning issues that confront wildlife conservation today.

    After years as warden of Olifants River Game Reserve, his feet are firmly planted in this magnificent slice of Big Five country to the west of the Kruger Park, where he has experienced a rich life packed full of incidents far from routine.In Heart of a Game Ranger, Cesare recounts some of these hair-raising, heart-breaking and heart-warming moments: a buffalo calf reunited with its pining mother, injured lions given second chances and rhinos lost, one by one, to poaching.Nestled among these tales, Cesare pays homage to the brave, dedicated and curious personalities engaged in a deadly combat on the most majestic of battlefields. Yet, while rhino poaching is by far the reserve's biggest problem, Cesare reveals how the daily struggles of a game ranger are so much broader - and the rewards, when they come, immense.Heart of a Game Ranger is a story of extremes, one of fierce loyalty and devastating betrayal where spectacular days that end in exhausted satisfaction and achievement are balanced by those that leave behind only despair and frustration.Seen through his eyes and spoken from the heart, Cesare tells a deeply personal story - not only of a life lived wild, but of the joy of Africa's incredible natural world.

    This powerful collection of pictures features all the winning photographs from the 2016 competition. The collection represents the work of many international photographers, both professionals and amateurs. 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, including 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.

    Bird songs and calls are just as important as visual field marks in identifying birds. But until now, the only way to learn them was by memorization. With this groundbreaking book, it’s possible to visually distinguish bird sounds and identify birds using a field guide format.   At the core of this guide is the spectrogram, a visual graph of sound. With a brief introduction to five key aspects—speed, repetition, pauses, pitch pattern, and tone quality—readers can learn to visualize sounds, without any musical training or auditory memorization. Picturing sounds makes it possible to search this book visually for a bird song heard in the field.    The Sound Index groups similar songs together, narrowing the identification choices quickly to a brief list of birds that sound alike. Readers can then turn to the species account for more information and/or listen to the accompanying audio tracks available online, through Cornell's Lab of Ornithology.   Identifying birds by sound is arguably the most challenging and important skill in birding. This book makes it vastly easier to master than ever before.

    It is written for all those who want to know more about the amazing world of lightning bugs and learn the secrets hidden in the flash patterns of the 75+ species found in the eastern and central United States and Canada. As an independent researcher working with numerous university teams, naturalist Lynn Frierson Faust, "The Lightning Bug Lady," has spent decades tracking the behavior and researching the habitats of these fascinating creatures.Based on her twenty-five years of fieldwork, this book is intended to increase understanding and appreciation of bioluminescent insects while igniting enthusiasm in a fun and informative way. Species accounts are coupled with historical backgrounds and literary epigraphs to engage and draw readers young and old into the world of these tiny sparklers. A chart documenting the flash patterns of the various species will aid in identification.Clear photos illustrate the insects' distinguishing physical characteristics, while habitats, seasonality, and common names are provided in easy-to-understand yet scientifically accurate language. The guide will be welcomed by everyone who wants to learn more about fireflies' and glow-worms' unique traits and fragile niche in the ecosystem.Features: Over 600 color photographsDetailed accounts and anatomical diagrams of 75+ species, as well as aids in distinguishing between similar speciesA first-of-its-kind flash-pattern chart that folds out on heavy-weight paperExtensive scientific details written in an understandable and engaging wayColorful common names--Twilight Bush Baby, Shadow Ghosts, Snappy Syncs, and more--for easy species identification based on flash patternsTips on ideal sites and times of year for firefly watchingConservation-oriented approach

    Ranjitsinh has had an unparalleled role in India s wildlife conservation history. He was the prime architect of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 and of the Central government schemes to assist national parks and sanctuaries. His passion for saving endangered species continues after his retirement, whether in planning the relocation of the Asiatic lion from Gir forest, the reintroduction of the cheetah into the grasslands of central India, or in saving from extinction the Kashmir stag, the Manipur brow-antlered deer and the Great Indian bustard.A Life with Wildlife traces the course of wildlife from the princely and British era to the present and shows how wildlife conservation in India has always emanated from the upper echelons of power. The book reveals the challenges of conservation in a democracy like India, and how to counteract them. There is also a candid account of the Bhopal gas tragedy from someone who played a pivotal role in its aftermath, never revealed before. This delightful first-hand account is in its essence the history of nature conservation in India during its most tumultuous period, by a person who was part of it and contributed to it.

    Mammals fascinate us, probably because we belong to that order! That’s why, along with expertly researched information about where these animals are found, and how they live, communicate and behave, conservationist and photographer Vivek Menon shares insider notes from his adventures in the wild. Key identification pointers and stunning colour photographs help you recognize different mammals easily, making The Secret Lives of Mammals both a ready reckoner as well as a field guide for animal lovers.

    Every day of the year, winter or summer, in every corner of the British Isles, there's plenty to see if you know where - and how - to look. From encounters with the curious black redstart, which winters on our rocky coasts, to the tiny green snowdrop shoots that are the first sign that spring might be round the corner. And from the blossom-time and dawn choruses of April and May into the abundant noisiness of summer, where days start with hawker dragonflies and drowsy bumblebees and end with glow-worms and ghost moths; to autumn when in the early morning mist of London's Richmond Park male red deer lock horns in competition for a mate.Nature is always full of surprises - whether it's the strange behaviour of clothes moths or the gruesome larder of the strike. Distilling two lifetimes' knowledge, expert insight and enthusiasm, award-winning authors and passionate naturalists Brett Westwood and Stephen Moss take us through the year, day by day, sharing the unexpected delights that we can experience in our skies, beaches, rivers, fields, forests and back gardens. There are all kinds of adventures waiting on your doorstep, any day of the year, all you need is Wonderland.

     Lanting’s images feature some of the most celebrated landscapes on Earth, from the sweeping vistas of the Serengeti Plains and the water wilderness of the Okavango Delta to the enchanting deserts of Namibia, the bewildering jungles of the Congo, and the otherworldly island of Madagascar. During many journeys over the past three decades, Lanting has documented Africa’s iconic animals—elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, leopards, and cheetahs—as well as its endangered primates, including gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and lemurs. His personal stories express the deep understanding and sense of mission that make his work stand out as a unique tribute to the continent’s wildlife and wild places. This book is based on Frans Lanting’s landmark exhibition, Into Africa, which was produced as a partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the National Geographic Society, with support from the World Wildlife Fund.

    So You Want to Know About the Environment answers some of the questions about the world we live in, and how we impact it in different ways.

    Illustrated with the exquisite photographs of famed wilderness photographer Mark Raycroft, this book celebrates this magnificent and elusive forest giant.Weighing up to 1,800 pounds, the moose is the largest living member of the deer family. It ranges across New England to Montana, northern Canada and Alaska, and inhabits Scandinavia and Russia as well. Of the seven subspecies of moose, four of them live in North America where 1 million moose live. They inhabit the northern deciduous and mixed coniferous forests in the east, the aspen parklands of the midwest, the vast boreal forests that span the continent, the northern taiga and up into the southern fringes of the tundra. Moose have been re-introduced to Wisconsin, Minnesota and New Hampshire, and were introduced to Newfoundland as a food source.The name -moose- is derived from the Algonquian native word -mooswa-, which means, -animal that strips bark from trees-, or -twigeater- and first appeared in the English language in the 1600s. Moose can run up to 35 miles an hour, swim effortlessly for long periods of time, dive as deep as 18 feet and stay submerged for as long as a minute. Their considerable weight and awesome antlers also make them a spectacle to behold. Despite their physical grandeur, moose face challenges from encroaching human activity and a warming climate. More southerly species are moving ever northward where the animals seek out the cooler climes that they need to thrive.Chapters include:Moose Ecology Moose Species Coast To Coast The Antler Cycle The Rut Moose Conservation and the Future Photographing Moose.

    A Field Guide to Tracking Mammals in the Northeast gives you all the details necessary for following animals large and small—from chipmunks and woodchucks to bobcats and black bears. Meticulously drawn illustrations and informative discussions provide the user with an array of tools for identification unmatched in any other tracking book.This guide also includes thorough discussions of distinguishing features, illustrations of scat, notes on other signs and habitat, measurements for tracks and gaits, and diagrams of characteristic gaits. Lightweight, portable, and comprehensive, this book is an ideal tool for trackers at all levels.

    In that time, the evolution and natural selection of species has formed a diversity of life rich in incredible methods of survival, reproduction, and adaption. From penis worms, which existed 508 million years ago, to threatened species such as the white rhino, this beautifully illustrated book takes the reader on a journey through natural history and shows the richness of animal life on our planet like you’ve never seen it before.

    This book is a visual journey into the world of the insects and their relatives that dominate all terrestrial habitats in Costa Rica through their sheer numbers, biomass, and the ecological functions they perform. Naskrecki's stunning photographs serve as both a tool to help identify the insects that a visitor to Costa Rica is likely to encounter, and as an illustration of their diverse behaviors and ecological roles.Through high-impact imagery and engaging narrative about insects and their evolutionary history, this book, an ideal companion on a visit to Costa Rica, reinforces or awakens in the readers their innate curiosity about the less appreciated elements of life on Earth. Each section of the book presents fascinating and useful facts about Costa Rica's insects. Naskrecki's photographs show the variety of morphological adaptations, survival strategies, and interlocking roles that insects play in tropical ecosystems.

    Listen to the comical sounds of the snowy egret during mating season and feel the mist from the humpback whale as it comes up for air. To fully appreciate this Guide it is necessary to start with a love of the outdoors, a fascination with animals, and a good sense of adventure. The beginning of your next journey is just pages away, are you ready?

    The richly varied habitats of the Democratic Republic of the Congo offer a wealth of animal, plant, chemical, and medical discoveries. But the country also has a deeply troubled colonial past and a complicated political present. Author Eli Greenbaum is a leading expert in sub-Saharan herpetology—snakes, lizards, and frogs—who brings a sense of wonder to the question of how science works in the twenty-first century. Along the way he comes face to face with spitting cobras, silverback mountain gorillas, wild elephants, and the teenaged armies of AK-47-toting fighters engaged in the continent’s longest-running war. As a bellwether of the climate and biodiversity crises now facing the planet, the Congo holds the key to our planet’s future. Writing in the tradition of books like The Lost City of Z, Greenbaum seeks out the creatures struggling to survive in a war-torn, environmentally threatened country. Emerald Labyrinth is an extraordinary book about the enormous challenges and hard-won satisfactions of doing science in one of the least known, least hospitable places on earth.

    This book examines the rich history of grizzly bear management in Yellowstone National Park and explores the challenges of managing an apex predator in the face of climate change and increasing human presence in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

    Providing a step-by-step guide that is adaptable to a range of environmental settings, the authors first lay out the ecological principles applicable to any project. They then take the reader through various sampling designs, measurement techniques, and analytical methods required to develop and complete a habitat project, including the creation of a report or management plan. The authors emphasize key management concepts and provide exercises putting ecological principles into practice. Case studies identify emerging issues that are changing and complicating wildlife habitat management. These include large-scale ecological concerns and their social and political challenges—global climate change, the decline in water quality and availability, loss and fragmentation of habitat, broadening invasive species and diseases, increased human-wildlife conflicts, and urbanization. This practical guide is an invaluable reference for students, land managers, and landowners who are developing and implementing management plans for habitat modification and improvement on both private and public lands.