Wildlife Books

An unforgettable read.
Without a word and thus with incredible strength. It's not a political message, it's not an argument with solutions to problems.
It's just an extremely strong and human message.
A book I wish more people would read.

This book rekindled my interest in B&W photography...and since I live near a major zoo, also zoo photography. Not every photo is of the same quality, but in this book are the most singularly beautiful B&W images I have ever seen! The layout and quality are tops. I LOVE THIS BOOK. Now having said that, I must admit I love zoos...and thank heavens for them for keeping alive some of nature's most wonderful creatures which have been suffering terribly in recent years in the wild. The damage done to wildlife conservation by the Sierra Clubs and the PETAs of the world cannot be understated. So, I do not agree with her message but I love her spectacular images.

As youngsters most of us felt excited when we went to zoos to see "wild" animals. This book shows us how things may look like from the other side of the cage/barrier. The Images are stunning not only for their artistic beauty but also the message they convey: unforgettable yet heart-breaking. The composition and lighting of the black and white prints are just great.

Never have I seen a collection of photography like this book. The book not only shows the beauty of all sorts of animals but also depicts the harshness of the reality they face each day living in a zoo. The contrast between nature's awesome creatures and man's desire to put them on display is a haunting story. This photographer tells it well.

If I'd seen this book in a store, I don't think I'd have felt compelled to buy it. It doesn't look that different from countless other children's books on the shelves... Yet it IS different. It was given to me as a gift, and I'm so glad it was. My son was fascinated by it. He was 8 months old, and it was the first book he ever took an interest in. Months later, it is still his favorite. It makes him smile every time, guaranteed.

Jan Pienkowski's "Zoo" uses a simple format to appeal to the youngest children. The book introduces the reader to 14 different animals that you would see at a zoo: crocodile, hippopotamus, toucan, gorilla, and more. Each page combines a one-word caption with a colorful illustration.

The pictures are particularly appealing. Bright and colorful, these illustrations combine an iconic quality with realistic touches. From the grandeur of the peacock's tail to the charm of a koala mother and her baby, each picture is delightful. This is a fun book for both child and caregiver.

I bought this book for my son when he was 7 months old. He is now one and still chooses it over all of the other books we own. He loves the illustrations! He took his first step to get this book off of a table and he said his first word when we turned to the lion page. He now says "Yion" each time we read it!And he's learned to roar!

This is a favorite of my 9-month old son who consistently chooses it for us to read together and regularly pages through it on his own. The illustrations are bold, colorful and stimulating and the animals represented take us beyond the more common dog, pig, duck varieties to animals including the toucan, koala and camel. Its popularity with our son is motivating us to buy the whole series.

The author's experiences as the chief vet at the London Zoo began in 1951 with an inventory of sick animals at the zoo. In short time he established the world's first animal hospital and introduced the world to new concepts of veterinary medicine: Zoo Tails surveys his experiences and his unusual patients and treatments, adding a dose of humor to the mix.

Book Description
Gerald Durrell meets James Herriot. Oliver Graham-Jones recalls his time as the chief vet at London Zoo, and some of the extraordinary animals he met along the way.

Synopsis
In 1951 Oliver Graham Jones was appointed Curator of mammals at London Zoo, becoming Senior Veterinary Officer in 1960, a post he held until his retirement in 1969. This is a collection of tales from his days at the zoo during the 1950s and 1960s.

From the Back Cover
One Puff Adder One antelope One crocodile

This was the list of sick animals presented to Oliver Graham-Jones on his first day as veterinary officer at London Zoo.

It was 1951, and the care of wild animals in zoos was in its infancy. Previously, sick animals had been placed in the hands of their keepers and kept from public view. But Oliver Graham-Jones was to change all this. A pioneer of many of the techniques now used by vets around the worl, he was instrumental in building the first animal hospital and moving London Zoo away from its Victorian past into the high-tech world of modern vetinary medicine.

If a dangerous animal escaped or required urgent medical attention, Oliver was always on hand ready for any eventuality. In Zoo Tails, he tells us about some of the extraordinary animals he looked after: how he anaesthetized, and was chased by, a gorilla; captured an angry polar bear in thick fog; performed a colostomy on a python; and fitted a raven in the Tower of London with a wooden leg.

Filled with wonderfully funny stories, told with delightfully self-deprecating humour, this is a book that will appeal to lovers of animals great and small.

"Zoo Tails"' will raise many a smile and, along the way, a greater appreciation of what it is to play doctor to the most exotic collection of patients in the world.' Desmond Morris

This book is great and it gives you a warm feeling of humanity, expoloring insights into the world of a zoo vet. It is both funny, sad, and 100% real life. Oliver Graham-Jones was the first vet to work at the well known London Zoo in the 1950's. It was a time of great change and developments in anamial welfare. During his time at London zoo he helped stop TB, developed the dart gun, and many surgical procedures that has lead to many procedures undertaken by Doctors today. They including hip implants, heart impants, etc. The book is made up of 26 individual stories that make a larger whole, which makes it ideal for a train, bedtime or bathtime reads. It is available (at Amazon)in soft and hard back and on audio tape and it was number ten in the best sellers lists last year in the UK. It will make an ideal present for all ages and backgrounds.
The forwords were from Dr Desmond Morris and Sir Patrick Moore, who are Olivers great friends. If you have any comments on the book please leave your message,
As you migth have guessed by now the author is my 83 tear old father who I am very proud. I was involved in some of the original proof reading and have actually read the book many times. However, it is one of those rare books that can be read and re-read.
Have a great read. Best regards
Dr Jasper Graham-Jones

Zoo Tails written by the most respected and well-known zoo vet
This book is great and it gives you a warm feeling of humanity, exploring insights into the world of a zoo vet. It is both funny, sad, and 100% real life. Oliver Graham-Jones was the first vet to work at the well-known London Zoo in the 1950's. It was a time of great change and developments in animal welfare. During his time at London zoo he helped stop TB, developed the dart gun, and many surgical procedures that are now undertaken by human Doctors today. They including hip implants, heart implants, etc. The book is made up of 26 individual stories that make a larger whole, which makes it ideal for a train, bedtime or bath time reads. It is available (at Amazon)in soft and hard back (Large and small print version)and on audio tape and it was number ten in the best sellers lists last year in the UK. It will make an ideal present for all ages and backgrounds.
The forwards were from Dr Desmond Morris and Sir Patrick Moore, who are Oliver's great friends. If you have any comments on the book please leave your message,
As you might have guessed by now the author is my 83 dear old father who I am very proud. I was involved in some of the original proof reading and have actually read the book many times. However, it is one of those rare books that can be read and re-read.
Have a great read. Best regards
Dr Jasper Graham-Jones

Excellent childrens book in the classic tradition. Robert Stanton is one of the best illustrators to ever come out of Disney! Inspiring stuff.

What a captivating book! My whole family loves it. Here is a charming, inspiring story with exquisite illustrations. The Adventures of Lady: The Big Storm is a real winner. It is a book that you will thoroughly enjoy sharing with your child. I am recommending it to everyone.

A must have book for your family. This is a beautifully illustrated book with the heart-warming story of a real life squirrel (Lady) who was separated from her squirrel family during a Florida hurricane. Rescued by a kind-hearted person and then raised with another squirrel, Lady was then returned to the wild. This is her story and it is a wonderful read for any member of your family.

A reasonably priced, well-written, informative, easy to read guide. Contains directions, what you will see, hints and many other pieces of info related to wildlife viewing on Kenai Peninsula. I'd recommend it for anyone who will be traveling on the Kenai Peninsula, even if you aren't bird watching or looking for specific wildlife. Great format, great pictures. A definite best value for the money. Lots of info about places to stop, sites to see. Good info for a family or for adults.

I just got back from my annual trip to Alaska where I found a copy of this guide. It is a great resource at a great price. Anyone planning a wildlife, or nature hiking vacation to the Kenai should look at getting a copy.

I have found most of these places in the last 10 years of travel, but there were some that are now on my "must see next time" list. It's not comprehensive, but it gives more than enough options to productively fill any trip from three days to 6 weeks. Locations range from the Sea Life Center to full day hikes to driving routes. All habitats on the Peninsula are covered (and all Alaskan habitats except Arctic Tundra can be found on the Kenai.) So it can lead you to all Alaskan wildlife except for Musk Ox and Polar Bears.

Nicely laid out, good descriptions, insightful tips, well illustrated, good removeable fold out map provided. Only slightly bad thing, there is no index of target species versus locations, so you need to read through descriptions to find locations for specific species. All in all, a great value and resource for the visiting naturalist.

I had friends visit the Kenai Peninsula for two weeks in July. We used this guide to find 130 bird species and all the major mammals - marine and land. It is cheap, well done, and full of information. My friends took it home as a remainder of why they love Alaska.

When I rec'd the book I was blown away by the quality! Very solid, colorful book full of great, never-seen photos! The content was fantastic and I was extremely pleasantly suprised. It answered all the questions I had about Alby and what he's been up to all these years - I honestly couldn't put it down! I highly recommend the book to any fan of Alby Mangels and consider the price to be an incredible value!

Dear Lynn,
I have just finished reading Beyond World Safari. Alby has long been an inspiration for me. You have written a wonderful book. I really liked the personal touch you gave to it. Alby is a national treasure, and I think you are too!
All the best,
Neil
Erlangen, Germany
Alby Mangels ~ Beyond World Safari

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DQ9XLIRLP16P Before Steve Irwin or Crocodile Dundee, Alby Mangels will always be the original Australian wildman and wildlife warrior, famed as much for his glamorous traveling companions as his many near death experiences as he journied to the world's most remote regions to discover the true beauty and rich diversity of planet earth. Now for the first time Alby Mangels reveals all: the laughter, the triumphs, the tragedy and the tears in a full, frank and fascinating authorised biography. A must have for die-hard and new fans, as well as anyone who enjoys the thrill of adventure with important lessons for us all to learn along the way.
Buy your copy here: Alby Mangels ~ Beyond World Safari
And visit the biographer's official site to listen to more interviews with Alby Mangels: http://www.lynnsanter.com

For a short time I worked at a Florida lab helping to compile the USDA list of introduced arthropods. It was then I learned about a lot of obscure creature that had invaded the US in ballast, on plants, in clothing, and on wood, rock, sand, and just about any commodity or personal effect. The invasion has not stopped, but it is often not even known to be going on by the general public, except in some high profile invasions such as the Asian tiger mosquito!

John Leland, in his "Aliens in the Backyard: Plant and Animal Imports into America" presents us with many (but certainly not all) of these imported organisms, from starlings to Russian thistle and from dogs (first brought in by Native Americans) to anthrax. Some of these introductions changed history as they destroyed or interfered with crops, or were of medical importance. Smallpox, unknown in America, was used to kill Native Americans long before anyone heard of a virus by transferring contaminated blankets to the intended victims. Both diseases and destroyers of crops had their effects on armies and the outcomes of wars, as well as the physical and economic health of the hemisphere.

Despite a few irritating typos, I found the book to be basically accurate and I learned a few things as well, such as the fact that all species of human lice were already present in the New World when Columbus landed. Typhus may have been here as well.

This is one of those eye-opening books that should be read by everyone, especially if you are concerned with security. We don't need terrorists (although they can help things along) to cause major impacts on society. Nature and our own mobility can do it as efficiently or even better! We should also keep in mind that we, who evolved on the plains of Africa, are aliens to the New World as well! Indeed, John Leland drives this point home several times in this book!

We've all heard tales of the dreaded zebra mussel, rampant purple loosestrife, or prolific European starling, but if you think exotic species are the exception, even a quick browse of Leland's entertaining compendium of aliens will set you straight. You can't step into your backyard without treading on interlopers, like the favored Kentucky bluegrass.

From the hallucinogenic properties of hemp, morning glory, datura and more; to attempts to cultivate the silkworm; to rats, cockroaches and disease, Leland's essays offer an entertaining history of facts, rumors and squabbles on an exhaustive number of alien species. Whether purposely (often to rid the place of some other unwanted interloper) or accidentally introduced, aliens have long thrived in their new home and many have come to be considered natives.

A professor of English at the Virginia Military Institute, Leland ("Porcher's Creek: Lives Between the Tides") writes with wit and a certain wicked relish, and his research is dizzyingly thorough. But the sheer width and breadth of information is overwhelming. This is a book to keep, to dip into again and again a chapter or even a few pages at a time, so as to have some hope of retention.

With chapter titles like "Out of Africa," "Cowboys: And Their Alien Habits," "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time," and "Bioterror: Older than You Think," Leland makes an appreciative and entertaining case for the melting pot.

John Leland (Professor of English at the Virginia Military Institute) does a great job of pointing out which plants and animals are, and which plants and animals are not, native to America. He writes well with style, grace and wit, and he gives a lot of interesting information about how various animals and plants came to be incorporated into the America landscape and enterprise.

From apples to kudzu he details which aliens have been a boon and which have been a sorry bust. In the case of kudzu (Pueraria lobata, which I saw for the first time in a Louisiana swamp a week before hurricane Katrina hit), "It Seemed a Good Idea at the Time" (title of one of his chapters). That was before people realized that kudzu completely blankets "whatever it grows on in a smothering welter of leaves and vines" strangling trees and other vegetation to death. (p. 161)

Also not a good idea was the introduction of carp into America's waters. Leland opines that "Most fishermen and environmentalist regard its widespread introduction...as a disaster...," although there are some, including the Carp Angler Group, who have a different opinion. Similarly, people differ about whether it was a good idea to bring the starling (one of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare's works) to America since it is now considered "a dirty, noisy, gregarious, and aggressive" bird that has displaced native species. Perhaps the worst of the "it seemed like a good idea at the time" species is the gypsy moth, brought to America as a possible silk worm. Leland goes into some detail about "well-intentioned dreamers of silken fortunes" in the chapter, "A Sow's Ear from a Silk Purse."

But these deliberately introduced species are relatively benign in the public eye compared to those that have freeloaded their way into our land and have more or less taken over in ways that we cannot control. The German cockroach, the Norway or brown rat, and the tumbleweed (surprisingly not native to the land of the cowboy but from Russia (with love)--oh, you deluded Sons of the Pioneers!) are three that Leland zeroes in on. He also has a few words to say about the American cockroach (probably not American--also called the palmetto bug) and the Oriental cockroach. Here in southern California we have all three, the German, the American and the Oriental. The German is the ever so prolific one that lives indoors in apartment houses and restaurants the world over, while the larger American and Oriental tend to live outdoors. I sometimes find one of the latter in my house dried up and dead in a corner or in a drawer, having wandered in and found nothing to eat and no moisture.

An introduced species that is perhaps an even bigger pest here in the southland is the Argentine ant, which Leland unaccountably does not mention. I recommend he take a study on it. There's enough material there to write a book and then some. Once the Argentine ant (small and black with only an occasional tiny bite) sets up shop inside the walls or under an establishment such as an apartment building or a college dormitory, it is there to stay.

What Leland does so very well in this book, and what makes it superior to some other books I have read, is integrate the alien species into the historical and cultural experience of the American people. In his chapter, "Out of Africa," he details "How Slavery Transformed the American Landscape and Diet." I had to laugh when I read that watermelon is not native to America but comes from Africa, as do peanuts and Bermuda grass, sesame seed and of course the cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) also known as the black-eyed pea. I had to laugh because I recalled Randy Newman's satirical song encouraging Africans to come to America in the early days of the republic for "the sweet watermelon and the buckwheat cake"!

Naturally, it is not in any way surprising that many of our foods come from other lands since most of the world's cuisines have found a home in American. Rice is not native, although the so-called "wild rice" is. Wheat comes from the Middle East as most people know, while potatoes are native to the Andes in South American.

In the chapter "Cowboys and Their Alien Habits" Leland recalls the familiar story of how the horse was once native to America but had gone extinct here before Columbian times, and then was accidentally reintroduced by the Spanish explorers after which it revolutionized the Plains Indians' way of life. (p. 92) Also alien are the cowboy's cattle, including the Texas longhorn; and if we go back far enough even the "Indians," the so-called native Americans are not native. Sad to say many of the true natives, like the giant sloth and the cave bear and the great mammoth went extinct coincidental with the arrival of the first humans from across the Bering Strait.

The only problem I have with this book and others like it, is that there is never enough. The way plants and animals have moved around the world and the way they have changed the lives of people is a continual source of fascination. Leland's fine book adds to the reader's pleasure while not sating it.

Usually, I am leery, at best, about people who regard themselves as qualified to attempt to shape, influence, or form broad opinion about art. I find that more personal critiques of art (such as opinions shared by friends who have common interests) usually prove more palatable and valid. This is especially true when the art form in question is literary. An individual's collected experiences lend to a unique, and completely valid vantage or perspective when surveying literary terra incognita. Hence, more often than thinking about a book as being "bad or "good," I tend to think of books and their readers as being well- or ill-paired. After reading Ms. Ross's review of Mr. Gorman's book, The American Wilderness: Journeys into Distant and Historic Landscapes, I immediately thought Ms. Ross an ill-suited audience for this book. In her critique, I felt a significant injustice had been committed and felt that I would be committing a greater disservice to my fellow outdoorsmen, conservationists, and environmentalists, if I did not speak in favor of this book.

Succinctly stated, Mr. Gorman's book is brilliant! The photographs are, at least, gallery quality and the prose, quite near sublime. The book is an epiphany for the wilderness aesthete, for those few who are still capable of being profoundly moved by the beauty of the simple façade and the complex underpinnings of nature. I imagine Mr. Gorman as a modern-day Thoreau, complete with zoom lens, extolling the virtues of one of our last true Public Goods (the American wilderness). Often, it seems that Wilderness Advocates, like Mr. Gorman, speak to an indifferent or hostile audience. Having said all this, I believe that one must approach such a book with some intellectual curiosity and preferably the potential for appreciation, maybe even some great love or admiration of nature. Otherwise, one's comments are strictly academic, only as valid as the observations of an atheist on the nature of faith. Those who tend to agree with Ms. Ross's assertion that "... Perhaps nature is by nature boring," would probably be better-off proceeding to the "murder-mysteries" aisle. For everyone else, this is an insightful, well-conceived survey of the American wilderness.

This is a wonderful book. Unlike many other photo-essay/coffee table books, the prose is of the same high quality as the photographs. Indeed Mr. Gorman's writing is as light, airy and fresh as the snow beneath his skis during one of his midwinter telemark expeditions. His narrative is peppered with poignant historical sketches on the people and events that breathe so much life into the places he visits. These diversions add life and serve to frame his writings. Witness his harrowing descriptions of valorous US servicemen staring death squarely in the eye during the Battle of Midway. Similarly, his lively profiles of the picaresque outlaws and wanderers who have found refuge in the harsh landscapes of the Everglades and the Missouri Breaks add a heartbeat to such inhospitable regions. That Mr. Gorman finds wonder and beauty in these places and their people and so successfully communicates these feelings with pen and camera is a testament to his abilities as a writer, photographer, naturalist and historian.

I couldn't disagree more with the negative comments of your first reviewer. I devoured the text of this book and only hope that Mr. Gorman will continue to provide us with his thoughtful insights into the beautiful and historically important places this book makes accesible. His prose captures the imagination, and demonstrates Gorman's appreciation of and respect for the wonderful locations he has chosen for his subjects. The photographs Mr. Gorman has taken are, in a word -- spectacular. Any collector of photography, or anybody who shares Mr. Gorman's evident passion for nature and history will cherish this book. I am planning on giving copies of this book to all of my friends and family who are outdoor enthusiasts this holiday season.

Very informative book, covering an extensive range of animals. Descriptions have plenty of detail. Not just visual ID book, but a reference book on what makes them tick.

This book is the yardstick that all other field guides should be measured against. Detailed and concise, Hammerson gives an excellent account of Colorado herpetofauna. I have two copies, one for my car and one for home.

For those only mildly interested in snakes, lizards, frogs and other 'creeping things', this book will change your life's direction forever! The first edition of this book was a treat: a field guide to the herpetofauna of Colorado, complete with photos, descriptions and distribution maps. I was highly pleased with it, and looking forward to the release of the second edition (due out in 1998, I think). The wait was worth it! This new edition contains not only the photos, some breathtaking in their beauty and clarity, and distribution maps, etc, but also pretty much everything one would ever desire to know about herpetofauna in the Southwest. This book now contains chapters on biogeography, examining all the Colorado habitats, conservation status and legislation, human interactions, viewing methods, and each Colorado species has its own and very thorough entry. As a professional herpetologist, this book is invaluable to me wherever I happen to be, Colorado or no. As a complete amateur, this book would open up a mysterious world! It's too heavy for a field guide, that's why there's those terrible Audubon things (although Patterson is good), but terribly useful for when you get home again. Buy this book, now!

Excellent introduction to nonfiction for young readers. The author provides plenty of information, written in an easy-to-understand and fun-to-read style. Beautiful giant photos illustrate this book and serve to break up the text, keeping the interest of young readers.

The author includes brief facts about brown and grizzly bears on the last page, which are also well-written and interesting.

I highly recommend this book.

My daughter Katerine is studying Polar Bear's in her Pre-K class...This book gave her a good understanding of how they live, raise their young,and the dangers of pollution. The pictures are spectular!

My daughter Katerine is studying Polar Bear's in her Pre-K class...This book gave her a good understanding of how they live, raise their young,and the dangers of pollution. The pictures are spectular!